The mysterious general behind North Korea's missile program.

Kim Rak-gyom, the head of North Korea's missile forces, was the general who responded strongly to Trump's threats.

The man standing to the right of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is believed to be General Kim Rak-gyom. Photo: Reuters.

He was like Kim Jong-un's shadow, accompanying the North Korean leader from missile launches to military parades. General Kim Rak-gyom often smiled and joked with his subordinates, but he wielded far more dangerous power than he appeared.

General Kim is the head of North Korea's Strategic Missile Force, overseeing both conventional and nuclear strategic defense missiles. According to the Washington Post, the U.S. estimated last month that North Korea possesses 60 nuclear weapons, although some independent experts believe the number is much lower.

After Trump threatened to unleash "fire and fury" on North Korea, Kim Jong-un announced he was planning an attack on the US island of Guam in the Pacific. General Kim Rak-gyom called Trump's statement "nonsense" and referred to the US President as a "stubborn old man."

Very little information is available about this mysterious general. In fact, some news outlets are even divided on who he really is within Kim Jong-un's entourage.

Kim Rak-gyom was promoted from two-star to four-star general in June 2012, about six months after Kim Jong-un came to power. His appointment as commander of the then-new Strategic Missile Forces was the first sign that Kim Jong-un wanted to push forward with the missile program.

North Korea places missile development on par with its army and air force. Kim Rak-gyom has a direct telephone line connecting him to Kim Jong-un, according to the Australian.

"When fully equipped with the capability to carry out precision strikes with nuclear weapons, no aggressor would dare risk attacking us," the North Korean leader said at the time.

However, Kim Jong-un's position as right-hand man also comes with unique risks. Following a series of failed missile tests, international media reported in February that Kim Rak-gyom had not appeared in public for six months, including during the 69th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army.

He reappeared a month later when North Korea launched four missiles, three of which landed in Japanese waters. The North Korean military claimed they were practicing attacks on US military bases in Japan.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported in May that General Kim and several other officials were not included in the new list of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of North Korea, the country's most important military body. Yonhap quoted a South Korean official as saying, "It is highly likely that General Kim was held responsible for the failed missile launches."

However, with KCNA news agency quoting General Kim on August 9th as responding to Trump's threats, it appears he still plays an important role in the government.

Besides General Kim Rak-gyom, the North Korean leader also has a close trio of confidants who often appear in photos of him smiling happily after successful missile launches.

They include former Air Force General Ri Pyong Chol, veteran missile scientist Kim Jong Sik, and head of weapons development Jang Chang Ha.

Kim Jong-un's three closest confidants. Photo: Reuters.

Television photos and videos clearly show that all three are favored by Kim Jong-un. Their behavior towards him is a far cry from the subservient attitude of other senior aides. Two of them even had the opportunity to fly with Kim Jong-un on his private Goshawk-1 aircraft.

"Instead of having to communicate through various levels, Kim Jong-un keeps these people close to him so he can communicate directly with them and urge them to speed up weapons development. This shows Kim Jong-un's eagerness for the missile development program," commented An Chan Il, a former North Korean military officer who defected to South Korea and now runs a consulting organization in Seoul.

According to VNE