Who Is North Korea’s Secret Weapon in Russia? The Mystery Behind Col. Gen. Kim Young Bok

International media reports suggest growing curiosity about Col. Gen. Kim Young Bok, Vice Chief of the Korean People’s Army General Staff, one of the generals leading North Korean forces dispatched to Russia. Apart from being known as a close confidant of Kim Jong Un, little is known about him, sparking significant interest.

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal published an article titled “North Korea Sent a Mystery Man to Lead Its Troops Fighting Ukraine.” The article described Col. Gen. Kim as shrouded in secrecy, rarely appearing in public or media.

Col. Gen. Kim is one of three senior officers who accompanied the North Korean forces sent to Russia last month. Reports suggest that he has earned the deep trust of Kim Jong Un and is expected to lead the troops in Russia as Kim’s representative.

Although Col. Gen. Kim’s media presence has increased following North Korea’s recent troop deployment to Russia, details about his age, hometown, and personal background remain undisclosed. The Wall Street Journal noted that Col. Gen. Kim has rarely been mentioned or seen, unlike typical North Korean elite officers who often appear in the media. Even in the South Korean government’s database of more than 680 North Korean officials, only his name and position are listed, with no information about his age or place of origin.

Jeon Kyung Joo, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), speculated that Kim’s secrecy could be due to his role as a commander of North Korea’s special forces tasked with conducting covert operations during wartime. According to the Wall Street Journal, multiple North Korean experts consider Col. Gen. Kim among the top ten most influential figures in the North Korean military. They predict that if he successfully fulfills his mission in Russia, he will likely ascend to an even higher position of authority.