The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has denied media reports that North Korea asked the U.N. office to consider closing its bureau in the communist nation.

Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the U.N. humanitarian agency, said Wednesday that Pyongyang had only asked the office if there was a need for a continued presence in the North last week.

Byrs added that the matter is still under discussion with North Korea.

The report comes as North Korea was dropped from the list of countries included in the U.N. consolidated appeal, which is the global body's annual request for short-term help for humanitarian crises worldwide.