North Korea–Ukraine relations are the bilateral foreign relations between North Korea and Ukraine. Relations were suspended in July 2022 due to the North Korea's recognition of the separatist Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine.[1]
Bilateral relations were established on January 9, 1992. The North Korean embassy in Moscow was also accredited to Ukraine. Ukraine was accredited to North Korea through the embassy in Beijing. In 1998, North Korea closed its embassy in Kyiv (as well as several other embassies) due to the country's severely reduced budget after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc.
Before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian scientists and businessmen assisted North Korea's nuclear program by either working directly or supplying technology to the country.[2]
In 2017, North Korea recognised Crimea as part of Russia.[3] [4] Due to this happening at a time where bilateral relations between North Korea and the United States were thawing, Ukraine did not respond strongly.[5]
On July 13, 2022, Ukraine announced the severance of diplomatic relations with North Korea due to its recognition of the independence of the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.[1] [6] Prior to the severance of diplomatic relations, other political and economic relations had already been frozen due to the sanctions imposed against North Korea.[7] [8]
In October 2024, reports emerged that North Korean soldiers were being trained in Russia's far east, confirming earlier claims by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) that 1,500 North Korean troops had been sent for military training, potentially to be deployed in Ukraine.[9] The soldiers were filmed receiving uniforms and equipment at a training ground, and additional footage showed their arrival near Russia’s border with China.[10] [11]
On 23 October 2024, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia, marking a significant escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.[12] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stated that two units of North Korean soldiers, each with 6,000 personnel, were being trained for deployment.[13]
On 28 October 2024, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed that North Korean troops were bordering Ukraine, marking NATO’s first formal acknowledgment of North Korean forces actively supporting Russia. NATO leaders and Zelenskyy called for international pressure on Russia and North Korea to adhere to UN mandates.[14] [15]
On 4 November 2024, Ukrainian officials claimed direct military engagement with North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia in the Kursk region, if confirmed it would marking the first instance of foreign military intervention since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.[16] Andriy Kovalenko, Ukraine’s counter-disinformation official, claimed that North Korean troops stationed near Kursk came under Ukrainian fire.[17] [18]
In 2020, Ukraine exported US$7,710 to North Korea. On the other hand, North Korea exported $55,500 to Ukraine, with its main exports being mostly polyacetals.[19]