North Korea has recognized the two Russian-backed self-proclaimed “people’s republics” in eastern Ukraine as independent states. North Korea is the third country after Russia and Syria to recognize the breakaway states of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin said via Telegram that he hoped for fruitful cooperation with North Korea and more trade. His embassy in Moscow posted a photo of a ceremony where the North Korean ambassador to Russia presents a certificate of recognition to the Donetsk envoy.
North Korea’s embassy in Moscow later confirmed that it had recognized the independence of the two states. Russia did so shortly before invading Ukraine on February 24. The Kremlin has justified the “special military operation” in the neighboring country with the claim that it protects Russian-speakers in the two regions from “genocide”.
The government in Kiev and the West see this story as a pretext to go to war and conquer parts of Ukraine. Luhansk is now almost completely in Russian hands. In Donetsk, territory is slowly but steadily being made, although Ukraine says it is working on a counter-offensive.