DEFENCE chiefs have ordered the vaccination of thousands of British troops against anthrax - amid fears Kim Jong-Un could launch a deadly biochemical attack.

Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, is planning to introduce a mandatory vaccination programme for all service personnel on short notice to deploy.

2 Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, is poised to introduce a mandatory vaccination programme for all high-readiness service personnel Credit: AP:Associated Press

That would include Britain's team of elite Special Forces troops, along with 16 Air Assault Brigade, 3 Commando Brigade and all other "high reediness" units.

A source told The Times: "It is something that has gone through the planning phase and the secretary of state is seriously looking at it."

One factor understood to be driving Williamson's thinking is the possibility of war between America and North Korea.

Intelligence experts believe Kim Jong-Un has already assembled a stockpile of deadly biochemical weapons - including anthrax.

2 There are fears Kim Jong-Un has assembled a huge stockpile of Anthrax Credit: Science Photo Library

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There are also fears terrorist groups like ISIS or AL Queda could use anthrax to attack British streets.

The American Department of Defence already has a policy of mandatory anthrax vaccinations for its servicemen deployed overseas.

This includes some 28,500 military personnel based in South Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

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