Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has donated more than 70 animals to North Korea's main zoo, including a lion and two brown bears, once again demonstrating the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang, BBC reports, UNN writes.
Details
Putin's Minister of Environmental Protection Alexander Kozlov brought the animals to the North Korean capital aboard a cargo plane, Kozlov's office reported on its official Telegram channel on Wednesday.
The shipment of animals from Moscow also included two yaks, five cockatoos and dozens of pheasants, as well as mandarin ducks, Kozlov's office said.
The gift came weeks after the United States and South Korea reported that North Korea had sent thousands of soldiers to fight on the side of Russia in Ukraine.
In Pyongyang, the Russian Minister of Environmental Protection also paid a courtesy call on Kim Jong-un.
Addendum
This is not the first time recently that Russia has sent animals to North Korea.
Earlier this year, Putin presented North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with 24 thoroughbred horses, reportedly in gratitude for artillery shells provided by North Korea.
Putin and Kim have strengthened their alliance in recent months, as both countries have faced Western sanctions.
The Russian president needs support in his war in Ukraine, and North Korea needs Russian space technology that could help its missile program, the newspaper notes.
This nascent alliance was on full display in June, when Putin visited North Korea and signed an agreement with Kim to defend each other's countries from "aggression.
During this visit, Putin presented Kim with a Russian-made Aurus limousine, a tea set, and a work of art.
Kim is believed to be a car enthusiast and has been seen in a Maybach limousine, several Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a Lexus SUV.
Putin also presented Kim with an Aurus in February, five months after Kim visited the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East.