S. Korea truckers strike for third day

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BUSAN, South Korea, June 27 (UPI) -- About 3,000 unionized truck drivers in South Korea refused to work Wednesday, demanding the government increase fees and cut fuel costs, officials said.

The third straight day of the truckers' strike sharply reduced the amount of cargo moving through major seaports, Yonhap News Agency reported.

At the nation's largest port, Busan, which handles more than 70 percent of South Korea's container traffic, 17,717 containers were moved in or out Tuesday. That compares with a daily average of 44,000 containers before the truckers' strike.

Meanwhile, union and transportation ministry representatives began negotiations Wednesday afternoon aimed at ending the strike, ministry officials said.

The South Korean military has sent 100 container vehicles and 200 drivers to major ports in an effort to minimize disruptions to cargo transportation.

Police said they're investigating 18 suspects in alleged illegal acts presumed to be related to the truckers' strike, Yonhap said.