A mysterious general from Kim Jong Un's inner circle will lead North Korean troops in Russia. Here's what we know about him.

One of the three generals leading the North Korean troops in Russia is Colonel General Kim Yong Bok. He rarely appears in the public eye and will not participate in combat operations. Instead, he will be responsible for integrating North Korean military personnel into the Russian occupation army.

This information was reported by The Wall Street Journal. It is noted that he is among the top ten most important military figures in North Korea, and not much is known about him.

It is known that Colonel General Kim is formally the deputy chief of the general staff of the army. He will oversee the integration of North Korean forces with the Russians, gain combat experience, and establish a channel for future deployment.

“It is expected that Colonel General Kim will not take part in combat operations. However, the dispatch of one of North Korea's most important military officials indicates that the DPRK is interested in assisting Russia well into next year,” the report states.

Before this, Kim Yong Bok led a special forces unit consisting of about 200,000 personnel. He was to carry out secret missions in the event of war on the Korean Peninsula. However, Pyongyang began to bring him into the spotlight following Russian leader Vladimir Putin's visit in June. This demonstrates to Russia that a reliable person will be assigned to oversee the troop deployment.

What is known about Kim Yong Bok

Overall, little is known about the Colonel General; the North Korean government database only contains his name and position—his age, hometown, and other biographical details are classified. He was mentioned in North Korean state media only in 2015 when he was appointed head of North Korean special forces. The following year, he was elected to the Central Committee of the Workers' Party.

However, in July 2020, during a ceremony awarding generals with commemorative weapons, Colonel General Kim was photographed almost beside Kim Jong Un. After that, he disappeared from the public eye until it became known in March about his current role as figure No. 3 in the Korean People's Army. He is noted to be among the top ten most important military figures in North Korea, and successful operations in Russia could elevate him even further up the ranks.

“Kim Jong Un tells the Russians: 'I am sending one of my best guys. He sits next to me,'” emphasized Michael Madden, an expert on North Korean leadership at the Stimson Center.

DPRK Troops in Ukraine

North Korean troops are stationed near the front lines in the Kursk region, where they are training with FPV drones. It should be noted that the movement of troops from North Korea to Russia has been observed by satellites since late October. According to Western media, Russia has sent nearly 10,000 soldiers from North Korea, while Ukrainian intelligence estimates their number to be at least 12,000, including 500 officers, three of whom are generals. In South Korea, it is believed that there are about 11,000 North Korean troops in Russia.

Meanwhile, the Central Intelligence Agency confirmed that North Korean military personnel have already been baptized by fire and have come under their first shelling. The DPRK soldiers have experienced strikes from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is also worth recalling that the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee of the United States, Mike Turner, stated that the United States should consider the possibility of "direct military action" if North Korean troops enter the war in Ukraine.

South Korean intelligence has also confirmed the participation of North Korean military personnel in combat against Ukraine on the side of Russia. According to their data, DPRK soldiers have completed their deployment in the Kursk region. DPRK fighters are already involved in active combat operations.