North Korea deploys top general to lead troops in Ukraine
According to South Korean intelligence, General Kim Jong Bok has been appointed by Kim Jong Un as the main commander to manage North Korean soldiers sent to Ukraine. He is one of Kim Jong Un's closest military advisors.
7:11 PM EDT, October 30, 2024
The Yonhap news agency reported that the country's National Intelligence Service (NIS) relayed information about Kim's selection to South Korean parliamentarians.
The General is reportedly already in Russia, where he is expected to oversee exercises of North Korean troops preparing to participate in the fighting in Ukraine.
Kim Jong Bok is one of the most significant figures in the Korean People's Army. According to the 38north.org service, he serves as the deputy chief of the general staff, making him the main advisor to Kim Jong Un on special forces and light infantry.
What exactly will the general's responsibilities be in Ukraine? This is unclear. The portal 38north.org speculates that it would be unusual for Kim Jong Un to send one of his most trusted advisors to the front line. The service suggests it is more likely that Kim Jong Bok will oversee the process of moving soldiers from Russia to Ukraine and consolidate command and control over all the resources of the Korean People's Army.
War in Ukraine: North Korea sends soldiers
According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service, North Korea is expected to send 11,000 soldiers to Ukraine by December to support Russian forces.
The first soldiers had already reached Russia, where they underwent basic combat training. As emphasized by intelligence in Seoul, the entry of North Korean troops into the Kursk region near the border with Ukraine is "inevitable."
