The US said yesterday it has no intention of negotiating any bilateral agreement with North Korea, although the two sides will continue bilateral discussions within the context of six-party talks.  

"That approach was tried and it failed," White House spokesperson Scott McClellan said at a news briefing.

"In terms of bilateral discussions that are going on, those are discussions that relate to the modalities of the talks, and it's a way for us also to understand North Korea's position and to explain our views as well," he said.

The US has also had bilateral discussions with other delegations within the context of six-party talks, the spokesperson added.

He stressed that the US wants to see progress made toward the goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, but admitted that the six-party talks "is going to be a deliberative, methodical process" that will take time.

The fourth round of six-party talks is currently being held in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2005)