WASHINGTON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - A U.S. official will visit North Korea on a research trip this week but will not engage in negotiations, a State Department spokesman said on Tuesday.

John Merrill, an analyst with the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, will accompany an academic group that will not be acting in an official capacity, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said.

Merrill "will travel in a research capacity in order to enhance his knowledge and expertise regarding the current situation in North Korea," Gallegos told reporters, reading from a statement.

"The analyst will not be engaged in any negotiations with the North Koreans on behalf of the U.S. government," the spokesman said, adding the trip will be headed by Stanford University professor John Lewis.

North Korea agreed in September 2005 to end its nuclear arms programs in exchange for the prospect of aid, security guarantees and diplomatic ties but progress on carrying out the agreement has been slow.

Inspectors confirmed in July that Pyongyang had shut down its Yongbyon nuclear plant, the source of its weapons-grade plutonium.

The United States on Monday said it could meet North Korea and four other countries involved in diplomatic efforts to end North Korean nuclear programs at a ministerial meeting as early as September.

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