North Korea's top general leads troops to Ukraine conflict
According to South Korean intelligence, General Kim Jong Bok has been appointed by Kim Jong Un as the primary commander to manage North Korean soldiers sent to Ukraine. He is one of Kim Jong Un's closest military advisers.
The Yonhap news agency reported that the country's National Intelligence Service (NIS) conveyed information about Kim's selection to South Korean parliamentarians.
The General is reportedly already in Russia, where he is overseeing exercises of North Korean troops preparing to participate in the conflict in Ukraine.
Kim Jong Bok is one of the most significant figures in the Korean People's Army. He serves as the deputy chief of the general staff, which positions him as Kim Jong Un's main adviser on special forces and light infantry, according to the 38north.org service.
What exactly will the general's responsibilities be in Ukraine? This remains unclear. The portal 38north.org speculates that it would be unusual for Kim Jong Un to send one of his most trusted individuals to the front line. The service suggests it is more probable that Kim Jong Bok will oversee the process of transferring 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, the northern neighbours are expected to send around 11,000 soldiers to Ukraine by December. They are to support Russian forces.
The first soldiers had already reached Russia, where they completed basic combat training. As emphasised by intelligence in Seoul, the arrival of North Korean troops into the Kursk region near the border with Ukraine is "inevitable."
