The Defense Agency has conducted a drill involving geographic scenarios to prepare for the possibility of terrorist attacks involving biochemical weapons, Defense Agency sources said Saturday.
The drill was the first of its kind to include participation by all three forces comprising the Self-Defense Forces and the agency headquarters. The agency is also considering conducting a drill that would involve actual mobilization of SDF personnel and equipment.
The drill was conducted Thursday in a conference room at the agency's headquarters in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, with dozens of SDF officers attending, the sources said.
The sources said the drill did not revolve around possible biochemical terrorism by any specific country and was only a study-level project.
Parts of the drill, however, apparently reflected concerns about North Korea, which is suspected of possessing biochemical weapons, the sources said.
According to the sources, the exercise was carried out on the assumption that a number of citizens had been infected with smallpox and anthrax spread by terrorists.
The participants verified how the agency would exchange information with other government ministries and agencies, as well as the methods of transporting victims to hospitals, medical treatment, detection and removal of the biological weapons.