Washington, April 03, SPA -- The United States is opento bilateral contacts with North Korea and urges the communiststate to refrain from launching a missile and return tosix-nation nuclear negotiations, Reuters quoted the U.S. envoy to the talks,Stephen Bosworth, as saying today. "Six-party talks, we believe, must be at the center ... ofour efforts," Bosworth said and urged North Korea to halt itsannounced plan to launch a long-range rocket in coming days. "That will not change. We will continue to have bilateralcontact (with the North Koreans) and we are prepared to openthat channel at any point," he said in remarks at the ForeignPress Center in Washington. North Korea has said it will send a satellite into spacebetween Saturday and Wednesday, and insists it has the right todo so as a part of a peaceful space program. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said it was now almostcertain the North would fire the missile despite globalprotests, and if weather allowed the launch could take place asearly as Saturday. South Korea and Japan say the launch is a disguised test ofthe long-range Taepodong-2 missile, which is designed to carrya warhead capable of reaching U.S. territory but which blewapart about 40 seconds after launch during its only test flightin July 2006. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/650730