Maj. Gen. Sin Kum Chol

updated 25 August 2025

Sin Kum Chol (Sin Kum-ch’o’l) served as operations commander of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] forces in Russia. According to the ROK Government, Sin is director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Staff Operations Bureau, but this has not been substantiated and may derive from conflicting sources.

Sin’s name first appeared in DPRK state media when he was promoted to Major General (sojang) during a meeting of the Party Central Military Commission on 23 May 2020.  Sin may have appeared with other XI Corps command staff at North Korea’s military parades in 2023. He attended Kim Jong Un’s (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n) 2 October 2024 inspection of KPA SOF training.

Sin Kum Chol deployed to Russia in October 2024 and was part of the first wave of returnees in August 2025.