North Korea has invited Eric Clapton to perform in Pyongyang in a highly unusual move that could see the English guitarist playing in the world's most isolated state next year.

The invitation will boost hopes that North Korea is growing more interested in building cultural bridges to the outside world, even as diplomatic negotiations over its nuclear programme stall.

The New York Philharmonic will perform in Pyongyang tonight. The North Korean State Symphony Orchestra plans to perform in London this summer.

Pyongyang has invited Mr Clapton, whose hits include "Cocaine" and "Tears in Heaven", as a reciprocal visit for the North Korean orchestra tour, the Financial Times has learnt.

"These cultural exchanges are a way of promoting understanding between countries," a North Korean official told the FT. "We want our music to be understood by the western world and we want our people to understand western music."

Mr Clapton had agreed "in principle" to the idea, suggesting 2009 for the concert, the official said. Mr Clapton's agent did not return calls asking for comment.

A performance by Mr Clapton would be notable because, while classical music is well known in North Korea, rock and pop are banned because of their strong western influences.

Diplomats say the visit of the New York Philharmonic does not necessarily signal the start of a wider thaw in animosity. It is the biggest US delegation to visit Pyongyang since the Korean War almost 60 years ago.

Suzannah Clarke, the London-based opera singer who has performed in North Korea for each of the past five years, said she sensed a change was underfoot.

"When I sang in Pyongyang last April, I felt a change in atmosphere and in the way they view the outside world," she said.