23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

Forum: DISEC (GA1)

Question of: Establishing Modulations on the Production of
Biological Weapons
Student Officer: Darren Tsang, Assistant President

Introduction

Biological weapons1 are weapons that have a number of disease-producing agents that
can all be utilized as weapons against humans, animals or plants. This is done through the spread
of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, or other toxins that are produced and released
deliberately to cause disease and death. Throughout human history, it is true that these weapons
have been employed, even when they have not consciously been used as weapons. Biological
weapons is a subset of a larger class of weapons referred to as weapons of mass destruction,
which includes chemical, nuclear and radiological weapons, however this term is not appropriate
in the case of biological armaments. This may be confusing as only lethal biological weapons
may be capable of causing mass deaths, while they are incapable of the destruction of
infrastructure, buildings or equipment. Nevertheless, due to the indiscriminate nature of these
biological weapons - the potential to start widespread pandemics, the difficulty of controlling the
effects, and simply the fear that they inspire - essentially, most countries have banned the use of
these weapons.

The use of biological weapons is essentially dependent on only four factors: the toxic
agent itself, the preparation of use, the durability in the environment, and the route of infection.
These infections through biological weapons can be one, be inhaled, or two, be infected through
any open cuts or wounds on the body. Biological warfare agents differ in the type of organism or
toxin used in a system, lethality, incubation time, infectiousness, stability, and ability to be
treated with current medicines and vaccines. There are five different types of biological agents
that could be weaponized and used in warfare: Bacteria, Toxins, Rickettsiae, Viruses, and Fungi.
These bio weapons are considered to hold great power and influence compared to other weapons
of mass destruction. For instance, biological agents, like anthrax, botulinum toxin and plague can
pose a difficult public health challenge as it will most likely cause large numbers of deaths in a
short amount of time while being difficult to contain.

The direct use of infectious agents or any sort of poisons against opposing personnel is an
ancient practice in warfare. One of the first recorded uses of biological warfare occurred in the
14th century, specifically 1347, when Mongol forces catapulted plague-infested bodies over the
walls into a seaport located in nowaday Ukraine. Some believed that the ships from the besieged

1 In some cases called germ weapons

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 1

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

city carried the plague back to Italy, starting the Black Death, which killed about one third of its
population. Another record of this was in 1710, when the Russian armies also, catapulted plague-
infected bodies over to the Swidish forces. Additionally, in 1763, the British troops besieged at
nowaday Pittsburgh passed smallpox infested blankets to the Indians, causing an epidemic
among their ranks. However, more contemporary instances of biological warfare are still present.
During World War I, German agents infiltrated the US and surreptitiously infected animals prior
to their shipment in support of Allied forces. Moreover, during the Cold War era, in which both
Soviet Union and the United States embarked on large-scale biological warfare and
developments.

As biological weapons can be easily developed and produced, as it is difficult to monitor

the usage and the stockpile within different countries. The development of pathogens for
biological weapons can occur essentially behind closed stores, thus, very hard to keep track of.
Furthermore, most of the equipment used for biological weapons are also found wildly in
agriculture, called “dual-used” pathogens. This makes the verification and monitoring of the
development of biological weapons virtually impossible. Recent uses of biological weapons
include a suspected program in the Middle East. According to the U.S. Congressional Research
Service report conducted in 2008, many countries such as China, Iran, Israel, North Korea, are
considered, have some Biological weapons capability, despite almost all having signed a variety
of treaties pledging to halt all production.

After the founding of the United Nations, of more than 190 different members, a dozen or
so different nations are strongly suspected of having ongoing biological weapons programs.
However, these experiments and developments are easily disguised or hidden as vaccine plants
and pharmaceutical-production centers. The prospect of military advantage through biological
weapons might tempt multiple countries to acquire these weapons. The 1925 Geneva Protocol2
was one of the first ever treaties to formally ban use of this class of weapons when they were
first used on a greater scale during World War I. The destruction that resulted had convinced
many nations to sign and ratify Geneva Protocol. In 2013, more than 180 countries signed and
ratified the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)3, formally known as Convention on the
Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological4 (Biological) and

2 The Geneva Protocol, also known as the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating,
Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, is a treaty that bans the use of
chemical and biological weapons between nations during times of conflict
3 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, signed 10 April 1972, effective 26 March
1975.

