Donetsk Leader Messages North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un For Cooperation

The head of the Russian-backed Donetsk region sent a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday calling for cooperation. In his letter, Denis Pushilin extended his congratulations to the dictator on the occasion that marks Korea’s liberation anniversary on Aug.15. Pushilin also expressed conviction towards an “equally beneficial bilateral cooperation” between Donetsk and North Korea.

According to The Guardian, the pledge from Pushilin came two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a similar message to Kim Jong Un. “The people of the Donbas region, too, are fighting to regain their freedom and justice of history today just as the Korean people did 77 years ago,” Pushilin’s message stated.

North Korea is one of the few nations in the world that has recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk. Just recently, Kim had spoken of plans to send North Korean laborers and "volunteer troops" to the separatist regions to help in restoration projects in the war-torn regions. The offer is deemed as a means to help the region’s recovery in exchange for a steady supply of grain and energy amid UN sanctions that have gripped North Korea’s failing economy. Kyiv has since cut off any diplomatic ties with Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, Donetsk’s ambassador to Russia, Olga Makeeva also met with North Korean ambassador to Russia Sin Hong Chol back in July to discuss these economic cooperations. Sin mentioned the great potential for bilateral cooperation in trade and labor migration following the ease of pandemic border controls in North Korea. Similar discussions were reportedly arranged between Luhansk and North Korea. Russian ambassador in Pyongyang, Alexander Matsegora was also in agreement on the possibility of North Korean laborers helping rebuild the war-shattered regions citing economic opportunities despite UN sanctions.

On the other hand, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price was highly critical of Russia accepting North Korean workers being employed for these restoration projects. He said that such an arrangement would be an “affront to the sovereignty of Ukraine.”

It is not clear if Kim had sent a response to Pushilin’s message, although the supreme leader reportedly sent a letter of reply to Putin saying the friendship of both nations has long been forged and cemented in World War II with its victory over Japan. The dictator predicted strengthened cooperation based on an agreement signed in 2019 when both leaders met. As it is, Kim is also said to be exploiting a division in the UN Security Council, making the gap even deeper since Russia invaded Ukraine.