A lawmaker of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) says diplomats of the two Koreas held discussions in New York shortly after Pyongyang declared nearly two weeks ago that it is a nuclear power.

Rep. Won Hee-ryong said North Korea's Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Han Song-ryol met in New York with Wie Sung-rak, minister for political affairs at the South Korean Embassy in the United States, at the request of the North Korean diplomat.

The GNP lawmaker made the comment during a session of the National Assembly's Committee on Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade on Monday, citing what he said was a well-informed source.

Rep. Won said Han had requested Seoul to set up a new negotiation framework, saying that the North cannot rejoin the six-way nuclear discussions due to Washington's perceived "hostile" policy toward Pyongyang.

Following Won's remarks, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young neither confirmed nor denied the report, refusing to comment on intelligence-related matters.

Asked to confirm Won's claims, the South Korean diplomat stationed in Washington also replied that he could not confirm anything.