**North Korean Generals Tied to Russia’s War in Ukraine Identified at Moscow Parade**
In a shocking revelation, five senior North Korean military figures have been identified as part of a delegation that greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin during the VE Day parade held on 9 May in Moscow. The generals are connected to Russia’s war in Ukraine and their roles were directly tied to the deployment of North Korean troops in support of Russia.
According to reports by Korea Defense Blog and Militarnyi, the five generals are part of a delegation representing the Korean People’s Army (KPA) leadership. Their public appearance with Putin substantiates Ukraine’s earlier claims that North Korean forces had been fighting alongside Russian troops.
**North Korean Casualties Estimated in Thousands**
Russia recently retook most of the territory in its region that had been held by Ukrainian forces for six months. North Korean casualties were reportedly in the thousands, according to earlier reporting by Militarnyi. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally ordered the deployment of troops to Russia, framing it as part of an “operation to liberate Kursk Oblast,” and formally notified the Russian government.
**The Five Generals Identified**
The five generals identified are:
* Colonel General Kim Yong-bok, deputy chief of the KPA General Staff and commander of the XI Storm Corps
* Colonel General Ri Chang-ho, director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, which oversees military intelligence
* A lieutenant general heading an unnamed department within the Ministry of Defense (name not mentioned)
* The commander of Unit 525, associated with the Main Operational Directorate and the 525th Special Warfare Battalion (full name unclear, surname is Kim)
* Major General Shin Geum-cheol, head of the General Staff’s operations bureau, who commands the overall KPA deployment to Russia
**Yonhap Confirms Diplomatic Context**
According to Yonhap News, Putin met the North Korean delegation at the end of the Red Square ceremony. Among those named were Kim Yong-bok and Sin Hong-chol, North Korea’s ambassador to Russia. The Russian president also greeted Ri Chang-ho and Shin Kum-chol.
The identification of these five generals comes as no surprise given Ukraine’s earlier claims that North Korean forces had been fighting alongside Russian troops. This revelation highlights the complexities of the conflict in Ukraine and the diplomatic context surrounding it.
