South Korea to Enact Bioweapons Law in 2007

South Korea in 2007 will bring into force a law to ensure Seoul’s compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention, the Yonhap News Agency reported (see GSN, June 13).

Seoul signed the treaty in 1987. The law would limit production, trading and possession of components that could be used to make biological weapons, according to the South Korean government.

“Because the 1975 convention does not have any international enforcement and monitoring mechanism, each of the 153 signatories has been required to incorporate such safety measures within its own law,” said a Commerce, Industry and Energy Ministry official. 

The new law must be approved by parliament, and is expected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2007.

Under the law, production, import and export of biological agents and substances that could be used to create weapons would be forbidden. The law would allow for the peaceful use of the agents and substances under tight supervision, according to Yonhap.

Facilities would undergo regular inspections, and violators could face criminal charges (Yonhap News Agency, Dec. 20).

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