Ukraine names three North Korean generals accompanying troops deployed to Russia

The Ukrainian government has identified three North Korean generals who are reportedly accompanying thousands of troops from the Korean People’s Army deployed to Russia to support Moscow’s efforts in Ukraine.

According to a Reuters report, in remarks prepared for the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Ukraine’s delegation said that these generals are among at least 500 North Korean officers sent to Russia.

They indicated plans to organise the North Korean troops into at least five units of 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers each, which would be integrated into Russian forces to obscure their presence.

South Korea’s intelligence agency noted that some of these generals may have already accompanied a small number of troops to combat zones, added the report.

While Russia has not denied the involvement of North Korean forces in the conflict, which has been ongoing since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, North Korea has shifted from initial denials to defending troop deployment as consistent with international law.

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During the same Security Council meeting, Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia asserted that Moscow’s military cooperation with North Korea does not breach international law and that Russia is entitled to seek assistance from its allies.

Ukraine specifically named Colonel General Kim Yong Bok, a senior commander of special forces, including the XI Corps, also known as the Storm Corps, which South Korean intelligence indicates has been sent to Russia.

Michael Madden, an expert on North Korean leadership at the US-based Stimson Center, suggested that Kim’s responsibilities extend beyond the XI Corps, overseeing the KPA Light Infantry Training Guidance Bureau, which includes light infantry units assigned to various corps and special missions for the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s primary intelligence agency.

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This year, Kim has appeared at seven events alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, including special forces exercises.

“This is a large and almost unprecedented deployment for the KPA,” Reuters quoted Madden, who believes the general is in Russia as a representative of Kim Jong Un, as saying.

“As such, there are a number of administrative and liaison tasks so Kim Jong Un has sent in Kim Yong Bok as a proxy decision-maker until the KPA unit presence is fully stood up.”

Kim Yong Bok may eventually defer command to a subordinate KPA officer of a senior colonel or major general rank, Madden added.

Other top officers identified by Ukraine include Colonel General Ri Chang Ho, Deputy Chief of the General Staff and head of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, and Major General Sin Kum Cheol, head of the Main Operational Directorate.

As head of North Korea’s main intelligence service since about 2022, Ri has been sanctioned by South Korea, which alleged that he oversaw major cyber hacking efforts to steal technology and foreign currency.

Like Kim Yong Bok, Ri also accompanied leader Kim Jong Un to an unusually large number of events this year, including the inspection of an east coast navy base.

Madden said Sin’s career was unclear, but given his one-star rank, he was likely to assume command of the North Korean troops in Russia once Kim Yong Bok and Ri Chang Ho departed.

With inputs from agencies