South Korea and the Untied States ended their "additional talks" in Washington on the resumption of US beef imports without an immediate deal, officials from the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Monday.

Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon left Washington for home Sunday Washington time, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Yonhap, adding that "there has not been a compromise yet".

The two sides agreed to continue related talks through diplomatic channels, the official said.

Kim Jong-hoon met US Trade Representative Susan Schwab on Friday and Saturday to try to secure official US backing for Seoul's decision to exclude meat from older cows, seen as being potentially more prone to disease.

Thousands of South Koreans have staged street protests for the past month, demanding nullification and complete negotiation of the April 18 beef deal with Washington.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2008)