"separatists"

North Korea has formally recognized the independence of two pro-Russian separatist "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine, becoming the world's third nation to do so, according to the North's state media Thursday.

Russian forces and pro-Russian separatists resumed on Monday (May 2) the shelling of the Azovstal industrial complex after several dozens of civilians were evacuated from the site.

Peace talks with separatist insurgents have hit a snag after longstanding tensions between Thai negotiators and MARA Patani, an umbrella organisation of separatist movements in the Muslim-majority South, came to the boil.

Separatists at the table have just denied involvement in violence - further evidence they have no control over the combatants