Brown bears and lion among 70 animals gifted by Putin to North Korea zoo
Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted the main zoo in North Korea, including a lion and two brown bears. This is seen as another display of the growing relations between the two nations.
The Russian environment minister under Putin, Alexander Kozlov, brought the animals, including the brown bears and the lion, on board a cargo plan, his office said on its official Telegram channel.
The shipment also included two yaks, five cockatoos, and dozens of pheasants, not to mention mandarin ducks, according to Kozlov’s office. This gift comes weeks after South Korea and the US revealed that Pyongyang had sent thousands of troops to fight with Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
While in the North Korean capital, Kozlov also paid a courtesy visit to the North Korean leader.
This is not the first time in recent history that Russia sent animals to the ‘hermit kingdom.’ Earlier this year, Putin gifted Kim Jong Un two dozen pure-bred horses, reportedly as a thanks for providing artillery shells to Russia.
Both leaders have strengthened their alliance in 2024 as both nations face Western sanctions. The Russian president needs support for his ongoing war on Ukraine while North Korea is need of space technology which it hopes to use to aid in its missile programe.
The alliance was on display in June 2024 when Putin visited North Korea to sign an agreement with Kim to protect the other nation from “aggression.” While there, a Russian-made Aurus limousine, tea set and artwork were gifted to Kim by Putin.
The Aurus joins Kim’s fleet which includes several Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and Lexus SUV. Putin also gave him an Aurus in February, five months before the North Korean leader visited the Vostochny space centre in the far east of Russia.
Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.
a
