On Wednesday, October 30th, Ukraine accused North Korea of sending three senior commanders to Russia to participate in Russia’s war against Ukraine during a United Nations Security Council meeting.
According to reports from Reuters, during the Security Council meeting on Wednesday, the Ukrainian delegation stated in a statement that these three generals are just a part of at least 500 officers that North Korea sent to Russia.
The statement mentioned that in order to conceal the presence of the North Korean forces, they are planned to be organized into at least five formations and incorporated into the Russian forces, with each formation consisting of 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has not denied the involvement of the North Korean military.
Initially, North Korea denied sending troops to Russia, but later openly defended its deployment of troops in Russia, claiming that it was in line with international law.
Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, stated during the Security Council meeting on Wednesday that Russia’s military cooperation with North Korea does not violate international law, and Moscow has the right to seek assistance from its partners.
Ukraine pointed out in the statement that these three generals included North Korean Lieutenant General Kim Yong Bok, who commands special forces units including the 11th Corps, also known as the “Storm Corps.”
According to South Korean intelligence, this corps has been dispatched to Russia.
Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at the Stimson Center in Washington, mentioned that Kim Yong Bok not only oversees the Light Infantry Training Guidance Bureau of the North Korean military, including the 11th Corps and light infantry units in the People’s Army Corps, but he has also been seconded to the Reconnaissance General Bureau (North Korea’s primary intelligence agency) for special missions.
This year, Kim Yong Bok has attended seven events with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, including special forces exercises.
“For the North Korean military, this is a large-scale deployment almost unprecedented in history,” Madden said. “Kim Jong Un appointed Kim Yong Bok as a proxy decision-maker, so Kim Yong Bok has many administrative and liaison tasks until the North Korean military establishes a foothold (in Russia).”
Madden added that eventually Kim Yong Bok may delegate command to a senior officer with the rank of Colonel or Brigadier General.
Ukraine confirmed that the high-ranking officers sent to Russia also include Deputy Chief of General Staff and Director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, Lieutenant General Ri Chang Ho, as well as Major General Sin Kum Cheol of the Operations Bureau.
Like Kim Yong Bok, Ri Chang Ho this year has unusually accompanied Kim Jong Un to numerous events, including inspections of naval bases on the east coast.
Madden stated that Sin Kum Cheol’s specific responsibilities are not yet clear, but given his rank of Major General, he will likely assume command of the North Korean forces in Russia after Kim Yong Bok and Ri Chang Ho depart.