United States-New agriculture appointments.

UNITED STATES-TWO NEW FARM APPOINTMENTS.

Two U.S. senators urged President Barack Obama on

Monday to move quickly to resolve differences on a proposed free-trade pact

with South Korea , saying the need for an agreement has grown with North Korea ’s

recent test launch of a missile.

The April 5 rocket launch by Pyongyang demonstrates the "vital" need for the

U.S. to strengthen its ties to northeast Asia by improving trade relations with

South Korea , Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote in a

letter to Obama. Baucus is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which

oversees trade pacts, and Grassley is the panel’s ranking Republican.

"As the United States and Korea seek to defuse security threats for the sake

of our nations’ safety, so too must we work to resolve bilateral economic

issues for the sake of our common prosperity," the letter states.

The letter acknowledges long-standing issues with the proposed Korea

free-trade pact, including, the senators say, South Korea ’s failure to ensure

full access for U.S. beef exporters to the Asian country’s market in accordance

with international standards. The senators also point to South Korea ’s "long

history of non-tariff barriers to its auto sector."

"Postponing addressing such issues will not make them easier to resolve," the

letter states.

The senators urge Obama to "begin the hard work of winning broad approval" of

the pact, which would need ultimately need to be approved by Congress.

A White House spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.