"The EU and Russia sanctions include Kim Young-bok, the leader of the dispatched North Korean army."

The European Union's (EU) sanctions against Russia reportedly include Kim Young-bok, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, who is known to command North Korean troops dispatched to Russia.

In the draft sanctions, Kim has accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in at least seven public appearances in 2024, which is considered to represent his important role within the North Korean military, European media outlet EU Observer reported.

The EU seems to have decided to include Kim Young-bok in the draft sanctions based on a briefing on the dispatch of North Korean troops by a South Korean government delegation to Brussels, Belgium, last month.

Ambassadors from 27 EU countries exchanged their first opinions on the 15th draft of the sanctions on the 26th, where many member states insisted on adding sanctions, and it is expected to be agreed by the end of the year after further discussion.

Ukraine said in a statement to the U.N. Security Council last month that the list of North Korean officers entering Russia included Kim Young-bok, Ri Chang-ho, director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, and Shin Geum-chul, a major general of the People's Army.

Among them, Kim Young-bok officially confirmed that our NIS was dispatched to Russia.