4 Endorses the proposal for guidelines and procedures for investigations of reports on the
possible use of chemical and bacteriological (biological) or toxin weapons contained,
4, December 1990 (A/RES/45/57C)

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 2

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.5 The BWC was aimed at eradicating an entire class of
weapons of mass destruction, as well as banning the development, production, and stockpiling of
such weapons. Essentially, disarming6 all biological weapons.7 This action was an effort to
supplement the effects of the Geneva Protocol, which prohibits use but not development or
possession of biological weapons. However, the BWC8 has no existing verification procedures to
verify the compliance by its signatories, cheating would then be done without outside proof to
the contrary. Therefore, it would be a definite possibility that a small and relatively poor country
might embark on a biological warfare program with scant capital investments, which could all be
housed inside a few buildings. In fact, biological weapons might also be within the technical and
financial reach of a terrorist organization. With such dangers in mind, the degree of biological
weapons proliferation is however still highly uncertain, difficult to detect, but most importantly,
difficult to quantify.

Definition of Key Terms

Biological Weapons
Biological weapons are also known as a “germ weapon”, any of a number of different
disease producing agents - bacteria, viruses, fungi, or any other biological agents - that may be
utilized as weapons against humans, animals, or plants.

Biological Warfare
Also known as “germ warfare”; the use of biological toxins or infectious agents during
war with intent to kill or incapacitate life. The main concern for the production and stockpiling
of biological weapons is that it will be used in biological warfare or other offensive acts.

Biological Warfare Agents (BWA)

Organisms or toxins used in a weapons system; include five different types that are
capable of being used in warfare as weapons; such as bacteria, fungi, rickettsiae, toxins, viruses.

Biological aerosols

5 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological

(Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, 13 January 2009 (A/RES/63/88)
6 United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament, 1987 (A/RES/72/64)
7 Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the First Committee
(A/55/559)] General and Complete Disarmament, 12 January 2001, (A/RES/55/33)
8 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of
Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, 11 December
2013, (A/RES/68/69)

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 3

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

Also known as the shorter form of “bioaerosols”, biological aerosols are solid airborne
particles, typically derived from biological organisms or terrestrial ecosystems. They contain the
agents used in the conduct of biological warfare or bioterrorism

Confidence-building Measures (CBM)

Confidence-building Measures are actions taken to reduce tension in a situation with or
without physical conflict and fear of attack from any parties involved within the situation.

Bacteria
Single-cell organisms that cause diseases such as anthrax, brucellosis, tularemia, and
plague.

Rickettsiae

Microorganisms that resemble bacteria but differ in that they are intracellular parasites
that reproduce inside cells. Typhus and Q fever are examples of diseases caused by rickettsia
organisms.

Viruses
Intracellular parasites, about 1/100 the size of bacteria, that can be weaponized to cause
diseases such as Venezuelan equine encephalitis.

Fungi
Pathogens that can be weaponized for use against crops to cause such diseases as rice
blast, cereal rust, wheat smut, and potato blight.

Toxins
Poisons that can be weaponized after extraction from snakes, insects, spiders, marine
organisms, plants, bacteria, fungi, and animals. An example of a toxin is ricin, which is derived
from the seed of the castor bean.

Timeline of Key Events

14th Century B.C. - First Acts of bioterrorism and biological warfare

Hittites use rams infected with tularemia to attack a city in order to gain an advantage on
military warfare.

1347 - Mongols Use Infected Bodies

Mongols throw bodies infected with plague over city walls. This was one of the most
likely theories of how the Black Death spreaded in Europe. This act was extremely deadly as it

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 4

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

served as a way of sabotage for the Mongols, while it was detrimental to the people on the
receiving end of it.

July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918 - Biological Weapons In WWI

During World War I, biological weapons were first used on a worldwide scale, affecting
multiple countries, causing thousands of deaths. Germany used biological warfare agents for
sabotage. Horses being shipped to the Allies were infected with anthrax or glanders. This kind of
sabotage was carried out in the USA, Romania, France and Spain, and later in Argentina and
Norway.

