Foreign Policy magazine says U.S. Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks Clifford Hart and North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Nations Han Song-ryol met secretly last month in New York.

The magazine said Tuesday that the meeting took place in mid-March, shortly before the North began to threatening war and making provocations.

The report said that during the meeting, U.S. officials indicated North Korea could return to the diplomacy table if it observes international obligations and makes denuclearization efforts. In response, North Korean officials are said to have responded that they would convey the U.S.' stance to the leadership in Pyongyang.