SEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ South Korea's president says his government will immediately halt U.S. beef imports if it endangers public health.

Fears of mad cow disease have spread among many South Koreans ahead of the resumption of the imports later this month. Thousands have staged candlelight vigils to call on the government to scrap an agreement with the U.S. to restart imports.

South Korea suspended imports in 2003 after mad cow disease was discovered in Washington state cattle. It resumed them on a limited basis a year ago, but suspended them in October when a shipment arrived containing banned animal parts.

The comments by President Lee Myung-bak (lee myuhng bahk) appear to conflict with the beef deal Seoul signed with Washington last month. Under the agreement, South Korea says it will only halt imports if the World Organization for Animal Health downgrades its safety rating for American cattle.