Zoo diplomacy: Putin sends wild animals to North Korea

Two brown bears, a lion, a couple of yaks, five cockatoos, 25 pheasants and 40 mandarin ducks.

These were among dozens of wild animals Russia sent to North Korea in the latest display of the growing diplomatic relationship between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

A Russian government statement said the animals, described as a "gift to the Korean people," were escorted Wednesday by Putin's environment minister, Alexander Kozlov, and various other Russian officials and wildlife experts from Moscow Zoo to North Korea's capital Pyongyang aboard a cargo plane.

"Animals have historically occupied an important place in interstate relations. They were given as a sign of support, kindness and care," Kozlov said in a separate statement published on his official Telegram channel.

What's it mean for the war? Biden lets Ukraine launch long-range missiles into Russia.

The gift comes as officials in the U.S. and South Korea have confirmed in recent weeks that North Korea has sent thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. Kim has also sent artillery shells and missiles to Russia to bolster Moscow's invasion that will hit the three-year mark in February.

Russia and North Korea were close allies during the Cold War. Relations cooled with the breakup of the Soviet Union. Their alliance has strengthened over the last three years as both countries have faced sanctions from the West. For North Korea, these sanctions relate to its missiles and weapons program and burgeoning Russia ties.

Putin has previously gifted animals to North Korea including pure bred horses, eagles and parrots.

Earlier this week President Joe Biden lifted a ban on Ukraine using U.S. long-range missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia. Moscow has been warning for months it would see that move as a major escalation.

On Thursday, Ukraine's military said Russia had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in a conventional strike on the city of Dnipro. The use of an ICBM was not immediately confirmed by the U.S. or other Western allies.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vladimir Putin sends wild animals as 'gift' to Kim Jong Un