This gesture comes amid increasingly strong political, military, and cultural relations between the two nations, especially in the context of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Both Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have emphasized their personal friendship during their recent meetings.
The animals, which include the lion, two bears, two yaks, five white cockatoos, 25 pheasants, and 40 mandarin ducks, were transferred from Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Zoo, according to Russia’s natural resources ministry. The ministry shared a video on Telegram showing the animals being unloaded from a government plane, as well as footage of the lion settling into its new home at the zoo in Pyongyang.
This gift follows Putin’s previous offering of 24 purebred horses—Kim’s favorite breed—while Kim had previously sent Putin a pair of local dogs.
The two countries, both facing heavy Western sanctions, signed a mutual defense pact earlier this year, promising immediate military support in the event of an invasion. Meanwhile, reports indicate that North Korea has deployed over 10,000 troops to assist Russia in its military efforts against Ukraine.
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