[Note: Some western sources mistakenly refer to the Microbiological Institute (微生物硏究所) as the Industrial Microbiology Institute (工業微生物學硏究所). However, these two facilities are different research institutes. The Industrial Microbiology Institute is directly under the control of the Academy of Sciences, while the Microbiological Institute is one of the research institutes subordinate to the Academy of Medical Sciences (醫學科學院) under the Ministry of Public Health (保健省)].

Location: Probably Kwahak-dong (科學洞) or Kwahak-2-dong (科學2洞), Ŭnjŏng-kuyŏk (恩情區域), Pyongyang (平壤市), North Korea [Note 1: In 1996, part of P’yŏngsŏng City (平城市) was incorporated into Pyongyang. This Section was named Ŭnjŏng-kuyŏk, and this administrative district includes areas where the Academy of Sciences and other institutes are located. However, many sources still mistakingly identify the location of organizations and institutes as P’yŏngsŏng].

Telephone number: +850-31-24-2678

Subordinate to: Academy of Medical Sciences (醫學科學院), Ministry of Public Health (保健省), Cabinet (內閣)

[Note 1: The Academy of Medical Sciences was founded in June 1958 by merging the Medical Treatment Science Research Institute (醫療科學硏究所), the Medical Herb Department (藥草院科), and the Medical Field Research Institute (醫學分野硏究所). Both the Medical Treatment Science Research Institute and the Medical Herb Department were placed under the Academy of Sciences (科學院), and the Medical Field Research Institute was under the Ministry of Public Health (保健省). When founded, the Academy of Medical Sciences was called the Medical Science Research Institute (醫學科學硏究院).  The name was changed to the “Academy of Medical Sciences (醫學科學院)” in November 1963, but it was changed once again to the “Medical Science Research Institute” in February 1994. The institute is currently called the “Academy of Medical Sciences,” but it is unclear when the designation changed. Note 2: The Medical Science Research Institute was subordinate to the Academy of Sciences from 1994, but it came under the control of the Ministry of Public Health in 1998].

Primary Function: Research, development, and production of microbial cultures with applications in areas such as feed supplements, medicines, fermentative industries, and food and beverages

Description: The Microbiological Institute was founded in November 1980 under the orders of Kim Il Sung to accelerate the development and production of biological and chemical weapons. In 1987, North Korea established the Institute of Anti-Viral Preventative Medicine at this facility to conduct research on hemorrhagic fever and bacteria that could be used for biological weapons. North Korean sources confirm that the institute produces vaccines and toxoids, including those for diphtheria, epidemic hemorrhagic fever, and Japanese B encephalitis. In addition to vaccine research and production, as of 1998, the institute reportedly had a pilot plant and a mass production facility for fertilizers and soaps, as well as its own equipment, such as reactors, fermenters, and driers.

Kim Wŏn Pon, director of the "Northeast Asia Research Institute (北東亞問題硏究所)” in Japan, and Lee Ch’ung Kuk, formerly assigned to the  Nuclear Chemical Defense Bureau (核化學防衛局), allege that the Microbiological Institute is involved in the research and development of BW agents.
 
The Microbiological Institute was directed by Chu Sung Mun as of 1998.

Microbiology Institute researchers at a pilot plant (source: Korea Today, March 1997).

	Updated July 2003

Key Sources:
“DPRK’s Microbiology Institute Profiled,” 11 August 2000, in FBIS Document ID: KPP2000811000089; Chang Chun Ik, Pukhan Haek-Missile Chŏnjaeng, (Seoul: Sŏmundang, 1999), pp. 367-368; Kim Tong Wŏn, “Ch’ejewigishi ‘Taenam Chŏllyakkadŭ’ Ro Hwalyong/Pukhan Saeng’hwahangmugi Shilch’ŏn’baech’I Sang’hwang,” Segye Ilbo, 24 Ocotber 1992, p. 5, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; “Puk Kwahagwŏnjang Unjŏnsa Hong Kong T’onghae Mangmyŏng Yoch’ŏng/‘Paegop’a T’alcu’lhaedda’,” Donga Ilbo, 4 August 1996,  p. 31, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Song Ŭi Tal, “Puk Chumin 2 Myŏng Kwisun…Ŏje Ipkuk/Misaengmul Yŏnguwŏnnodongja Ch’ulshin,” Chosun Ilbo, 22 August 1996, p. 2, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Pukchumin 2 Myŏng Ddo Kwisun/Yŏngusojidowŏnnodongja/3 Kuk Kŏch’ŏ Oje Ipkuk,” Donga Ilbo, 22 August 1996, p. 38, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Yonhap News Agency, 21 August 1996, in “Two Defectors Arrive in Seoul, Describe Situation in DPRK,” FBIS Document ID: SK2108115596; South Korea Ministry of Unification, Pukhan Kaeyo 2000 (Seoul: Ministry of Unification, December 1999), pp. 308413; Lee Chae Sŭng, Pukhan’ŭl Umjig’i’nŭn Technocrat (Seoul: Ilbit, 1998), pp. 344-347.