SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- The government said Tuesday that it will use military and non-union vehicles to prevent possible serious delays in overland freight traffic if truckers go on strike later in the week.

    Policymakers from the defense, transportation, knowledge economy, and labor ministries held talks earlier in the day and said emergency measures will go into effect if members of the Korea Cargo Transport Workers Union go on strike.

    They agreed that in addition to military and non-union trucks, smaller-sized private vehicles will be given permission to handle commercial cargo.

    Only 3-4 percent of all commercial vehicles are union vehicles, but because many of the union's members drive large container-hauling trucks, a strike could seriously affect the country's ability to haul freight by road.

    The union threatened to go on strike starting Friday unless the government lowers diesel fuel costs, raises fees for hauling freight to reflect market conditions and introduces a standardized pricing system for truckers that can ensure minimum wages for services rendered.

    Seoul said it is reviewing the demands, although the government says there is a limit to its ability to cut diesel fuel costs, which are mainly the result of skyrocketing global crude oil prices.

    "In the immediate future, replacement vehicles could handle the load, although if the strike becomes a long, drawn-out affair, there will be some repercussions," said an official from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

    The country on average moves 24,830 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers each day, with the strike expected to affect 20 percent, or 4,966 TEUs.

    The government policymaker then said that police officers are to be stationed near docks and toll gates of expressways to prevent union members from blocking traffic and intimidating non-union drivers.

    They added that every effort will be made to try to find middle ground with truck drivers so they can call off the planned strike.

    "A strike at this juncture could cause further trouble for the sluggish economy," said the official. He said past strikes clearly affected trade volume.

    Industry sources, meanwhile, said strikes by smaller-sized regional truckers' unions are already affecting freight traffic.

    They said strikes in North Jeolla Province have reduced freight handling capabilities at the port of Gunsan by about 10 percent, while companies like Hyundai Motor Co. are reporting delayed deliveries of finished cars to consumers.

    Non-union drivers in Busan and Pyeongtaek are also showing signs of joining the strike, which can directly affect the country's ability to export and import goods.

    Busan is South Korea's largest sea port, while Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, has become the main port for factories and people living in Gyeonggi Province.