North Korea unexpectedly condemns the US for continuously preparing for "biochemical warfare"

According to Yonhap, the North Korean state news agency (KCNA) reported on March 27 that the US Department of Defense has increased its 2019 budget for its joint military threat identification program with South Korea, called JUPITR.

Peaceful scene in Pyongyang. Photo: AP

The US announced that under the framework of JUPITR, its forces will conduct biological defense tests in South Korea. However, North Korea believes the program is aimed against it and calls it a "plot for biochemical warfare".

An editorial published in North Korea's Minju Choson newspaper accused the US of aiming to turn South Korea into a "grand testing ground" for biological and chemical warfare, as well as bring disaster to the people of the Korean peninsula.

"What is even more worrying is that the US is pushing ahead with its biochemical warfare plan along with various military exercises against North Korea despite the conciliatory atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula," the editorial said. According to Minju Choson, Washington has a "sinister intention" to raise tensions on the peninsula, but such pressure on Pyongyang will not work.

North Korea's shocking accusation came at a time when nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang were deadlocked following the failure of the two sides to reach an agreement at the second US-North Korea summit in Hanoi last February./.