" "Kim Jong Un's close aide." Kim Young-bok, commanding Russia's dispatch..."Reading the count."

[Anchor]
Japanese media reported that Kim Young-bok, the deputy chief of staff of the People's Army, a close aide to Kim Jong-un, recently entered Russia and is leading a unit that dispatches troops to North Korea.

Russia continued airstrikes in major cities, including the Ukrainian capital, amid speculation that the deployment of front lines was on the countdown.

Reporter Jeong Yu-shin's report.

[Reporter]
Japan's Kyodo News reported that it has obtained a list of North Korean military officials recently dispatched to Russia, citing Ukrainian military sources.

The general manager at the top of the list is Kim Young-bok, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army.

Although the timing of Vice General Staff Kim Young-bok's entry into Russia has not been confirmed, the news agency said he was confirmed to stay in Russia on the 24th.

Kim Young-bok, deputy chief of staff, is known to be a close aide to Kim Jong-un's military, and was also accompanied by a visit to a western training base in March.

It is interpreted as an intention to accelerate military cooperation between North Korea and Russia by deploying a close aide of Chairman Kim to the dispatch of troops to Russia.

Additional satellite images of Russia's Far East military base, known as the site of the dispatched North Korean military training, have also been released.

Compared to a month ago, trenches and new structures have been built, and more than 20 military vehicles have been added, the Washington Post said.

[On-the-spot sound: (Korean) Hang on]
Earlier on the 18th, a North Korean military drill wearing Russian military uniforms and armed with weapons was reported on a pro-Russian Telegram channel.

[Telegram 'Parafax' Channel: New reinforcements will be here (from North Korea). [This is just the beginning]

Ukrainian authorities say the dispatched North Korean troops are called the 'K Battalion' and expect them to be deployed for the first time soon to the western Russian battleground state of Kursk.

[Soldier of the 18th Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces: Who are they giving guns and ammunition to? From what I've heard, it's that bloody 'K- Battalion'.]

In the meantime, the Russian military continued its drone and missile strikes targeting Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and other countries.

Six people, including a teenage girl, were killed and dozens were injured in the raid, local rescue officials said.

This is YTN Jeong Yu-shin.