Agriculture Minister Kim Yung-rok told lawmakers Tuesday rice will not be part of negotiations for a possible revision to the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

Kim says he has already made it clear to the Trade Ministry handling the FTA talks that South Korea will make no concessions when it comes to the rice market.

He says from South Korea's perspective, the deficit in agricultural products with the United States is just as serious as the automotive deficit with South Korea is for Washington.

Kim's remarks came just hours after the start of talks between the two countries to seek a revised trade agreement.