Ukraine breaks diplomatic ties with N Korea over recognition of breakaway regions

Ukraine's foreign ministry says it severed diplomatic relations with North Korea after Pyongyang officially recognized Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republics (LPR), Ukraine’s two eastern breakaway regions. 

"Ukraine today breaks diplomatic relations with DPRK in response to its decision to recognize the so-called 'independence' of the temporarily Russian-occupied territories in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine," Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, wrote in a tweet, referring to North Korea's official name.

Russia's TASS news agency quoting Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin reported earlier on Wednesday that North Korea had recognized the independence of Donetsk People's Republic.

“The Democratic People's Republic of Korea recognized the Donetsk People’s Republic today. The international status of the Donetsk People’s Republic and its statehood continue to get stronger. This is another diplomatic victory for us," he said on his official telegram channel.

He said he hoped for “fruitful cooperation” and increased trade with North Korea.

"This political decision will also provide the basis for the future development of economic relations. Bilateral partnership will make it possible for our companies to expand their trade. I look forward to active and fruitful cooperation."

TASS said North Korea's embassy in Moscow had confirmed it had recognized the independence of both regions.

The recognition came nearly five months after Russia began its military operation in the former Soviet republic.

The recognition will make North Korea the third country, after Russia and Syria, to have recognized the breakaway regions as independent territories.

In 2014, Donetsk and Luhansk, collectively known as the Donbas, were turned into self-proclaimed republics by ethnic Russians, leading to a bloody conflict between the government forces and the armed separatists.

The years-long conflict killed more than 14,000 people, mostly from the Donbas, with Moscow accusing Kiev of committing atrocities against ethnic Russians in the two breakaway regions.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a “special military operation” in Ukraine to demilitarize and 'de-Nazify' the ex-Soviet country and to “liberate” the Donbas region, two days after he officially recognized Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics.

The latter has already fallen under the full control of Russian forces.

The developments also come as tensions continue to grow between the Kremlin and the West over Ukraine.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the United States and its allies were on the brink of an open military conflict with Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently warned NATO against supplying Ukraine with weapons, saying the US-led military alliance "is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy." 

He has also warned that the dangers of a nuclear conflict are now "considerable." 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not threatened a nuclear attack, but has warned of a quick-fire military response to any other country that intervenes in Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine.

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