Putin gifts 24 purebred horses to Kim Jong-un after getting arms for war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly gifted 24 purebred Orlov Trotters (horses) to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a display of the deepening alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang. The exchange, according to sources, is more than a simple gesture of goodwill; it signals a transactional relationship tied directly to Russia's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.

This latest exchange of horses for artillery shells marks a significant escalation in the Russia-North Korea relationship, one that is drawing scrutiny from the United States and its Asian allies. The mutual defense pact signed between Putin and Kim earlier this year marks a dramatic shift in Russia's post-Soviet policy towards North Korea. Kim hailed the agreement as an "alliance," further intensifying the geopolitical stakes in Asia.

While North Korea has long maintained a defense treaty with China, its military collaboration with Russia over the past year represents a new and potentially destabilizing factor in regional security. The exchange of luxurious gifts between Putin and Kim, including limousines and a tour of Russia's state-of-the-art space launch center, only heightens concerns about the extent of their cooperation.

Meanwhile, the war between Ukraine and Russia continues and both countries are getting support from their allies. Till now any attempt at peace has been an unproductive step with both Putin and Zelensky not taking the first step.