Trash-carrying balloons, launched across the border by North Korea, are seen floating in the sky above Seoul on Oct. 8. South Korea's first anthrax vaccine could soon be approved amid growing security concerns over thousands of rubbish-filled balloons sent by Pyongyang in recent months. Yonhap

South Korea's first anthrax vaccine could soon be approved amid growing security concerns over thousands of rubbish-filled balloons sent by Pyongyang in recent months, according to an official, Monday.

The senior official at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety told The Korea Times that a team of experts were evaluating whether to issue the approval of the vaccine, developed jointly by GC Biopharma and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDC).

"The vaccine is currently under review for approval," the official said, refusing to reveal how long it would take for the process.

If approved, South Korea will join only a handful of countries that produce their own human anthrax vaccines, along with the United States and Britain.

Classified as one of the 17 first-degree diseases that would require special attention for the high risk of fatality and mass infection, anthrax has long been used as a biological weapon because it can be mass-produced in a lab and be spread over a large area easily and quietly.

Left untreated, the fatality rate of ingestion anthrax cases could be as high as more than 50 percent, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

North Korea is believed to possess the world's third-largest stockpile of chemical weapons, ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 metric tons. Notably, VX nerve agent was used to assassinate Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2017.

GC Biopharma's animal test results showed that the vaccine was able to generate antibodies that sufficiently neutralize anthrax toxins, the firm said in a statement released previously.

The company also said developing the anthrax vaccine would be very meaningful in terms of protecting South Korea's public health and security in the face of growing terrorism threats from North Korea.

Since late May, North Korea has been sending thousands of balloons containing batteries, cigarette butts, clothes, plastic bottles and other materials into various parts of South Korea, saying it was in retaliation against anti-regime leaflets sent by rights activists in the South.

The balloons have caused numerous incidents, including warehouse and factory fires and broken vehicle windows. Some contained timer devices that reportedly triggered fires. Concerns are rising that North Korea might include more dangerous materials, such as biochemical weapons, in future balloon launches.

Such concerns were raised earlier this month at a parliamentary audit of the government.

When asked whether North Korea could use such balloons as a means of conducting terror attacks, KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee said such a possibility cannot be ruled out.

"We cannot say North Korea does not have any intention to use such balloons to conduct a biochemical terror attack," she said on Oct. 7. "I believe we should stock up on smallpox and anthrax vaccines."

Jee also said her agency will increase its anthrax vaccine stockpile next year following the approval of the vaccine currently under review.