North Korea Sends Troops to Russia; Russia Sends Animals in Return

As ties between Russia and North Korea deepen, reports suggest an unusual exchange of goodwill between the two nations.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s decision to send troops to Russia to support its war efforts in Ukraine has raised speculation about what Russian President Vladimir Putin might offer in return. While Pyongyang could benefit from essentials such as oil, hard currency, or advanced weapons expertise, Moscow’s response has been symbolic — sending over 70 animals.

According to Russian state media outlet TASS, the shipment includes two brown bears, two yaks, an African lion, 40 mandarin ducks, 25 pheasants of various species, and five white cockatoos. These animals are being relocated from the Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Central Zoo. The Russian Natural Resources and Environment Ministry described the transfer as “Vladimir Putin’s gift to the Korean people.”

This gesture is seen as emblematic of the growing alliance between the two nations. In recent months, their partnership has intensified with a revival of a Cold War-era mutual defense agreement. The Pentagon reports that over 10,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, where heavy fighting with Ukrainian forces has been ongoing since August.

Under Kim Jong-un’s leadership, North Korea has faced worsening economic hardship due to international sanctions, natural disasters, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the nation grapples with severe shortages, experts worry that this newfound alliance could involve Russia supplying military aid, such as advanced missile technology, to Pyongyang. However, there is no confirmed evidence of such assistance at this time.

Animals have historically been used as diplomatic tokens. China, for instance, has gifted pandas to various nations, including Finland, Japan, and South Korea, as symbols of goodwill. In 2018, Kim himself gifted two white Pungsan dogs, a North Korean breed, to then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a summit in Pyongyang.

The animals from Moscow, now in quarantine, will move to their new enclosures at the Pyongyang Central Zoo once acclimatized. Photos from Russian state media have already shown at least one lion in its new home, continuing a tradition of using animals to cement political bonds.