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North Korea suspected of building arsenal of biological weapons

This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 13, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) photographed with students and teachers of Mangyongdae Revolutionary School in Pyongyang - AFP
This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 13, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) photographed with students and teachers of Mangyongdae Revolutionary School in Pyongyang - AFP

North Korea is suspected of building an arsenal of biological weapons (BW) designed to sow fear and panic in the Korean peninsula at the start of any armed conflict, according to a new report by Harvard researchers.

They detail 13 biological agents – including anthax, cholera and smallpox – as candidates for use.

The secretive regime could bypass the technical challenge of loading missiles with biological weapons by using “human vectors” posing as cleaning staff to spread deadly pathogens.

“It is theoretically possible that North Korean sleeper agents disguised as cleaning and disinfection personnel could disperse BW agents with backpack sprayers,” according to the report by the Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Another possibility is that North Korean agents will introduce BW into water supplies for major metropolitan areas.”

North Korea has made no secret of its ambition to develop nuclear missiles capable of threatening the US mainland.

It is part of a strategy designed to protect Kim Jong-un’s family dynasty from being toppled by outside intervention.

Analysts believe North Korea is already capable of killing millions of people with a mix of short-range conventional and nuclear weapons in the event of a pre-emptive US strike.

At the same time, the report suggests Pyongyang may be developing weapons of germ warfare for use in the early stages of any conflict.

“North Korea is likely to use biological weapons before or at the beginning of a conflict to disrupt society and create panic, incapacitate societies, and/or cause a significant military diversion,” write the authors.

They also say analysis of images of Pyongyang’s Bio-technical Institute indicate it could produce “military-style batches of biological weapons” including anthrax.

North Korea and the H-Bomb
North Korea and the H-Bomb

“The most recent statement by the South Korean Defence Ministry is that North Korea has 13 types of biological weapons which it can weaponise within ten days,” it continues.

“And anthrax and smallpox are the likely agents it would deploy.”

The report is based on open source reporting and interviews with experts but the authors acknowledge that the nature of biological weapons – kept behind closed doors compared to nuclear weapons that require massive underground test sites and produce seismic results - makes it difficult to confirm details.

“Moreover, equipment used for BW production are often dual-use for agriculture, making external monitoring and verification virtually impossible.”

The report argues that the absence of evidence has led to a low threat perception and the US should do more to prepare for the possibility of a biological attack.