North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s recent decision to send troops to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine has prompted speculation regarding potential reciprocal support from Russian President Vladimir V. Putin.
The North Korean regime, facing international sanctions, is in need of hard currency, oil, and expertise in advanced weaponry. However, reports indicate that Russia is sending over 70 animals to North Korea, including two brown bears, two domestic yaks, and an African lion. This transfer, which also includes 40 mandarin ducks, 25 various species of pheasants, and five white cockatoos, is being conducted from the Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Central Zoo, as reported by TASS.
The Russian Natural Resources and Environment Ministry described this gesture as “Vladimir Putin’s gift to the Korean people.” This development underscores the strengthening relationship between North Korea and Russia, which has become increasingly apparent in recent months. In June, the two nations revived a Cold War-era mutual defense pledge, and according to the Pentagon, over 10,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia’s Kursk region, where intense fighting against Ukrainian forces has occurred since August.
Under Kim Jong-un’s leadership, North Korea has experienced a worsening humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the expansion of its military arsenal and subsequent international sanctions. The country has also been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and recent flooding, resulting in a critical need for financial resources and basic goods.
U.S. officials have expressed concerns that in exchange for sending troops to Russia, Kim might receive military assistance that could pose a greater threat to South Korea and the United States. Experts suggest that enhancing the range of North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missiles is a priority for Kim, although it remains unclear whether Russia has provided or plans to provide such aid.
Historically, animals have been used to reinforce political ties. For instance, China has long sent pandas to various countries, including South Korea and Japan. In October, two pandas were sent to the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. China has also sent pandas to North Korea multiple times since 1965, though the most recent instance is not clearly documented.
Kim Jong-un has similarly utilized animals as symbols of friendship, such as gifting a pair of white Pungsans, a North Korean dog breed, to former South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a 2018 summit in Pyongyang. However, relations between the two Koreas have since deteriorated.
The animals sent from Moscow are currently in quarantine and will be relocated to their new enclosures once they have acclimatized to their environment. TASS reported that the Pyongyang Central Zoo, which has been operational since 1959, has already showcased at least one lion in its new enclosure, as seen in photographs from Russian state media.