Biological Warfare In Korea

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Recommended: What was the US involvement in the Korean war

Whether the United States used Biological warfare in Korea has been a major topic for years. North Korea and China insist that Biological warfare was used against them during the Korean War in 1950- 1953, and the United States government strongly denies these allegations. North Korea and China both believe that the United States government was getting frustrated with the way the war was going because they were having a tough time defeating North Korea and China. President Truman who was president at that time did not want to lose the Korean War and wanted to win by any means necessary. President Truman wanted to use an atomic bomb during the Korean War. It is also said that “the United States Joint Chief of Staff supported the president’s stand on using the atomic bomb if necessary to avoid defeat “(Endicott, 1998).
The use of atomic bomb seemed inhumane to politicians and American leaders during the Korean War and they were not supportive of President Truman idea of using chemical, biological, or nuclear warfare. This left Truman more frustrated because no matter what the United States military tried, they could not breakdown the strong hold resistance of the North Korea and China mainline. Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai was the first to report that between December 1950 and January 1951 the United States Air Force released the smallpox virus on their soldiers causing them to retreat. The use of the atomic bomb was no longer an option for President Truman. He had to try and figure out another way to win this war without it being widely publicize of Chemical, Biological, or Nuclear warfare being used. In the early part of 1952 President Truman met with top U.S. Official’s concerning the war in Korea. Fearful that the Unit...

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...o North Korea since they are allies , but have receive a negative response. This is what makes not only the United States concern but other countries as well. Without knowing the sole intent on who, what, when or where North Korea would use these agents it is unknown what will happen next.

Works Cited

Endicott, S. (2002, june). United states biological warfare during the korean war: rhetoric and reality. Retrieved from http://www.yorku.ca/sendicot/ReplytoColCrane.htm
Associated press. (2013, october). Former envoy criticizes obama's north korea policy. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/29/former-envoy-criticizes-obama-north-korea-policy/
Bennett, B. (1998). The challenge of north korean biological. Retrieved from www.rand.org
Endicott, S. (1998). The united states and biological warfare. (pp. 90-110). bloomington: indiana university press.

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