The Government of the Republic of Korea and the OPCW organised the Fourth Regional Assistance and Protection Course for Asian States Parties in Seoul from 22 to 26 September 2008. The course trained some 30 participants to plan for and build support teams in civil protection, civil defence, and decontamination operations in contaminated areas in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons.
In addition, the course provided information and training for appropriate responses and countermeasures in incidents involving chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. Participants received a basic introduction to the use of individual and collective protective equipment, monitoring, detection, and decontamination techniques against chemical weapons. The course also contained a practical emergency response exercise.
The course provided participants an opportunity to exchange information and experiences regarding implementation of Article X of the CWC. The agenda included discussions on the type of assistance the OPCW, host country and Member States in Asia can provide during an emergency situation resulting from the threat or use of chemical weapons.