Putin gifts Pyongyang zoo with lion, brown bears

Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korea’s main zoo more than 70 animals, including a lion and two brown bears, in yet another display of burgeoning relations between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Putin’s environment minister, Alexander Kozlov, brought the animals to the North Korean capital on board a cargo plane, Kozlov’s office said 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 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 the Russian environment minister also paid a courtesy visit to Kim.

This isn’t the first time in recent memory that Russia has sent animals to North Korea.

Earlier this year, Putin gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 24 pure-bred horses, reportedly as thanks for artillery shells provided by North Korea.

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