Formal recognition of the People's Republics has been handed over to the Russian ambassador to Pyongyang by North Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister, reports the Russian news agency Interfax.
Denis Pushilin, leader of the Russian-backed separatist movement People's Republic of Donetsk, confirms the recognition.
North Korea also confirms the letter, in which the North Korean government states, among other things, that it wants to develop relations with Donetsk and Luhansk in a spirit of "independence, peace and friendship", reports AFP with reference to North Korea's state news agency KCNA.
Ukraine breaks relations
Following the announcement, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced that it was severing diplomatic relations with North Korea.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said it condemned North Korea's decision to recognize territories occupied by Russia.
"Russia no longer has any allies in the world, with the exception of countries that are economically and politically dependent on the country," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement.
Recognized by Syria
Previously, Syria is the only country, apart from Russia, to have recognized the occupied Ukrainian breakaway republics.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky then announced that Ukraine was severing diplomatic relations with Syria.
The so-called People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk were proclaimed by Russian-backed separatists with close ties to Moscow in connection with Russia annexing the Crimean Peninsula in violation of international law. Just days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russia recognized Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics.