African Lion, Bears To Soldiers: Putin-Kim Jong Un Camaraderie On Display As North Korea, Russia Ties Grow Deeper

North Korea-Russia Ties: An African lion and two brown bears are among the 70-plus animals recently transferred by Russia from Moscow's zoo to a zoo in North Korea's capital Pyongyang, according to the Russian government. The animals were "a gift from [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to the Korean people", the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

In April this year, Russia donated birds, including eagles, cranes and parrots to the Pyongyang Central Zoo. Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and North Korean missile tests over recent years have prompted Moscow and Pyongyang, two natural allies with a mutual disdain for the West -- specifically the US, to rejuvenate their bilateral cooperation.

Pyongyang and Moscow have forged closer ties since Putin visited North Korea in June and concluded a treaty with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un. On Wednesday, a South Korean lawmaker, citing the country's spy agency, said that about 10,900 North Korean troops have been deployed to Kursk as part of Russia's airborne unit and marines, with some already participating in battles in the Ukraine war.

North Korea has also shipped additional arms for the war in Ukraine, including self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launchers, parliament intelligence committee member Park Sun-won told reporters, citing the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

North Korean foreign minister Choe Son Hui's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during her visit to Moscow this month was unusual in terms of protocol, and likely went beyond exchanging greetings to cover more significant issues including a possible visit to Russia by Kim Jong Un, the lawmaker said, citing NIS.

(With inputs from Reuters)