The United States has determined that North Korea used chemical weapons, an apparent reference to the killing of leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother last year. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has previously referred to Pyongyang's use of chemical weapons. According to the Pentagon, North Korea probably has a long-standing chemical weapons program with the capability to produce nerve, blister, blood, and choking agents and likely possesses a chemical weapons stockpile that could be used with artillery and ballistic missiles. North Korean defectors have charged that such chemicals have been used against prisoners and disabled people inside the authoritarian nation. North Korea on Thursday denied it was cooperating with Syria on chemical weapons.

Source: ABC News March 02, 2018 15:48 UTC