June 17, 1925 - Geneva Protocol Created

The Geneva Protocol was created after World War I ended. Many countries have their
signatories on it due to fear of biological warfare that many experienced throughout the war. The
Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of
Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, or the Geneva Protocol, prohibited the use of chemical and
biological weapons in international armed conflicts.

1935 - 1945 - Japan use of Unit 731

Imperial Japan's use of Unit 7319, leading to the deaths of thousands marks an important
and brutal biological weapons program in history. Plague-infected fleas, bred in the laboratories
of Unit 731, were spread by low-flying airplanes upon Chinese cities, including Ningbo and
Hunan Province. This military aerial spraying killed tens of thousands of people with bubonic
plague epidemics.

April 10, 1972 - BWC Opened for Signature10

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) opened for signature, aiming to stop and ban
research, development, production, stockpiling, and different ways of creating biological
weapons. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of
Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction was the first multilateral
disarmament treaty banning the production of an entire category of weapons

March 26, 1975 - BWC Ratified11

9 Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army conducted research by experimenting on humans and by "field
testing" plague bombs by dropping them on Chinese cities to see whether they could start plague
outbreaks.
10 Article I: Never under any circumstances to acquire or retain biological weapons.
Article II: To destroy or divert to peaceful purposes biological weapons and associated resources prior to
joining.
Article III: Not to transfer, or in any way assist, encourage or induce anyone else to acquire or retain
biological weapons.

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 5

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

The BWC entered with the ratified countries.12

March 3, 1993 - Suspected Biological Weapon Program

The U.S. government published in their produced newspaper: Washington Post that
China has an active biological weapon program. However, China’s capital, Beijing denies the
claim, with the Foreign Ministry spokesperson claiming that the report was groundless.

September 11, 2001 - Biological Attack in US

Suspected bioterrorism attack in the United States after the tragic event of 9/11 when the
US received letters laced with anthrax spores, killing multiple people and infecting hundreds.
This happened seven days after the terrorist attacks, in which anonymous letters laced with
deadly anthrax spores began arriving at media companies and congressional offices. Over the
ensuing months, five people passed away from inhaling anthrax and 17 others were infected.

February 22, 2008 - Training Program in the Philippines

13
A five day long training focused on the appropriate ways to respond to bioterrorism
accidents was hosted in the Philippines. Police officials from China, Bhutan, Bangladesh,
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand attended. This program had the goal to ensure a safe and
secure environment by adhering to international standards in the handling, use, storage and
transport of pathogens.

April 16, 2013 - “The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces” Published
“The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces” was published and released by
the Information Office of the State Council of China. However, the idea of Biological Weapons
were only mentioned in bits and were generally passed. This article adheres to fundamental
policies and principles such as: Safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial
integrity, and supporting the country's peaceful development.

1980 - 1993 - South Africa Biological Weapon

11 Location:London, Moscow, and Washington, D.C, Effective: 26 March 1975, Condition: Ratification by
22 states
12 Article IV: To take any national measures necessary to implement the provisions of the BWC
domestically.
Article V: To consult bilaterally and multilaterally to solve any problems with the implementation of the
BWC.
Article VI: To request the UN Security Council to investigate alleged breaches of the BWC and to comply
with its subsequent decisions.
Article VII: To assist States which have been exposed to danger as a result of a violation of the BWC.
Article VIII: To do all of the above in a way that encourages the peaceful uses of biological science and
technology.

13
https://www.onug.ch/80256EDD006B8954/(httpAssets)/25326EDC3DAF5C8AC125802900371546/$file/D
elhi+presentation+20160829+Tria.pdf

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 6

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

South Africa initiated a Biological Weapon program in 1980. However, it was later
terminated around 1993. This was a very limited and classified program, in which the program
mainly focused on the research of Bacillus anthracis, Vibrio cholerae and Clostridium species.
As of right now, South Africa is a party to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
(BTWC), and is believed to have a biological weapons program. However, the country had an
extensive apartheid-era14 biological weapons program.

