Guns for yaks? Putin sends dozens of zoo animals to North Korea as sign of support

Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted North Korea more than 70 zoo animals, including an African lion, two brown bears and two yaks, as a sign of support.

“This was Vladimir Putin’s gift to the Korean people,” the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said in a statement Wednesday.

The present follows the deployment of North Korean troops last month to assist Putin in his war on Ukraine, a move that sparked international concern about an escalation of Russia’s assault.

The animals were transferred from the Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Central Zoo by plane and were accompanied by veterinarians, according to the statement.

“Historically, animals always have played a special role in relations between states,” said Russian Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov, who oversaw the relocation of the animals. “They have been given as a sign of support, kindness and care,” he added.

According to Kozlov, cooperation between Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is not only about the economy, trade and industry, but also includes a list of environmental projects. “Now the friendship of the Moscow and Pyongyang zoos is one of them,” he said.

“With the support of the Moscow government, we plan to expand cooperation with our North Korean colleagues on issues related to joint scientific and educational activities, as well as the exchange of experience and information on the care of rare species of animals,” said Svetlana Akulova, general director of the Moscow Zoo.

This is not the first time that Russia and North Korea have exchanged animals as gifts.

The Moscow Zoo had already donated more than 40 animals to the Pyongyang Zoo in April, including eagles, fruit bats, pheasants, cranes, parrots and pythons. In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent Putin two hunting dogs of the rare Pungsan breed, ahead of a visit by the Russian president to the country.