North Korea recognizes Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)
14 Jul 2022 14:00:33
Pyongyang: North Korea on Wednesday became the second Russian ally to formally recognize the independence of the breakaway Ukrainian territory of Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin was quoted as saying by Russia's state-affiliated agency Tass. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea recognized the Donetsk People’s Republic today," he wrote on Telegram.
The leader of what Russia labels as DPR region thanked the communist nation DPRK's regime for the recognition and its "great support for the Donbas people." "This political decision will also provide the basis for the future development of economic relations. A bilateral partnership will make it possible for our companies to expand their trade. I look forward to active and fruitful cooperation," Pushilin said, according to the Tass agency.
Talks with North Korea on the DPR’s recognition have been underway for a long time, it was notified by DPR Foreign Minister Natalya Nikonorova on July 12. North Korea followed in the footsteps of Moscow's staunch ally Syria that on June 29 also formally recognized the "independence and sovereignty" of Ukraine's two eastern breakaway separatist republics. Moscow had declared the independence of the breakaway oblasts of Donetsk and Lugansk back in February ahead of launching an all-out invasion of Ukraine. The territories, situated in the eastern Donbas region, have been under Russian control since 2014. Ukraine had severed diplomatic ties with Damascus for its formal recognition of the pro-Russia separatist-controlled Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic. It, although, is yet to issue a response to North Korea's latest move.
Moscow had declared the independence of the breakaway oblasts of Donetsk and Lugansk back in February ahead of launching an all-out invasion of Ukraine. The territories, situated in the eastern Donbas region, have been under Russian control since 2014. Ukraine had severed diplomatic ties with Damascus for its formal recognition of the pro-Russia separatist-controlled Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic. It, although, is yet to issue a response to North Korea's latest move.