Russian President Putin Donates Animals to North Korea Zoo Amid Strengthening Ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented over 70 animals, among them a lion and two brown bears, to North Korea’s primary zoo. This action serves as an additional indication of the developing relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang. Alexander Kozlov, Russia’s environment minister, transported these animals to the North Korean capital via a cargo aircraft, as confirmed by Kozlov’s office on its official Telegram channel on Wednesday. According to Kozlov’s office, the consignment of animals originating from Moscow additionally comprised two yaks, five cockatoos, numerous pheasants, and mandarin ducks. This donation follows several weeks after the United States and South Korea disclosed that North Korea had dispatched thousands of soldiers to participate in combat alongside Russia in Ukraine. During his presence in Pyongyang, the Russian environment minister also conducted a courtesy call on Kim. This instance is not the first time recently that Russia has dispatched animals to North Korea. Earlier in the current year, President Putin presented North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with 24 pure-bred horses, reportedly in gratitude for artillery shells supplied by North Korea. Over recent months, Putin and Kim have solidified their alliance, as both nations are subject to sanctions imposed by Western countries. The Russian president requires assistance for his conflict in Ukraine, whereas North Korea seeks Russia’s space technology, which has the potential to advance its missile program. This developing alliance was prominently demonstrated in June when Putin traveled to North Korea and entered into an agreement with Kim to safeguard each other’s nations from “aggression”. On that occasion, Putin presented Kim with a Russian-manufactured Aurus limousine, a tea set, and a piece of artwork. Kim is understood to be an admirer of automobiles and has been observed utilizing a Maybach limousine, multiple Mercedes vehicles, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a Lexus sports utility vehicle. Furthermore, Putin had given Kim an Aurus in February, which was five months subsequent to Kim’s visit to the Vostochny space center located in Russia’s Far East. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.