A U.S. congressman says the prospect for a ratification of a free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States is gloomy unless the U.S. Congress approves the pact by the end of this month.

Representative Dan Burton, who co-chairs the Korea Caucus of lawmakers, presented the view on Thursday, delivering a keynote speech for a forum organized by the Korean-American Medical Association.

Burton said that considering the current political situation in the U.S., it is uncertain the trade pact could be ratified.

South Korean lawmaker Nam Kyung-pil from the ruling Grand National Party who attended the forum also said that a related bill should be submitted to the U.S. parliament by the end of this month at the latest to pass during the August session.