Plague, Pestilence and the Peninsula: International Humanitarian Law Concerns of North Korea's Biological Weapons Program.

This article examines the international humanitarian law (IHL) issues arising from the suspected development and potential use of biological weapons by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), despite its commitments under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and related nonproliferation agreements. It outlines North Korea’s biological weapons program origins linked to the Korean War, the challenges in assessing its capabilities due to dual-use technologies, and evidence suggesting ongoing production of pathogens such as anthrax and smallpox. The article further discusses the grave humanitarian and legal implications of a renewed armed conflict involving biological weapons on the Korean Peninsula, including the protection of civilians, targeting principles, proportionality, and the legality of anticipatory self-defense under the UN Charter. It emphasizes the critical need for preparedness and adherence to IHL by all parties to mitigate the devastating consequences of such a conflict for regional and global security.