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A number of North Korean facilities are reportedly involved in the manufacture of blister agents, including mustard. It is not clear, however, which types of mustard agent (sulfur or nitrogen analogues) the DPRK maintains in its CW stockpile. The Kanggye Chemical Factory has been specifically implicated in the production of mustard agent, while other facilities reportedly involved in blister agent manufacture are the April 25 Vinalon Factory, Factory No. 297 (No. 297 Research Institute), February 8th Vinalon Factory, Manp'o Chemical Factory, Namhŭng Youth Chemical Plant, Sŭnch'on Calcium Cyanamide Fertilizer Factory and the Sŭnch'on Vinalon Complex. It is not known in what quantity North Korea produces or stockpiles mustard agent, although production in large amounts would not be difficult for the DPRK. Mustard is an insidious weapon, causing pain and skin blistering only between one and six hours after exposure. As a casualty agent, mustard could be made more versatile by mixing it with Lewisite, bringing the freezing point down low enough for use in winter. As a persistent agent, mustard could be used by DPRK forces against military infrastructure and logistical targets, as well as for area denial.
 Technical Description
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Updated March 2003 |
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 This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by MIIS.
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