S. Korea, U.S. to hold joint bio-defense drill next week

South Korea and the United States plan to conduct a joint drill next week on countering possible biological attacks on the Korean Peninsula, the Defense Ministry said Thursday.
  

The exercise, titled "Able Response 15," will take place from Monday to Wednesday at the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses to increase preparedness for various biological threats, including disease and terrorism, according to the ministry.
  

The annual drill, the fifth of its kind, will bring together some 200 experts from the two countries to discuss ways to boost joint cooperation in the biological defense area.
  

"The upcoming drill is expected to help beef up the two countries' joint responses to counter diseases and intentional biological attacks, as well as to boost the capacity to manage a biological crisis," the ministry said in a statement.
  

The exercise consists of seminars on biological threats and treatments as well as a simulation of a bio-terror attack, the ministry added. (Yonhap)