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Assessing North Korea's Chemical and Biological Weapons Capabilities and Prioritizing Countermeasures

In this overview of testimony to Congress, international policy analyst John Parachini discusses North Korea's chemical and biological weapons capabilities and steps that could be taken to help counter them. He recommends reinforcing norms against the production, transfer, and use of biological and chemical weapons capabilities. Specifically, the international community could consider calling on the North Korean regime to embrace a "no-first-use" of chemical and biological weapons pledge.

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  • North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) speaks to Choe Ryong-hae, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, Pyongyang, July 27, 2013

    North Korea's Chemical and Biological Weapons Capabilities—and How to Counter Them

    Any conflict on the Korean Peninsula could entail the use of chemical or biological weapons. For this reason, it's important to ensure the attention given to North Korea's nuclear weapons doesn't cause authorities to overlook these threats.

  • North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the national science centre, in Pyongyang, North Korea, January 12, 2018

    Nothing New from North Korea

    Kim Jong Un's recent proposal for talks with South Korea is by no means unprecedented. And while the overture could somewhat ease tensions in the region, there is no reason to believe that Kim is ready to give up his nuclear arsenal.

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    RAND experts Bruce Bennett, Andrew Scobell, and J.D. Williams host a conference call with news media discussing the rising tensions between North Korea and the United States. Senior Media Relations Officer Khorshied Samad moderates the call.