Accusations of Biological Warfare by the US in Korea

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Accusations of Biological Warfare by the US in Korea In the 1950s, allegations surfaced that the United States had experimented with biological weapons in remote areas of Northern Korea. “The US government denied the charges of biological weapons use, and this denial was generally supported in the West by eminent scientists who challenged the Needham report. The allegations are still a matter for study.” (Guillemain, 2005, p. 100) The scope of this paper is to neither attempt to solidify the convictions of the accusers, nor is it to vindicate the American government of the time. This paper will outline the purported evidence and accusations against the Americans for their use of biological weapons in Korea. After World War II ended, the United States was developing its chemical and biological weapons program to try and catch up with those the Germans had already displayed having greater knowledge of. Different branches of the government hired many scientists from both Germany and Japan. Some of the German scientists had worked in the concentration camps on things such as mind altering drugs, chemical and biological experiments. Some of the Japanese scientists that were hired came from units responsible for weaponizing biological agents and developing adequate delivery systems. The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) was asked to go to Korea in early 1952 to investigate suspected war crimes committed by the Americans. Among the tasks in their charter was the investigation of the use of biological weapons. While over 169 areas were suspected to have been contaminated with different biological weapon dispersions, the IADL gave brief descriptions of 15 ‘typical’ sites, while going into great detail abo... ... middle of paper ... ...onsored Programs to Contemporary Bioterrorism. Columbia University Press. Needham, J. (1952-1989). NCUACS 95.10.5. Retrieved from The National Archives: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=062-ncuacs95105&cid=0#0 Pohlmann, D. (Director). (2010). Doctors of Death - Full Documentary [Motion Picture]. Ryall, J. (2010, June 10). Did the US wage germ warfare in Korea? Retrieved 05 21, 2014, from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/7811949/Did-the-US-wage-germ-warfare-in-Korea.html Schwalbe, F. H. (1953). Of Bugs and Bombs. Retrieved 05 21, 2014, from University of Missouri, St Louis: http://www.umsl.edu/~thomaskp/schwab.htm Weathersby, K. (2004). New Evidence on the Korean War. Retrieved from COLD WAR INTERNATIONAL HISTORY PROJECT BULLETIN 14/15: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Bulletin_11_Korea.pdf

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