Russia-North Korea bond solidifies with new gifts of animals and defense promises
Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korea’s central zoo over 70 animals, including a lion and two brown bears, as part of the growing ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. The animals were delivered to the North Korean capital aboard a cargo plane by Russia’s environment minister, Alexander Kozlov, according to a statement on Kozlov’s official Telegram channel on Wednesday.
The shipment also included two yaks, five cockatoos, dozens of pheasants, and mandarin ducks, highlighting the strengthening relationship between the two nations. This gesture follows recent reports from the US and South Korea claiming that North Korea sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
During his visit to Pyongyang, Kozlov paid a courtesy call to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
This is not the first time Moscow has sent animals to Pyongyang. Earlier this year, Putin gifted Kim 24 pure-bred horses, reportedly as a gesture of thanks for explosives supplied by North Korea.
The Putin-Kim alliance has deepened in recent months, as both nations face increasing sanctions from the West. Russia seeks North Korea’s military support for its war in Ukraine, while Pyongyang looks to Moscow for space technology that could boost its missile program.
The strengthening relationship was showcased in June when Putin visited North Korea and signed a mutual defense agreement with Kim, pledging to protect each other from “aggression.”
During that visit, Putin presented Kim with several gifts, including a Russian-made Aurus limousine, a tea set, and artwork. Known for his love of luxury cars, Kim has also been spotted in vehicles such as a Maybach limousine, several Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a Lexus SUV.
Putin had previously gifted Kim another Aurus in February, following Kim’s visit to the Vostochny space center in Russia’s Far East five months earlier.