1981 - Cuban Government Accused USA of Using Biological Weapons

A Dengue fever outbreak occurred in Havana, Bua, in which more than 300,000 people
are infected. Cuban government officials have often accused the U.S. of using microorganisms
and insects as biological weapons against their nation's human, animal, and plant populations.
However, it is unclear how many outbreaks and infestations the Cuban government holds the
U.S. responsible

December 2019 - Present - Wuhan Coronavirus

The Wuhan coronavirus rapidly spread throughout the globe infecting multiple countries,
in cases where some people believe this is possibly an act of bioterrorism.

Position of Key Member Nations and Other Bodies

United States of America

The United States Biological Weapons program began in 1943, initially in response to the
rapidly advancing programs of their allies and enemies. It is rumored that the United States may
have used biological weapons during the Korean War which was around 1952, and against Cuba,
in the 1960s. In 1969, however, President Richard Nixon ended all offensive parts of the
Biological Weapons program, and the U.S. would go on to sign and ratify the BWC. The US
then proceeded to end the program, demolishing all stockpiles of biological weapons, including
anti-animal and anti-crop pathogens. Currently, the U.S. bio-weapons ban and the BWC allow
for a wide range of research in many fields, as the limitations simply restrict work to be
defensive in nature. The U.S. now states that the Article I15 of the BWC does not apply to "non-
lethal" biological agents, even though many claim that this is different from the historical
understanding of the BWC.

United Kingdom

14 Apartheid was a system of legislation that upheld segregationist policies against non-white citizens of
South Africa
15 “Each State Party to this Convention undertakes Never in any circumstances to develop, produce,
stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain Biological Weapons” stated the BWC, which explicitly bans bio
weapons

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 7

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

Although the United Kingdom is mainly centered in the use of nuclear weapons, the
UK’s use of biological weapons dates back to 1934. The UK weaponized sheep with anthrax16,
and also managed the research of other bacteria agents that could cause diseases such as the
plague. Later in the 20th century, the UK also joined the Biological and Toxin Weapons
Convention (BTWC)17 in March 1975, which put an end to the biological weapons the UK used
to have. One major action the UK did was the collaboration between the United States, Russia,
and themselves. They issued a joint statement that focuses on their support for BTWC, and
called for the support from the other member states at the United Nations.

Russian Confederation
The Russian Confederation began their first biological weapons program in the 1920s. By
1960, there were numerous Biological Weapons research facilities scattered throughout the
Soviet Union. Despite the fact that the Russian Confederation has signed and ratified the 1972
BWC, it has since continued to research, develop, and stockpile as many as eleven different bio-
agents, and conducted basic research on many more. Many of the Russian Federation’s programs
were immense, employing over 50,000 people at 52 classified sites. A Russian politician, Boris
Yeltsin, admitted to the harmful Biological Weapons program in the 1990s. An agreement was
signed with the US and UK to end Biological Weapons programs, but compliance and follow-
through of the agreement was mostly undocumented.

Republic of Cuba
Cuba first experienced rapid boosts of biological technology development in the 1980s
after an outbreak of Dengue fever18 broke out in 1981. Although previous Prime Minister Fidel
Castro was a supporter in advancing the biotech sector of Cuba, he has repeatedly denied
interests in strengthening bioweapons capabilities. This has been negated by a handful of Cuban
army officers, but their claims have never been substantiated. The U.S. government has also
directed accusations of the existence of a biological weapons program towards Cuba, but there is
currently no hard evidence.

France
France’s role with biological weapons is due to the party for all of the important
nonproliferation and international prevention regimes. Frances controlled a program that focused
on biological weapons during the 20th century, from 1921 to 1926, then from 1935 to 1940.19

16 Anthrax is a rare but serious illness caused by a spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anthrax/symptoms-causes/syc-20356203
17 Another name for BWC
18 They Cuban Government accused the United States government of spreading and converting the
Dengue fever into an act of bioterrorism
19 France weaponized the potato beetle and conducted research on the pathogens that cause anthrax,
salmonella, cholera, and rinderpest. Its scientists also investigated botulinum toxin and ricin.

