Radio Free Asia (RFA), a private radio station funded by the United States Congress, says Washington is not ruling out the possibility that North Korea could use biological weapons in the future.

The station quoted a report recently disclosed by the U.S. State Department which said that there is information that the North has purchased the equipment and materials needed to develop biological weapons. However, it said there were no reports about the intended use of the equipment and materials thus will not rule out their potential weaponization.

North Korea joined the Biological Weapons Convention in 1987.