S. Korea, U.S., revisit free trade accord

In a half-hour telephone conversation, both Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak pledged to wrap up discussions of the free trade accord before next week's Group of 20 summit in Seoul next week, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

A spokeswoman for Lee, Kim Hee-jung said the two leaders agreed to "upgrade the South Korea-United States alliance by a notch."

The free trade agreement was signed by both countries in 2007, but requires ratification in the United States, where some lawmakers have expressed concern over restrictions on U.S. beef exporters and terms they say favor the South Korean automobile industry.

Trade ministers Kim Jong-hoon and Ron Kirk met last week for "additional discussions," South Korean officials said, steering a description of the talks away from sounding like negotiations.

Trade delegates are also expected to meet this week, Yonhap said.

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