South Korea on Wednesday threatened to suspend US beef imports if any further disease concerns emerge as the government sought to dispel growing public anger against a deal that will open the South Korean market to US beef next week.

The Bush administration is hoping that the beef deal, reached last month on the eve of a visit to Washington by Lee Myung-bak, South Korea’s new president, will help build momentum for the US Congress’ ratification of a bilateral trade agreement signed almost a year ago.