North Korea Makes Heat, Accuses US Of Creating Biological Weapons In Ukraine

JAKARTA - North Korea has accused the United States of making biological weapons in Ukraine. North Korea appears to reinforce accusations previously made by Russia but rejected by the United Nations in March.

Moscow's ally Pyongyang said in February US policies were the root cause of the Ukraine crisis.

North Korea also officially recognizes two self-proclaimed pro-Russian separatist territories in eastern Ukraine, prompting Kyiv to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea.

"Washington set up many biological laboratories in dozens of countries and regions, including Ukraine, in defiance of international agreements," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) wrote.

Moscow in March accused Washington of funding research into developing biological weapons in Ukraine, which Russia invaded nearly five months ago.

Washington and Kyiv deny the existence of a laboratory meant to produce biological weapons in Ukraine. The United States says the accusations are a sign that Moscow may be using such a tactic itself.

Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN's Deputy Secretary-General for Disarmament, also said in March that the UN was "not aware of any biological weapons program in Ukraine".