The United States said on Thursday that it has no intention of negotiating any bilateral agreement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), although the two side will continue bilateral discussions within the context of the six-party talks.

"We have no intention of negotiating any bilateral agreement with North Korea. That approach was tried and it failed," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a briefing.

"In terms of the 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 for us to explain our views as well," he said.

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

He stressed that the United States 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 the six-party talks is currently being held in Beijing.