Location: Ministry of People's Armed Forces Building Number Eight (人民武力部 8號廳舍), Changsan-dong (長山洞), Sŏsŏng-kuyŏk (西城區域), Pyongyang (平壤市), North Korea

Subordinate to: General Staff Department (人民軍總參謀部), Ministry of People's Armed Forces (人民武力部)

Size: About 4,500-5,000 personnel

Primary Function: Managing the research, development, stockpiling, and distribution of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons; managing the research and development of defensive measures against nuclear, chemical, and biological attacks

Description: The Nuclear Chemical Defense Bureau was originally founded as the "Chemical Department (化學部)" in 1954 and was placed under the General Staff Department. The Chemical Department was renamed the "Chemical Bureau (化學局)" in 1961. At that time, chemical warfare units, the No. 398 Research Institute, the No. 279 Factory, and the Maram Materials Corporation were all placed under the jurisdiction of the Chemical Bureau. In 1980, the Chemical Bureau was renamed as the Nuclear Chemical Defense Bureau. Prior to 1980, North Koreas chemical warfare units reportedly were only tasked with defensive measures against chemical and biological attacks. However, after reorganization in 1980, units became capable of launching their own chemical attacks, and they began to adopt defensive measures against nuclear attacks.

There are two active-duty nuclear chemical defense battalions (the 17th and 18th) and six reserve nuclear chemical defense battalions (the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 37th, and 38th) under the Operations Department of the Nuclear Chemical Defense Bureau (NCDB). Four of these reserve units were established in 1992, but it is unclear which exact units were created at that time. In the early to mid-1990s, there were reportedly about 13,000 personnel assigned to North Korean chemical warfare units. The NCDB is also reported to have strong ties with the Academy of Sciences and with Kim Il Sung University.

The NCDB now consists of seven departments and three research institutes. The departments and institutes include the following:

Operations (作戰部); First Department (1部)--overall command of chemical warfare operations and chemical warfare battalions

Training (訓練部); Second Department (2部)--oversight of training for combat units, and management of an officers' training center

Engineering (技術部); Third Department (3部)--research and development of weapons, and supervision and management of research institutes

Equipment (機材部); Fourth Department (4部)--production management and control of chemical weapons and antidotes, and developing plans for chemical weapons production, storage, and distribution

Reconnaissance (偵察部); Fifth Department (5部)--calculation of requirements for decontamination and antidote requirements, and provision of the information to the Operations Department

Tunnel and Underground Facility Management (坑道管理部)--management of underground tests for nuclear and chemical weapons

32 (32部)--research and development of chemical warheads for ballistic missiles

55 Research Institute (55硏究所); Nuclear and Atomic Defense Laboratory (反核反原子分析所) [Note: The literal translation of this institute is "anti-nuclear, anti-atomic analytical laboratory."]--runs simulations and calculates the extent of contamination that would result from the use of chemical and nuclear weapons

710 Research Institute (710硏究所)--research and development of laser weapons

398 Research Institute (398硏究所)--research and development of antidotes and decontamination methods for exposure to radiation and CW agents, and of protective masks and protective suits

	Updated April 2003

Key Sources:
Chang Chun Ik, Pukhan Haek-Missile Chŏnjaeng (Seoul: Sŏmundang, 1999), pp. 358-361, 434; Sŏn Chong Ku, "Puk Haekhwahakpang'wiguk: Haeksaenghwahangmugi Ch'ongjihwi," Segye Ilbo, 21 May 1997, p. 17, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; "Inminmuryŏkpu, Chŏndamguk Sŏlch'i/Haekhwasaengbanjŏnhullyŏn Taep'ok Kanghwa," Segye Ilbo, 15 June 1994, p. 8, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Shin Chong Su, "'Puk Maengdokhwahangmugi Namhansŏmbyŏl Kanŭng'/Kwisunyongsa Lee Ch'ung Kuk Ssi Hoe'gyŏn," Kukmin Ilbo, 23 March 1994, p. 18, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>; Ch'oe Yŏng Jae, "Mi'gug'ŭi Pukhan Saenghwahangmu'gi Appak Chŏllyak," Shindonga, January 2002, <http://www.donga.com/ >; Ch'oe Yong-chae, Shindonga, January 2002, pp. 300-313, in "US Strategy Pressuring DPRK on Biological, Chemical Weapon," FBIS Document ID: KPP20011220000016.