Ukrainian Government Reveals Names of Three North Korean Generals Deployed to Russia

The Ukrainian government has revealed the names of three generals who accompanied North Korean troops deployed to Russia.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to major foreign media on the 31st (local time), the Ukrainian delegation submitted a statement to the United Nations (UN) Security Council the previous day, which included Kim Young-bok, Vice Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, Ri Chang-ho, Director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, and Shin Geum-cheol, Colonel of the People's Army, among at least 500 North Korean military officers who entered Russia.

Vice Chief of the General Staff Kim Young-bok is one of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's close military aides, and the National Intelligence Service recently officially confirmed Kim Young-bok's dispatch to Russia.

Earlier, Japan's Kyodo News reported that Ukrainian authorities obtained a list of North Korean military unit commanders prepared by the Russian military, with Kim Young-bok's name at the top of the list.

Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at the U.S. think tank Stimson Center, said that Kim Young-bok's role seems to have grown, and that he operates the Korean People's Army's Alert and Guidance Bureau, which includes the 11th Corps, a North Korean special forces unit deployed to Russia.

Vice Chief Kim Young-bok has appeared publicly seven times this year, including during special forces training with Chairman Kim Jong-un.

Ri Chang-ho, Director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, who was also dispatched, assumed the position in 2022 and has been subject to sanctions by the South Korean government since last year. The Reconnaissance General Bureau is an intelligence agency under the North Korean General Staff responsible for overseeing operations targeting South Korea and overseas.

At the beginning of this month, Director Ri held the rank of Major General (two stars), but recently appeared wearing the insignia of Lieutenant General (three stars), confirming his promotion.

The career details of Colonel Shin, whose name is also on the list, are unclear. Considering that he is a one-star general, it is presumed that he will command the North Korean troops after Vice Chief Kim and Director Ri depart Russia.