• Title/Summary/Keyword: Biological weapons

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A Study on the Threat of Biological Terrorism in modern society (현대사회의 환경변화에 따른 Bio-Terror의 위협요인 연구)

  • Kang, young-sook;Kim, Tae-hwan
    • Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.3-26
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    • 2005
  • In recent years, there is growing concern about the potential use of biological agents in war or acts of terrorism accompanied an increased realization that rapid preparedness and response are needed to prevent or treat the human damage that can be caused by these agents. The threat is indeed serious, and the potential for devastating numbers of casualties is high. The use of agents as weapons, even on a small scale, has the potential for huge social and economic disruption and massive diversion of regional and national resources to combat the threat, to treat primary disease, and to clean up environmental contamination. Biological weapons are one of weapons of mass destruction (or mass casualty weapons, to be precise. since they do not damage non-living entities) that are based on bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, fungi or toxins produced by these organisms. Biological weapons are known to be easy and cheap to produce and can be used to selectively target humans, animals, or plants. Theses agents can cause large numbers of casualties with minimal logistical requirements (in wide area). The spread of disease cannot be controlled until there is awareness of the signs of infection followed by identification of agents; and if the organism is easily spread from person to person, as in the case of smallpox, the number of casualties could run into the tens of thousands. Biological weapons could be used covertly, there can be a lot of different deployment scenarios. A lot of different agents could be used in biological weapons. And, there are a lot of different techniques to manufacture biological weapons. Terrorist acts that make use of Biological Agents differ in a number of ways from those involving chemicals. The distinction between terrorist and military use of Biological Weapon is increasingly problematic. The stealthy qualities of biological weapons further complicate the distinction between terrorism and war. In reality, all biological attacks are likely to require an integrated response involving both military and civilian communities. The basic considerations when public health agencies establish national defence plan against bioterrorism must be 1) arraying various laws and regulations to meet the realistic needs, 2)education for public health personnels and support of concerned academic society, 3)information collection and cooperative project with other countries, 4)Detection and surveillance(Early detection is essential for ensuring a prompt response to biological or chemical attack, including the provision of prophylactic medicines, chemical antidotes, or vaccines) and 5) Response(A comprehensive public health response to a biological or chemical terrorist event involves epidemiologic investigation, medical treatment and prophylaxis for affacted persons, and the initiation of disease prevention or environmental decontamination measures). The purpose of this paper is providing basic material of preparedness and response for biological terrorism in modern society.

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A Brief History and National Safety Regulation on the Weapons of Mass Destruction Including Biological Agents (생물작용제를 포함한 대량살상용 생물학적 무기에 대한 역사 및 법률적 안전규제 사항에 관한 고찰)

  • Kim, Jee-Hee;Lee, Si-Young
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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    • v.22 no.4
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    • pp.102-109
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    • 2007
  • A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs(agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plant. These agents are found in nature, but it is possible that they could be changed to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment. Terrorists may use biological agents because these agents can be extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like smallpox virus, can spread from person to person, like anthrax, can not. From these agents, we discussed the characteristics of biological agents and national safety regulation on the weapons of mass destruction including bioterrorism.

A review on the Pathogens and Diseases Associated with Biological weapons (생물무기로 사용된 병원균과 질병에 대한 고찰)

  • Choi Chul-soon
    • Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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    • v.38 no.9
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    • pp.781-800
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    • 2002
  • Recently, biological weapons (BWs) prepared with pathogenic microorganisms, toxins and biological vectors have been used maliciously for biological warfare, bioterrorism and/or agroterrorism by hostile countries and terrorists. In this review, historical background of disease and malicious use of BWs pathogenicity of microorganisms, advanced methodology involved in laboratory diagnosis, and prevention and control of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis), plague (Yersinia pseudotuberculosis subs. pestis), glanders (Burkholderia mallei), and smallpox (Variola virus) which have been abused for biological warfare or bioterrorism were discussed. In addition, the pathogenicity of microorganisms and the methodology needed to diagnose and control 6 diseases identified by WHO/CDC, ie., smallpox, inhalation anthrax, pneumonic plague, botulism, tularemia, and hemorrhagic fevers that would wreak havoc if terrorists successfully disseminated the germs by air were described.

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Terrorism using biological weapons and Countermeasures (생물무기에 의한 테러와 대응책)

  • Jo, Sung-Ho
    • Korean Security Journal
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    • no.7
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    • pp.287-307
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    • 2004
  • Mass killing and injuring by purpose, the countries that is hurrying countermeasure preparation of investigators who enforce that necessity to compare to intimidation of doing creature weapon is common concerns of the several countries including advanced nation such as the United States of America. Development and use of biological weapon have increased too recently to private citizens unlike development of military purpose in country dimension. The latest WHO is preparing proposal of standard stroke model who each department solidifies preparedness for chemical biological and electronic weapon revising report about biological weapon. But in case of korea, confrontation plan that bamboo broom about possibility of attack to the common people and attack comparing actual state in case of attained nothing but is readying remedy about biological warfare partially in military dimension was not readied. The purpose of this article is a study on threat of bio-weapons and the countermeasure.

