Expected Outcome of Ukraine’s ‘Storm Shadow’ Strike
A high-ranking North Korean military officer deployed to assist Russia was reportedly injured in a Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Kursk region, according to foreign media reports. This marks the first reported casualty among senior personnel since reports emerged last month about North Korean troop deployments to Russia.
On the 21st (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited Western officials stating that “a high-ranking North Korean general was injured in a recent Ukrainian attack in Kursk.” However, the official did not provide specific details on the circumstances, extent of the injury, or the identity of the general.
Earlier, the Ukrainian government disclosed a list of North Korean generals deployed to Russia, which included Kim Young-bok, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Korean People’s Army, Ri Chang-ho, Director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, and Shin Geum-cheol, Major General of the People’s Army.
The North Korean general said to be injured was reportedly hurt on the 20th, when Ukraine first launched British Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles at the Russian mainland. Videos of up to 12 Storm Shadow missiles striking a target believed to be the Russian military command headquarters in Kursk were shared on social media. This facility is known to be used by both North Korean and Russian military officers.