The U.S. is closely monitoring North Korea and others to counter the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons, the Department of Defense (DoD) said Tuesday, ahead of the release of Washington’s inaugural Biodefense Posture Review.

“It's something that we're going to keep a close eye on. We're going to continue to consult closely with our allies in the region in terms of counter proliferation when it comes to things like chemical biological weapons,” spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a press briefing.