North Korea has sent Brigadier General Kim Yong Bok, one of its top ten military officials and the head of its special forces, to command its troops fighting alongside Russia, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Kim is a high-ranking officer rarely seen in public, despite North Korea’s military elite often being treated as celebrities. His role leading a 200,000-strong special forces unit—the largest of its kind globally—has kept him discreet.
The deployment of an officer of this magnitude signals Pyongyang’s commitment to the operation in Russia.
Both Ukraine and South Korea have confirmed Kim’s presence in Russia. Officially, he is tasked with integrating DPRK troops with Russian forces, studying the battlefield, and then returning to North Korea to develop strategic plans. However, he is not expected to participate in combat directly.
“There were more reasons to hide him until now. But behind the scenes, he has clearly proven his reliability,” said Jeong Kyung, a researcher at South Korea’s Korea Institute for Defence Analysis.
Kim has been the head of North Korea’s special forces since 2015 and joined the Workers’ Party Central Committee the following year. His prominence was highlighted in July 2020 when Kim Jong Un presented commemorative “Pektu” pistols to top generals—a symbolic reference to Mount Paektu, a site deeply tied to North Korean mythology and propaganda. During the event, Kim Yong Bok sat just one seat away from the leader in the group photo.
After years out of the public eye, Kim reappeared in March 2024. Observers believe that successful service in Russia could further advance his career. North Korean media last mentioned Kim on October 6, just days before he reportedly departed for Russia with the first contingent of troops.