North Korea sends three generals to Russia: Key details about them
Illustrative photo: North Korea sent its soldiers to Russia (Getty Images)
North Korea has sent not only regular soldiers to Russia but also three generals. One of them turned out to be the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the DPRK, reports Reuters.
Kim Yong Bok
Kim Yong Bok is a senior general commanding the North Korean special forces, including the elite 11th Army Corps, known as the Storm Corps, which may have been sent to Russia.
Kim Yong Bok has participated in seven events this year that were attended by dictator Kim Jong Un, including special forces training exercises.
Michael Madden, an expert on North Korean leadership at the Stimson Center based in the US, also believes that general Kim Yong Bok has arrived in Russia with the DPRK soldiers.
"Kim Jong Un has sent in Kim Yong Bok as a proxy decision-maker until the KPA unit presence is fully stood up," Madden explained.
He suggested that Kim Yong Bok might later transfer command of the soldiers in Russia to an officer with the rank of senior colonel or major general.
Ri Chang Ho
Ri Chang Ho is a North Korean colonel general. He is also the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and the head of the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
He is under sanctions from South Korea, as Seoul believes that the general supervised large-scale cyberattacks aimed at stealing technology and foreign currency.
Ri Chang Ho also accompanied leader Kim Jong Un to numerous events this year, including an inspection of a naval base on the east coast.
Sin Kum Cheol
Sin Kum Cheol is the head of the DPRK's Main Operational Directorate. Detailed information about his career is unknown.
Madden suggested that Sin Kum Cheol would be tasked with commanding the North Korean soldiers in Russia after Kim Yong Bok and Ri Chang Ho leave.
DPRK soldiers in Russia
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence reported last week that around 12,000 North Korean soldiers had already been deployed to Russian territory. Some of them are already in the Kursk region.
Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said that, according to Ukrainian data, North Korean soldiers would begin participating in battles against Ukraine as early as November.
