Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un 24 Orlov Trotter horses as partial payment for artillery shells North Korea supplied for Russia's war in Ukraine. This exchange underscores the deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, formalized earlier this year through a comprehensive partnership agreement. In June, Kim had also gifted Putin a pair of Pungsan dogs, which was reciprocated with 447 goats. North Korea's development of sophisticated 'suicide drones' and its investment in equestrian military units further highlight the strategic and symbolic nature of these exchanges. This growing alliance has raised international concerns, especially among the United States and its Asian allies, as it represents a significant shift in regional security dynamics.