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 8

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

Not only did they do extensive research on bioweapons but also weaponized different
microorganisms

Germany
During the first world war, the German biological weapons program was developed.20
The program appears to have been hidden from the general public and was taken on, despite the
General Staff's position that biological warfare was illegal. The program only developed anti-
animal and anti-crop pathogens, so there appears to be no intention of human harm with the
program’s developed weapons. Germany appeared to mainly target the U.S. (before the US’s
entry into WWI) and neutral nations that supplied Allied Powers.

People’s Republic of China

Despite the fact that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has signed and ratified the
BWC, it is widely reported to have an advanced program that includes research, development,
production and weaponization capabilities of biological weapons.21 It also has a wide variety of
delivery systems for chemical agents including artillery rockets, aerial bombs, sprayers, and
short-range ballistic missiles. Past reports by the United States departments of State and Defense
have claimed that the PRC maintained a small-scale offensive biological weapons program even
after joining the BWC

Iran

Iran has publicly denied all development and production of biological weapons and
ratified the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) on 22 August 1973. The state
has also been accused of secretly developing an harmful Biological Weapons program, mostly in
the 1990s, while recent estimations tend to focus more on the dual-use capabilities22 that Iran's
advanced civil biotechnology sector contains. Many believe that Iran has likely engaged in
Biological Weapon-related work previously, and that its capacity for pursuing a program is
increasing overtime.

Israel

20 The German biological weapons program is best described as a sabotage program. Its aim was to
undermine the enemy's economic capacity to wage war.
21 Chinese entities have contributed to several countries’ chemical weapons programs

22 Biological dual-use means the ability of being used either for peaceful purposes, such as medicine,
prevention, protection, or for non-peaceful purposes, such as development and production of biological
weapons.
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cgvienna/eng/dbtyw/fks/t127628.htm#:~:text=(1)%20%E2%80%9CBiological
%20dual%2D,and%20production%20of%20biological%20weapons.

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 9

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

Israel is believed to have a program for biological weapons. Israel is recorded by the US
Congress Office of Technology Assessment as a country possessing a long-term, undeclared
biological warfare program.23 It is currently impossible to conclude whether or not Israel
maintains its biological weapons program, as there is no hard evidence, but it is widely assumed
that the nation is capable of active production and dissemination of biological weapons.

Domestic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

Unlike its publicly declared desire to become a global nuclear power, North Korea has
been much more covert with operations regarding biological weapons and similar programs,
North Korean defectors, United States officials, and South Korean officials all report that North
Korea began a Biological Weapons program as early as the 1960s. Open source information
suggests that there is a wide range to the estimated capabilities of the North Korean Biological
Weapons program, from rudimentary and simple to advanced and ready-to-deploy.

Pacific Northwest Center for Global Security

Pacific Northwest Center for Global Security, PNNL for short, is an organization that
supports international treaties and agreements on the nonproliferation of chemical and biological
weapons. On their website, they describe themselves as “focus[ed] on global security in the 21st
century by helping to prevent nuclear proliferation worldwide. PNNL researchers participate in
U.S. collaborations with nations of the former Soviet Union on warhead safety and security,
safety improvements near nuclear installations and economic diversification of cities previously
dependent on nuclear weapons research or production.”

Center for Nonproliferation Studies

A United States Non-Governmental Organization that helps provide research and training
for nonproliferation specialists. Also known as the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation
Studies, they claim to “[strive] to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by
training the next generation of nonproliferation specialists and disseminating timely information
and analysis”24

United States Army Chemical Corps

The Chemical Corps is a branch under the US army who specializes in combating
chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, or in more simple words, weapons of mass
destruction. The corps is also assigned to defend against the weapons through delivering the
weapons rather than putting the weapons in use.

23 Israel has not signed the Biological Weapons Convention

24 They are also the largest NGO in the United States devoted exclusively to research and training on
provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease. This would also serve as a
biological test provided actively as a resistance from diseases. Given that equipment for
biological weapons nonproliferation issues.

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 10

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

Nuclear Threat Initiative

The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)25 is known as a nonprofit organization that was
formed in 2001, and is now located in the United States. The main objective is to protect human
lives from chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons.

