WASHINGTON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Despite eagerness from both sides for closer alliance, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's tour to the United States, aimed to mend bilateral ties, is confronted with some thorny issues, analysts said.

    Lee chose the United States as his first overseas destination after taking office on Feb. 25, a move that seems to accentuate his vow to take stronger ties with Washington as one of his major foreign policy goals.

    The White House is also seeking closer ties with Seoul. U.S. President George W. Bush invited Lee to Camp David on April 18-19 for their first summit, the first time a South Korean leader has been invited to the presidential retreat.

    However, analyst said the visit is likely to be overshadowed by some knotty issues such as the pending free trade agreement and ongoing realignment of the bilateral military alliance.

    BEEF MARKET FOR FTA

    To honor a pledge to double South Korea's wealth that helped win him the presidency in December, Lee is seeking to woo U.S. earlier ratification of a free trade agreement, analysts said.

    Economic experts estimated that the FTA signed last year but still awaits approval in both nations' legislatures could raise annual bilateral trade from 78 billion U.S. dollars to 98 billion dollars.

    However, U.S. beef imports remain a thorny issue when it comes to getting FTA approved by the U.S. Congress. South Korea was the third largest foreign market for U.S. beef until U.S. imports were banned following a mad cow disease outbreak in 2003.

    But analysts said the prospects are shaky for congressional approval with the Democrats, who traditionally oppose open trade, in control.

    Some senior members wielding strong influence in trade-related committees oppose the trade deal, demanding South Korea first open its market to U.S. beef.

    Meanwhile, time is running out as the U.S. political focus this summer will turn to the upcoming presidential election.

    "It is very difficult right now," a U.S. congressman told Yonhap when asked if the trade pact could be ratified within this year.

    In addition, analysts said Lee might face a severe backlash from the Korean consumers and civic groups, who called for more protection for human health.

    MILITARY COOPERATION

    Some analysts said Washington is trying to use Lee's stress on bilateral alliance as a leverage to maximize its national interests.

    The Bush administration is demanding South Korea shoulder bigger shares of spending for U.S. forces stationed in the country.

    Washington is also seeking to make Seoul contribute more to there building of Afghanistan.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Lee's envoy Chung Mong-joon in January that his country asked South Korea to offer personnel assistance in Afghanistan and to help train local police there.

    Seoul withdraw all its troops from the central Asian country following threats by the Taliban, which kidnapped 23 South Korean volunteers last July, killing two of them.

    Analysts said Washington's request put the South Korean government in a dilemma as sending personnel to Afghanistan again just four months after withdrawing troops there would lead to criticism for policy inconsistency.

    The United States has also long hoped Seoul could join its missile defense program, as does Tokyo, citing the continued threat posed by Pyongyang. South Korea, however, has been cautious, given its sensitive ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    It remains to be seen whether Lee will get substantial results from his pursuit of a better alliance with the United States.

    He has to prove that his new diplomacy will bring more benefits, better security and real peace to the nation, analysts said.