**North Korea and Russia Strengthen Ties**
North Korea and Russia have signed a protocol on cooperation after talks on trade, economy, science, and technology. This was reported by North Korean state media KCNA on November 21.
The agreement was also confirmed by Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources. They said that between January and September, over 5,000 tourists traveled between the two countries, with more than 70% of them flying charter flights.
**Boost in Charter Flights**
Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency reported that North Korea and Russia had agreed to boost charter flights. This means there will be more direct flights from Russia to North Korea, not just from eastern regions near North Korea but also from major cities across the country.
**Gifts and Military Support**
The Russian delegation, led by Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on November 18. During this visit, the Russian government presented zoo animals to North Korea as gifts. These included an African lion and two brown bears sent from Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
In April, Russia had donated eagles, cranes, and parrots to the Pyongyang Central Zoo. The strengthening of defense relations between North Korea and Russia has raised concerns internationally. This is because North Korea has supplied military equipment and sent over 10,000 troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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