(AP) - South Korea canceled the final day of five-day free trade talks with the United States on Friday after the American side failed to attend one of the sessions scheduled the previous day, the South Korean government said.
South Korea informed American officials that Friday's talks would be canceled, an official statement said, reports Trend.
The negotiations had hit snags this week over issues including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, farm products and the status of South Korean products made in communist North Korea.
"We didn't attend the talks as the U.S. didn't attend talks," Ryu Ho-kwon, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade official, told The Associated Press. He said there are three more rounds of negotiations scheduled this year.
Yonhap news agency earlier reported that the talks ended due to differences between the two sides and that they didn't meet on Friday, the last of five days of scheduled negotiations.
American trade officials could not immediately be reached for comment. U.S. Embassy Deputy Sspokesman Phillip Broussard said he had no information.
The sides launched the ambitious talks last month in Washington and aim to conclude an agreement that would cut tariffs and increase market access.