Ukraine is terminating diplomatic relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) after Pyongyang recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR).
“The Ministry strongly condemns the decision of the DPRK to recognize the so-called independence of the territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. We view this decision as Pyongyang’s attempt to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” a message posted on the website of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also called North Korea’s move to recognize the DPR and the LPR ‘miserable’. Pyongyang’s decision will not have legal consequences nor will it change the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine, the message also said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba added that Ukraine would continue to react as harshly as possible to encroachments on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On July 13, the DPRK (commonly referred to as North Korea) recognized the sovereignty and independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic. DPRK’s Ambassador to UN Kim Son also stated that the DPRK government fully supported Russia’s position on the republics.
North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol has presented a document on Pyongyang’s recognition of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) to DPR Ambassador to Moscow Olga Makeyeva.
“North Korean Ambassador Sin Hong-chol has presented a document on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic to DPR Ambassador Olga Makeyeva,” the DPR embassy said in a statement on Telegram on Wednesday.
The ambassadors agreed on further steps to establish diplomatic relations. Makeyeva expressed confidence that “cooperation between countries, which now has official status, will be fruitful and mutually beneficial.”
DPR Foreign Minister Natalya Nikonorova said on July 12 that talks were underway with North Korea on the DPR’s recognition. On Wednesday, Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin announced that North Korea had recognized the DPR.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance were signed with their leaders. Russia established diplomatic relations with both the DPR and LPR on February 22, 2022.
South Ossetia recognized the DPR and LPR as independent states in 2014, establishing diplomatic relations with Donetsk in May 2017 and with Lugansk in May 2019. Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania signed decrees recognizing the independence of the two republics on February 25, 2022, and in early March, Abkhazia established diplomatic ties with them. On June 29, Syria decided to recognize both Donbass republics. In response, Ukraine announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Damascus.
