WASHINGTON, Dec 6: The United States accused South Korea on Wednesday of finding an unscientific “excuse” to keep out US beef in angry remarks that clouded controversial free-trade talks between the two nations.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said he was “very disappointed” over South Korea's decision to ban a third consecutive US beef shipment, after the discovery of tiny bone fragments in the consignment.

South Korea, once the third-largest market for US beef, lifted a three-year ban this year that was imposed to keep out mad-cow disease. But it has now blocked all three shipments sent since the ban was scrapped.

“The rejection of the third shipment clearly illustrates that South Korean officials are determined to find an excuse to reject all beef products from the United States,” Johanns said in a statement.—AFP