The relationship between the leader of North Korea and the president of Russia seems to have gone to other levels. It is indicative that Kim Jong Un gave Vladimir Putin a gift a pair of white Pungsan dogsa local breed, North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency reported Thursday.

Kim and Putin can be seen looking with interest at the two dogs, which are tied to a rose-covered fence, in images shown today by state-controlled Korean Central Television.

Kim fed a horse carrots while Putin stroked the animal’s head.

It is noted that the Russian president presented the North Korean leader with a Russian-made Aurus limousine, an admiral’s sword and a tea set, while Kim presented him with works of art representing him, including busts.

Kim, who is an equestrian, was photographed riding a white horse on Mount Pektou in the snow in photos released in 2019 by state media.

He was also seen in 2022 in a propaganda video again riding a white horse.

The horses that Kim rode are symbolic of North Korea, which had named its effort to recover financially from the 1950-53 Korean War after the mythical winged horse Cholima. The last launch vehicle the country built was also named Tsolima-1.

Putin, who projects for himself an athletic imagehas also been photographed several times in Russian state media riding.

The Pungsan is a breed of hunting dog that originates from a northern region of North Korea.

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in had also accepted a couple white Pungsan – named “Gomi” and “Songgang” – by Kim in 2018 during an opening to inter-Korean relations.

In 2022, a freight train carried to North Korea 30 gray thoroughbred horses had departed from the Russian Far East via the Kashan-Tumangang Pass, according to the Russian Veterinary Service. It was the first reported rail freight transfer between the two countries since the pandemic.