Suggested Solutions

As aforementioned throughout the various areas of biological weapons, one of the main
issues with monitoring a nation’s engagement with biological weapons is, simply, way too
difficult and laborious. It is vital for governments and member states to continue their support in
different treaties such as the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and other
nongovernmental organizations. These organizations are focused on the prevention of the
development, development, and construction of these weapons. An immediate response by the
World Health Organization (WHO) in response to biological agents is to proliferate the spread of
generic antibiotics to prevent the further spread of anthrax, and the growth of this in trans-
human, trans-animal, and transplant pathologies. Nations and organizations could also work
together on Biodefense programs such as vaccines, a biological preparation that can also be used
for biotech sectors - in both agriculture and farming - external observation of research facilities
cannot discern the exact purpose for that equipment. In order to help solve this issue, member
states are encouraged to support organizations that are focused on the research of biological
weapons, in order to create a method for identifying stockpiles of biological weapons, to ensure
transparency within a nation. Another solution of this would be to apply that piece of instrument
to both sectors as mentioned above, so nations can better determine and understand the purpose
of the instrument.

One solution that might be effective when it involves preventing biological weapons may
well be some form of an agreement between all member states that ban the research,
development, and also the creation of any weapons that are biological. This could sound
redundant to the Geneva Protocol and also the BTWC, but it's important that each member of
this treaty must follow the foundations. One feature of this agreement may well be that it ensures
that if any member disobeys the agreement, other member states have the correct to interfere. If
this agreement was backed by every government in order that if one betrays the agreement all
other countries would intervene so the countries would be discouraged to provide biological
weapons. With the involvement of other members, this might help and discourage the country

25 NTI recognizes that threat reduction is a shared responsibility between governments and the private
sector. We raise awareness, advocate for solutions, facilitate implementation of solutions, and foster new
thinking about these challenges.
https://www.nti.org/about/biosecurity/

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 11

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

that produces biological weapons, and restrain the creation, research, and development of any
kind. However, it isn't guaranteed that any country would trust this sort of treaty and thus this
route would be less likely to be achieved. The good thing about this might be that the planet
would finally achieve some style of trust for every other. The treaty should trust every single one
signing. During this case, they might participate in any way possible to intervene just in case a
nation would betray it. There may be a conference discussing the main points of this agreement.
For instance, the BWC is already signing a treaty banning all participants from using biological
weapons, but there's suspicion that other countries are developing biological weapons. However,
if countries don't intervene within the case of violation of the treaty, then the countries are put in
danger thanks to the presence of biological weapons that they need in their arsenal as this could
endanger their trust with multiple countries.

Another solution would be biological defense. Vaccines, antitoxins, teams that are
available to be deployed to areas of infection to distribute immunizations, and biological alert
systems would be the foremost reliable solution to the threat of biological attack. This might also
deter biological attacks against the country. biotechnology to safeguard crops may be a major
recent development in US biodefense programs. Not only would this protect the country from
biological attacks but it'd also strengthen the health of its citizens. By distributing vaccines,
having epidemic doctors and teams readily available, and having more resilient crops and
livestock would help the country no matter whether there's a biological war threat or not. The
disadvantage of this is often the prices that biodefense requires. In the US, 7 billion is spent on
biodefense related funding. This is often a lot over an entire countries' budgets. It's expensive and
for a lot of LEDCs, it's totally difficult to accumulate the correct supplies to run a successful
biodefense program.

Additionally, encouraging all member states to agree to be open to inspection for

development of biological weapons would also be a difficult ask. By ensuring that any
development of biological weapons is purely defensive and impeding stockpiling, would
thoroughly prevent the existence of governmental offensive bioweapons programs that many
nations today currently have, though on different scales. However, one note to keep in mind is
that, again, it is challenging for all member states to agree to one treaty or agreement. It is also
not guaranteed that countries would want to be interfered with due to their development of
biological weapons. It is crucial to reinforce and strengthen existing treaties such as the
Biological Weapons Convention and the Geneva Protocol, making sure all signatories are
following what is stated

One of the possible factors behind why biological weapons are becoming a larger threat
is the lack of a deterrent for pursuing a Biological Weapon program. Combined with the ease at
which a nation may research and develop Biological Weapons undetected, the absence of a

