Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Visiting investigation to the U.S. Osan Air Base
Formulating countermeasures - identification of relevant facts and prevention of recurrence

 

Related to the accidental delivery of Bacillus anthracis, possibly live, to a laboratory of the U.S. forces in Korea around the end of May, the Korean government announced on July 13 that a Korea-U.S. Joint Working Group (JWG) has been organized and will be operated with a wide range of participants, experts of both SOFA-affiliated relevant authorities and organizations, in order to identify the relevant facts and prepare countermeasures for recurrence prevention.

 

The group leaders are Policy Planning Officer of the MND and Assistant Chief of Staff of the U.S. forces in  Korea. Officials of relevant authorities and organizations (the Ministry of National Defense (MND), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF), Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), and Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA)) as well as civil experts in the relevant areas (laws and microorganism) are to participate in the JWG.

 

The JWG is going to closely examine the facts related to the delivery accident and seek for a strengthening plan for information sharing between Korea and the U.S. military, while taking necessary actions for improvement or supplementation of SOFA operations and procedures to prevent similar accidents after comprehensive reviews of consultation, cooperation, results, etc., between relevant authorities.

 

The first mission of the JWG will be technical joint investigation and evaluation by visiting the laboratory in Osan Air Base this month, where the accidental Bacillus anthracis delivery happened.

 

 

By Seok-Jong, Lee < seokjong@dema.mil.kr >

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