The Kiwi Brothers are often used in promotional ads for Zespri

[Jin Wah]

In a video posted to Twitter by New Zealand reporter Henry Cooke, the two large mascots, known as the “Kiwi Brothers,” are seen swaying to a somber violin song in a room full of suited men. The cute mascots, depicted as a golden and green kiwi with large cartoonish eyes, were a part of a marketing event by New Zealand’s Zespri, the world’s largest kiwi distributor.

Ardern, who has not been on an overseas trip in more than two years, began her visit to Japan by attending the Zespri event. According to the Associated Press, Ardern traveled to Japan in hopes of increasing business and tourism partnerships following border closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While posing for a photo with the Kiwi Brothers, Ardern was reportedly heard saying, “I feel like I’m photo bombing.”

This was Ardern's second encounter with the Kiwi Brothers since she first met them in 2019 while in Tokyo, Japan. Ardern described the photo as bringing her “such joy and delight” and stated that she still keeps a photo of the three holding hands in her office.

The kiwi brothers I particularly remember, while they thankfully didn't make me dance, they did hold my hand,” Ardern recalled to News Hub. “That image brought such joy and delight to my office in New Zealand that to this day, the photo of my hand holding with the kiwi brothers still hangs in my office.”

The Kiwi Brothers are often used in promotional ads for Zespri in Japan and have even built a fanbase around the adorable mascots.

A report by state news agency KCNA on Sunday listed the history of North Korea's military achievements, from its battles against the United States in the 1950-1953 Korean War and smaller skirmishes throughout the Cold War to the 2010 bombardment of South Korea's Yeonpyeong island, which hit both military and civilian targets.

The North's military is equipped with offensive and defensive capabilities that can "cope with any modern warfare," KCNA said.

It praised Kim's "genius military ideology and outstanding military command and unparalleled courage and guts," and his leadership in gaining the country's "invincible power."

For weeks commercial satellite imagery has shown thousands of North Korean troops practicing marching in formation at a parade training ground in Pyongyang, the capital.

Penrith Panthers vs Canberra Raiders live
Panthers v Raiders
Gold Coast Suns vs Brisbane Lions live
Suns v Lions
Crusaders vs Melbourne Rebels live
Crusaders v Rebels

Analysts had predicted a military parade on April 15, which was the 110th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the late communist founder of North Korea, and the nation's biggest holiday, but only a small, civilian "procession" was reported.

Preparations have been ongoing, suggesting a parade could now happen on or around Monday's army holiday, according to 38 North, a U.S.-based programme, and NK News, a Seoul-based website that tracks the North.

North Korea's most recent parades have been held at night, and were used to unveil new weapons, including its largest Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).