The U.S. State Department says the failure to come to a compromise in recent talks on a free trade agreement between South Korea and the U.S. won't negatively effect bilateral ties.

Department spokesman Philip Crowley on Friday told a news briefing that trade is important but is not the only issue on which the two sides cooperate.

Crowley said that the two nations' status as allies remains unchanged and that the conclusion of an FTA will further enhance bilateral ties.

Crowley said that an FTA is a difficult and complex issue and thus the two nations need more time for related discussions. He added that negotiation teams of the two sides will do their best to reach a compromise that can be acceptable to both nations.