Putin donates lion and brown bears to North Korean zoo

Russian President Vladimir Putin has given North Korea’s main zoo more than 70 animals, including a lion and two brown bears, in yet another sign of the blossoming ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Putin’s Environment Minister Alexander Kozlov brought the animals aboard a cargo plane to the North Korean capital, Kozlov’s office said on his 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 comes weeks after the US and South Korea revealed that North Korea had sent thousands of troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine.

While in Pyongyang, Russia’s Environment Minister also paid a courtesy visit to Kim.

This is not the first time in recent history that Russia has sent animals to North Korea.

Earlier this year, Putin gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 24 purebred horses, reportedly in gratitude for artillery shells supplied by North Korea.

Putin and Kim have strengthened their alliance in recent months as both countries face sanctions from the West.

The Russian president needs support for his war in Ukraine, while North Korea needs Russian space technology that could support its missile program.

That burgeoning alliance was on full display in June when Putin visited North Korea and signed an agreement with Kim to protect each other’s nations from “aggression.”

During that visit, Putin presented Kim with a Russian-made Aurus limousine, a tea set and works of art.

Kim is believed to be a car enthusiast and has been seen driving a Maybach limousine, several Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Lexus sports car.

Putin had also given Kim an Aurus in February, five months after Kim visited the Vostochny space center in Russia’s Far East.

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