South Korea is expected to receive three Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, from Russia in the first half of the year, Seoul's Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday, citing diplomatic sources.

"The South Korean and Russian governments, through diplomatic channels, have recently decided to forge ahead with the transfer of the tigers to South Korea," Yonhap quoted an unidentified diplomatic source as saying. "The move carries a significant meaning as it symbolizes friendly relations between the two countries."

The two sides had initially considered moving the over one-year- old tigers in the winter but settled on the earlier transfer in order not to postpone the plan.

Russian officials pledged to send the three tigers to South Korea when they were in Seoul in November last year for the South Korea-Russia summit. In 2009, Russia agreed to Seoul's request for the three tigers two male and one female and Seoul has planned to use the animals to help carry on the pedigree of the endangered species.