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A Study on Development of Civil Defense CBR Virtual Training Simulation Scenario (민방위 화생방 가상훈련 시뮬레이션 시나리오 개발 연구)

  • Jung, Tae-Ho;Jang, Jae-Soon;Park, Sang-Hyun
    • Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.175-183
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    • 2014
  • In spite of international efforts to control nuclear weapons and chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) weapons, North Korea obtains and sells CBR weapons illegally. As a result, the worldwide threat of CBR weapons is increasing. Unfortunately, civil defense education and training for CBR weapons have not been adopted for real situations because of the long period of absence of an actual combat. In this study, virtual training scenarios that are applied to the simulation were made in 5 steps to cope with CBR situations. These scenarios are expected to have three effects. First, trainings can be improved with experience and education. Second, the problems and health hazards of CBR weapons and supplies can be solved with CBR virtual training simulation experience. Finally, corresponding effects can be recognized and predicted in real situations through roles and mission procedures of simulation scenario.

A Study on the Planning of Civil Defense Shelter and Design 1 - On the ideas of the State of Civil Defense Shelter & Design Criteria - (민방위 대피시설 계획 및 설계 방안에 관한 연구 1 - 민방위 대피시설의 현황 및 설계기준을 중심으로 -)

  • Park, Namkwun;Paik, Sungkun
    • Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.358-365
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    • 2014
  • North Korea has been preparing for WMD(Weapons Mass Destruction) using asymmetric force since it recognized the economic effects of CBR (Chemical, Biological, Radiological) weapons system operation and the limitations of conventional weapons. However, the threat only to conventional bombs, missiles and etc. is considered on the current Civil Defense Shelter, which could increase civil damages, not responding appropriately to disasters such as CBR weapons, terror attacks and etc. Therefore, this study confirms the current situation of Civil Defense Shelter and design criteria focused on CBR disasters so that we could make a plan and design of Civil Defense Shelter. In addition, we suggest the research result and improvements on Civil Defense Shelter and Design.

Contrast Analysis for CBRN attacks on educational research and best practices (테러대비를 위한 CBRNE교육 선진사례 분석에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Tae hwan;Park, Dae woo;Hong, Eun sun
    • Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.78-100
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    • 2009
  • This study is to protect peoples' life, minimize the property damage by coping with threats quickly and take more preventive measures in advance against nuclear bomb, CBR, and potential explosive. For this, CBRNE(Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive) program research was used. Thanks to advance in technology, terrorist groups and even individuals make or keep nuclear and CBR weapons. And also it's likely that disaster and threats from a toxic gas, acute pathogens, accidents in the nuclear power plants and a high explosive could be happened a lot. Recently more organized terrorist groups maintain random attacks for unspecified individuals and also it's highly likely that a large-scale terrorist attack by WMD and CBRNEwill be done. To take strict measures against CBRNE attacks by terrorists is on the rise as an urgent national task. Moreover biological weapons are relatively easy and inexpensive to obtain or produce and cause mass casualties with a small amount. For this reason, more than 25 countries have already possessed them. In the 21 st century, the international safety environment marks the age of complicated threats : transnational threats such as comprehensive security and terror, organized crime, drug smuggling, illegal trade of weapons of mass destruction, and environmental disruption along with traditional security threats. These cause military threats, terror threats, and CBRNE threats in our daily life to grow. Therefore it needs to come up with measures in such areas as research development, policy, training program. Major industrial nations on CBRNE like USA, Canada, Switzerland, and Israel have implemented various educational programs. These researches could be utilized as basic materials for drawing up plans for civil defense, emergency services and worldwide countermeasures against CBRNE.

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Study on Consideration of Artificial Rain Technology in Aspect of National Security (국가안보측면으로서의 인공강우기술 고찰)

  • Choi, Kee-Nam;Lee, Sun-Je
    • Convergence Security Journal
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.99-106
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    • 2012
  • March 11, 2010, in Japan located over East Sea of Korea, due to the strong earthquake tsunami, Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant was ceased and exploded resulting in leaking radioactive substances. Even though it was an accident happened in a nation, leaked radioactive substances were spread across the world moving along ocean currents and air current. Our nation also had terror and confusion about radioactive rain after the accident, and even though a year has been passed by after the accident, the problem on the radioactive contamination isn't solved. So to speak, nuclear accident of neighboring country is a threat to our nation but not only Japan but also Chinese ocean across the West Sea has nuclear power plants. Beside threat of nuclear accident of neighboring countries, North Korea in military confrontation is the world 3rd country holding chemical and biological weapons and can spray the biological weapons to South Korea at any time like Yeonpyeong-do bombard provocation in November, 2010. The study is the strategy confronting such threats and grafted artificial rain technology which is weather control technology. Since radioactive substances on radioactive accidents and North Korean biological weapons can differ in the density by the weather condition, only artificial rain technology can remove the threat perfectly but it is worth to try as the method to reduce damage and in the aspect of psychology. To use the artificial rain technology in the aspect of national security to acquire the public safety, research institutes such ADD should fulfill active and symbolic technology research development.