North Korea accused the United States of manufacturing biological weapons in Ukraine on Sunday, a claim which was also made by Russia later United Nations dismissed it in March.

Moscow ally Pyongyang earlier in February said that the US policy was the "root cause of the Ukraine crisis", and this month formally recognised two self-proclaimed pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, prompting Kyiv to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Sunday that, “(Washington) set up many biological labs in tens of countries and regions, including Ukraine, in disregard of the international treaties", citing what it said had been detected by Russia. 

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

Washington and Kyiv denied the existence of laboratories intended to produce biological weapons in Ukraine, with the United States saying the allegations were a sign that Moscow may use such tactics itself.

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