21 January 2003
South Korea Signs On to Container Security Initiative
(U.S. Customs January 17 press release) (760)
The U.S. Customs Service announced in a press release January 17 that
the South Korean government has agreed in principle to participate in
the U.S. Customs Container Security Initiative (CSI).
CSI is a U.S. Customs initiative designed to prevent the smuggling of
terrorists or terrorist weapons in ocean-going cargo containers into
the United States. U.S. Customs officers will soon be stationed at the
South Korean port of Busan.
Launched by U.S. Customs in January 2002, CSI consists of four core
elements: using automated information to identify and target high-risk
containers; pre-screening those containers identified as high-risk
before they arrive at U.S. ports; using detection technology to
quickly pre-screen high-risk containers; and using smarter, tamper
proof containers.
"[The Republic of Korea agreeing to join CSI] is an important step,
not only for the protection of trade between the U.S. and the Republic
of Korea, but for the protection of the most critical component of the
world trading system as a whole-containerized cargo," said U.S.
Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner.
Following is the text of the January 17 Customs press release:
(begin text)
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, January 17, 2003
Republic of Korea Signs Declaration of Principles to Join U.S. Customs
Container Security Initiative, Strengthening Anti-Terror Coalition
WASHINGTON, D.C.--U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner and
Yong-Sup Lee, Commissioner of the Customs Service of the Republic of
Korea, today announced that the government of the Republic of Korea
has agreed to participate in the U.S. Customs Container Security
Initiative (CSI). Commissioner Lee and Deputy U.S. Customs
Commissioner Douglas M. Browning conducted the signing ceremony on
Friday, January 17, in Seoul.
CSI is a U.S. Customs initiative designed to prevent the smuggling of
terrorists or terrorist weapons in ocean-going cargo containers. Under
the terms of the declaration announced today, U.S. Customs officers
will be stationed at the port of Busan.
"I am very pleased that the Republic of Korea has agreed to join with
the United States in the Container Security Initiative," said
Commissioner Bonner. "We recognize the high volume of trade between
the Port of Busan and seaports in the U.S. and Busan's role as an
intermodal transport hub for cargo originating in many countries. This
is an important step, not only for the protection of trade between the
U.S. And the Republic of Korea, but for the protection of the most
critical component of the world trading system as a
whole-containerized cargo."
Globally, over 48 million full cargo containers move between major
seaports each year. Each year, more than 16 million containers arrive
in the United States by ship, truck, and rail.
"We recognize the importance to deter and interdict any terrorist
attempt to disrupt global trade or to attempt to make use of
commercial shipping to further their own schemes," said Yong-Sup, Lee,
Commissioner of the Customs Service of the Republic of Korea.
The CSI initiative supports the "Cooperative G8 Action on Transport
Security" adopted by G8 in June 2002.
Launched by U.S. Customs in January 2002, CSI consists of four core
elements. These include: (1) using automated information to identify
and target high-risk containers; (2) pre-screening those containers
identified as high-risk before they arrive at U.S. ports; (3) using
detection technology to quickly pre-screen high-risk containers; and
(4) using smarter, tamper proof containers.
The initial objective is to implement CSI at the ports that send large
volumes of cargo containers into the United States, in a way that will
facilitate detection of potential security concerns at their earliest
possible opportunity.
One element of CSI involves placing U.S. Customs inspectors at foreign
seaports to target and prescreen U.S.-bound cargo containers before
they are shipped to America.
"We are in the process of getting CSI implemented in those ports that
have signed on. We have deployed and will continue to deploy teams to
the participating ports as quickly as possible," Commissioner Bonner
said. "We are looking to expand CSI beyond the top 20 ports, as
rapidly as we can. Once we have implemented CSI at most of the top 20
ports, we will quickly expand CSI to all ports that ship substantial
amounts of cargo to the United States, and that have the
infrastructure and technology in place to participate in the program."
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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