Official announcements from North Korean or Russian government sources, major news outlets

Putin Gifts 75 Animals, Including African Lion and Two Brown Bears, to North Korea Zoo

Nov 20, 2024, 12:47 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korea a total of 75 animals from the Moscow Zoo, including an African lion and two brown bears. This diplomatic gesture, described as a 'gift from Putin to the Korean people,' aims to strengthen the friendship between Moscow and Pyongyang. The animals, which also include yaks, white cockatoos, pheasants, and mandarin ducks, were flown to the Pyongyang Zoo. The timing of this gift follows North Korea's recent deployment of troops to Russia, although the connection between the troop deployment and the animal donation remains unclear. This move is part of a broader trend of increasing cooperation between the two nations in recent months.