The Korean government is moving to update its container shipment rules to deal with tougher security standards being pursued by the United States, the European Union (EU) and international organisations.

The measures being formulated by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, the Korea Customs Service and the National Intelligence Service come as the United States announced in August that it would check all container shipments arriving at its ports, starting in 2012.

On its part, the EU initiated the Customs Security Programme that compels disclosure of all shipments to the economic bloc, while the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) have adopted similar measures to enhance container safety.

The IMO initiated the International Ship and Port Facility Security Codes, while the ISO established radio-frequency identification tag rules, called e-seals, this year to prevent commercial shipments from being used for terrorist attacks.

Since the September 11 attacks on Washington and New York, Western countries have beefed up security measures to deal with unconventional attacks, with special emphasis on preventing weapons of mass destruction from reaching US and European ports on commercial ships.

Seoul joined the US-led Customs trade partnership against terrorism and Container Security Initiative soon after they were established, and has initiated measures, including joint efforts with US Customs officials stationed at its ports, to inspect any suspicious containers headed to the United States since 2003.

Korea currently operates one X-ray machine in Busan that can check the contents of containers, and opens containers that are considered serious security risks. Out of the approximately 140 million TEUs shipped all over the world every year, South Korea handles 15.96 million, but only checks 0.03 percent with X-rays and by opening the seals. The percentage is slightly higher, 1.7 percent, for shipments headed to the United States.

"There is considerable controversy, even within the United States, about the feasibility of checking all incoming containers, but there is a need to be prepared," said a ministry official.

The expert said it may not be possible to check all shipments, but there will be a need to increase the percentage of cargo that is checked thoroughly in the future.

To meet such changes, government agencies, exporters and shipping companies must work together to prevent the changes from hurting the country's economy, the expert said.