Missile issue not bilateral with N.Korea: White House

WASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters) The United States will not allow the leader of North Korea to turn the missile launch crisis into a bilateral issue between Washington and Pyongyang, the White House said today.

The United States is ''trying to figure out the proper way to move forward in dealing with North Korea,'' and consulting with allies, White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

''This is not a US-North Korea issue and we are not going to permit the leader of North Korea to transform it into that.'' REUTERS CH BD1946