North Korea Deploys General Kim Yong Bok to Lead Troops in Ukraine, WSJ Reports

North Korea has sent Colonel General Kim Yong Bok to lead its 11,000 soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Kim Yong Bok role in the military has required him to keep a low profile since last being seen alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He previously commanded a special forces unit of some 200 000 soldiers assigned to a clandestine mission on the Korean Peninsula, and has on occasion served as aide to Kim Jong Un. Following Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June, he was listed as the third most prominent figure in the Korean People’s Army.

Kim Yong Bok, who is currently the top North Korean military official in Russia, will reportedly oversee the integration of DPRK forces into the Russian army, their acquisition of combat experience, and the establishment of a framework for future deployments, reported the Wall Street Journal.

In October, Ukrainian representative Serhii Kyslytsia, at a meeting of the UN Security Council, named Kim as one of the generals commanding North Korean troops in Russia, along with Major General Sin Kum Cheol and Colonel General Ri Chang Ho.

Previously Putin signed a law ratifying the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with North Korea. According to the treaty, both parties commit to providing immediate military and other assistance if either country faces an armed attack.