In brief
Amid their deeper alliance, Russia sends over 70 animals, including bears and a lion, to Pyongyang as a part of an elaborate gesture of friendship.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s decision to dispatch troops to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict against Ukraine has sparked speculation regarding what Russian President Vladimir V. Putin would reciprocate with. Kim's regime is grappling with heavy international sanctions, desperately in need of hard currency and advanced weaponry development expertise, though the necessity for bears might not be high on their list.According to Russian state media, Russia has sent more than 70 animals to North Korea, including two brown bears, two domestic yaks, and an African lion. These animals, along with 40 mandarin ducks, 25 pheasants, and five white cockatoos, are to be transferred from Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Central Zoo, as reported by TAAS, a Russian news agency. Their Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has dubbed this gesture as “Vladimir Putin’s gift to the Korean people.”This unusual gift underscores the strengthening alliance between North Korea and Russia, becoming more prominent in recent months. In June, they revived a mutual defense pact reminiscent of the Cold War, and reports suggest that over 10,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia, notably in the Kursk region, where fierce clashes with Ukrainian forces have been ongoing since August.Under Kim Jong-un’s leadership, North Korea's humanitarian crisis has intensified over the last decade, exacerbated by tightened international sanctions following the nation’s military expansions. Furthermore, the country has faced significant hardships due to the Covid-19 pandemic and recurrent flooding, creating acute shortages of both financial resources and essential goods.
