SEOGWIPO, South Korea —  South Korea and the U.S. began their fourth round of talks Monday to forge a free-trade agreement, negotiations that so far have achieved few breakthroughs ahead of a year-end deadline.

Washington is seeking more access for U.S. pharmaceuticals, automobiles, farm products and other goods, while Seoul wants South Korean products manufactured in North Korea to be included in the agreement. The U.S. has said it cannot accept that. South Korean rice and beef farmers, in particular, have vehemently opposed a deal, saying cheaper U.S. products would jeopardize their livelihoods.

The chief negotiators, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler and South Korean trade diplomat Kim Jong-hoon, shook hands across the negotiating table in a meeting room in Seogwipo, on South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju, where security has been beefed up for the five-day talks.

Washington and Seoul have held three rounds of trade talks since June aimed at forging a deal to lower tariffs and open markets between the countries _ the largest accord for the U.S. since the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.

The two sides have set a goal of reaching a basic agreement by the end of this year to submit to their respective legislatures. The first three rounds made slow progress after being hung up on such issues as market access and South Korean goods made in North Korea.

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The negotiations are scheduled to last through Friday

Security on Jeju was tight Monday, with the island's police force of 2,000 officers beefed up with 10,000 reinforcements from the mainland, according to Kim Chul-soo, a Jeju police official.

Policeexpect up to 20,000 protesters, Kim said.

About 1,300 anti-U.S. activists rallied Sunday in Seoul against the free-trade talks and Washington's push for sanctions against the North for its recent nuclear weapon test.

"No resolution of nuclear issue unless the U.S. withdraws hostile policy"toward North Korea, read one placard at the rally, which blocked six lanes of traffic.

Some 7,000 police were mobilized, but no clashes were reported.

Hundreds of people also gathered near the U.S. Embassy, demanding the U.S. lessen its pressure on the North. Washington pushed the U.N. to impose tough sanctions against Pyongyang, including searches of North Korean ships and cargo, after it announced the nuclear test blast on Oct. 9.

The free-trade talks kicked off in Washington in June amid much fanfare, with the two governments touting it as a"win-win"deal which would open markets and boost economic growth.

A second round in Seoul in July, met by large street protests, broke off early amid bickering over U.S. access to South Korea's pharmaceutical market. The third round was in Seattle last month.

President Bush's legal authority to"fast track"a deal expires in mid-2007. Fast-tracking allows U.S. envoys to negotiate an agreement that can be submitted to Congress for a yes-or-no vote without amendments.

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Associated Press Writer Kwang-Tae Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.

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