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 12

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

punishment if a nation did have an offensive Biological Weapon program creates an environment
in which nations may develop a program with impunity. The addition of a clause considering a
possible punishment on member states, who have carried out biological weapons and caused
death on a large scale, can be set for a state as a whole. This can also apply for any nations found
hosting a Biological Weapon program. This may serve as one of the few incentives for member
states to genuinely halt research, development, and production. Furthermore, in the case of a
member state or an organization funding a research and development program for biological
weapons which leads to deaths on a large scale. Member states can enact harsh penalties for
individuals responsible for the biological weapons’ production and sales to non-state actors. This
can also be another incentive to halt worldwide production and research of biological weapons.

Another solution could be raising the idea or just awareness of the destruction biological
weapons could do to a group of people, and the possible number of deaths it could inflict. This is
one factor to why actions must be taken towards preventing legitimate science, which lowered
the barriers to the development of weapons. Methods of raising awareness could be campaigns
by organizations, or through the use of social media by each member state. Member states should
fund research into creating methods to identify stockpiles of biological weapons, lowering the
chance of bioterrorism.

Bibliography

Authors: Elizabeth Philipp Hyun-Kyung Kim Hattie Chung | October 2017, et al. “North
Korea's Biological Weapons Program: The Known and Unknown.” Belfer Center for
Science and International Affairs, www.belfercenter.org/publication/north-koreas-
biological-weapons-program-known-and-unknown.

Barras, V., and G. Greub. “History of Biological Warfare and Bioterrorism.” Clinical
Microbiology and Infection, Elsevier, 14 Jan. 2015,
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1198743X14641744.

“The Biological Threat.” Nuclear Threat Initiative - Ten Years of Building a Safer World,
30 Dec. 2015, www.nti.org/learn/biological/.

Biological Warfare: an Emerging Threat in the 21st Century: 1/01,

news.stanford.edu/pr/01/bioterror117.html.

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 13

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

“Biological Weapons – UNODA.” United Nations, United Nations,

www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/bio/.

CCTV Camera Pros, www.cctvcamerapros.com/chemical-biological-weapons-

organizations-s/379.htm.

“Chemical and Biological Weapons.” Chemical and Biological Weapons - China Special
Weapons, fas.org/nuke/guide/china/cbw/index.html.

Cole, Leonard A. “The Problem of Biological Weapons.” Journal of Clinical Investigation,

American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2 May 2005,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1087188/.

“Fact Sheets: Arms Control Association.” Fact Sheets | Arms Control Association,
www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/bwcsig.

Pike, John. “Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).” German Biological Weapons,

www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/germany/bw.htm.

“Resolutions.” Biological Weapons Convention, bwc1972.org/home/the-biological-

weapons-convention/resolutions/.

Schneider, Barry R. “Biological Weapon.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia

Britannica, Inc., 27 Nov. 2017, www.britannica.com/technology/biological-weapon.

Schneider, Barry R. “Biological Weapons Convention.” Encyclopædia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 3 Apr. 2020, www.britannica.com/event/Biological-
Weapons-Convention.

Schneider, Barry R. “Chemical Weapons Convention.” Encyclopædia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 6 Jan. 2020, www.britannica.com/event/Chemical-
Weapons-Convention.

staff, Science X. “Scientist Says Hittites Began Bioterrorism.” Phys.org, Phys.org, 26 Nov.
2007, phys.org/news/2007-11-scientist-hittites-began-bioterrorism.html.

Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention ...

www.odu.edu/content/dam/odu/offices/mun/docs/strengthening-biological-weapons-
convention.pdf.

UNICEF, www.unicef.org/fr.

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 14

23rd Annual Session of the Seoul Model United Nations

“United Nations, Main Body, Main Organs, General Assembly.” United Nations, United
Nations, www.un.org/en/ga/71/resolutions.shtml.

“US Army's Weapons Lab Shut down after Inspection Finds Deadly Viruses Could
Escape.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media,
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/virus-biological-us-army-weapons-fort-
detrick-leak-ebola-anthrax-smallpox-ricin-a9042641.html.

SEOMUN XXIII Research Report • 15