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Unit 124 was a North Korean Special Operation Forces unit, part of the Reconnaissance Bureau of the Korean People's Army (KPA), under the operational control of the Liaison Department of the Korean Worker's Party[1].

31 men from the Unit were handpicked to raid the Blue House and assassinate South Korean President Park Chung-hee[2].

Following the failure of the Blue House Raid in which 28 members of the Unit were killed, 2 escaped back to North Korea and one, Kim Shin-Jo, was captured, the Unit was believed to have been disbanded[3].

Unit 124 is believed to have been the predecessor of the KPA's Special Battalions, part of the Reconnaissance Agency, formed to conduct intelligence gathering, espionage, terrorism and abduction operations in South Korea.

One of the members of the Unit who escaped back to North Korea was later identified in a photo by Kim Shin-Jo as being a four-star General in the KPA. He is believed to be Park Jae-gyong, an aide to Kim Jong-il and vice minister of the North Korean People's Armed Forces[2].

References

  1. ^ Bolger, Daniel (1991). Scenes from an Unfinished War: Low intensity conflict in Korea 1966-1969. Diane Publishing Co. p. Figure 3. ISBN 978-0788112089.
  2. ^ a b "A would-be assassin builds a new life". JoongAng Daily. 4 November 2009.
  3. ^ "January 1968: Assassins storm Seoul; US spyship seized". The Korea Times. 24 January 2010.

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