Ukraine severs ties with North Korea after pro-Russia separatists recognition
- Ukraine said on Wednesday that it officially broke diplomatic relations with North Korea
- North Korea earlier recognised independence of Russia-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine
North Korea has become one of the few nations in the world to recognise the independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in support of Russia’s war against its neighbour.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry cut off diplomatic ties with North Korea in response and condemned Pyongyang’s decision as undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
North Korea has repeatedly blamed the United States for the crisis in Ukraine, claiming the West’s “hegemonic policy” justified Russia’s offensive in Ukraine to protect itself.
North Korea’s state media said Thursday that the country’s foreign minister, Choe Son-hui, sent letters to leaders in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk a day earlier to convey the North’s decision to recognise their independence and its willingness to develop diplomatic relations with both.
North Korea is only the third country to acknowledge the self-proclaimed republics.
Russia recognised the areas as independent shortly before it launched its invasion of pro-European neighbour Ukraine on February 24. Russian ally Syria made the diplomatic move last month.