North Korean General Among First Casualties in Ukraine Conflict—What Does It Mean for Kim Jong Un?

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Thursday that a high-ranking North Korean military officer was injured in a recent airstrike conducted by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region. This marks the first confirmed casualty among top-level North Korean military personnel deployed to Russia.

In October, North Korea sent over 10,000 soldiers and numerous officers to Russia. The Ukrainian government announced that at least 500 of these dispatched North Korean troops are of officer rank. High-ranking officials leading them include Kim Young Bok, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army; Ri Chang Ho, Director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau; and Shin Kum Chul, Major General of the People’s Army.

The General Staff Department is a core institution responsible for planning, commanding, and controlling North Korea’s military operations. The Deputy Chief of the General Staff assists the Chief and oversees actual operational command—a highly prestigious position. The Reconnaissance General Bureau handles North Korea’s foreign intelligence gathering, special operations, and cyber attacks. As the top official of this bureau, the Director oversees all overseas intelligence activities and covert operations. The rank of Major General is one of the general officer ranks and often involves roles like corps or division commanders. Although lower in rank compared to the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and the Director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, a Major General is still considered a high-ranking officer within the North Korean military.

Specific details about the injured general’s identity or the extent of the injuries have not been confirmed. It is presumed that the injury occurred during a Ukrainian attack using British-made Storm Shadow air-to-surface cruise missiles on a military command post in the village of Maryino in Kursk the previous day. Ukrainian and British media reported that North Korean and Russian officers were using the command post at the time.

According to videos posted on social media, up to 12 Storm Shadow missiles precisely struck their targets. A Russian blogger claimed that North Korean soldiers were inside the headquarters.

The Storm Shadow missile is a high-performance air-to-surface cruise missile jointly developed by the UK and France. It has a range of about 250 km and can accurately strike targets. The missile navigates using pre-set coordinates and terrain recognition, minimizing errors with GPS guidance. Notably, it precisely tracks the target during the terminal phase, even at high speeds, optimizing it for destroying large-scale military facilities. The warhead consists of high-explosive and penetrative components capable of neutralizing thick defensive walls. Designed to penetrate enemy air defenses and strike targets, this missile demonstrates formidable effectiveness in combat situations.

According to the WSJ, North Korea’s delegation to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment on the attack.

The U.S. is closely monitoring North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict and intensifying its response. President Joe Biden recently authorized the deployment of ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles to Ukraine. These weapons provide Ukraine with a new strategic edge, capable of striking deep into Russian territory with high precision.

The UK appears to have tacitly approved the use of Storm Shadow missiles against Russian mainland targets. While officially denying these claims, evidence from recent strikes supports the assessment.

The injury of a North Korean general indicates active combat involvement of North Korean forces. Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that some North Korean troops in Kursk had already suffered combat casualties.

John Kirby, the White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, emphasized that any North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine would be considered fair targets, warning that Ukrainian forces view them as legitimate targets for attack.