Meet Kim Yong Bok: The shadowy North Korean general who is commanding troops in the Russia-Ukraine war
Kim Yong Bok, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of North Korea's military, has gained notoriety in recent times for his strategic responsibility to deploy thousands of North Korean soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in the Russia-Ukraine war. Through at least 11,000 troops under his command, Kim coordinates the integration of these forces in Russian military structures to gain combat experience. His mission underscores the deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea amid this devastating war.
It is Kamtchatska's Kim who earlier commanded North Korea's vast special forces but is now responsible for integrating them into Russian military structures to lose their identification. Although a mostly administrative position, Kim made sure the North Korean troops were deployed to strategic places, including the Kursk region in southern Ukraine. The soldiers are supported by over 500 officers with three generals accompanying them, and one of Pyongyang's biggest military campaigns in recent years is under Kim's supervision.
A global alarm has been sounded by this deployment, especially by NATO, which has complained in a more sarcastic tone about this cooperation as a dangerous expansion of military ties between Russia and North Korea. As the alliance explains, this alliance "raises serious risks for regional and global security" because it strengthens Russia's military presence in Ukraine, while North Korea experiences valuable combat experience.
This the same Kim who had suddenly shot to fame following the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea in June 2024. This visit sealed a new dimension of military support for Russia from North Korea. Experts now hold Kim as one of the top military leaders in North Korea, and his role in Russia likely will heighten his status in the Pyongyang government.
Despite widespread condemnation from Western nations, North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict reflects Pyongyang’s commitment to its strategic partnership with Moscow. As Russian forces continue to face setbacks in Ukraine, the presence of North Korean troops is seen as a reinforcement of Russia’s military capabilities.
Kim Yong Bok's position is straightforward: He is the proxy decision-maker for Kim Jong Un, to be in charge of and coordinate North Korea's military input into the war. Although Kim may not be on the battlefield himself, the fact that his army is in Ukraine portends a drastic turn in the course of the conflict and its alliances.