124th Army Unit I.

This is coolbert:

During my fourteen month tour of duty in Korea [1968-1969], the greatest danger to American troops was from the North Korean 124th Army unit.

A ranger/commando/special operations unit. A unit comprising the cut-throat elite of the North Korean army.

A unit numbering several thousand men, the basic organization being a four man team. The size of a unit for a particular mission would be task tailored, total size being a factor of the number of four man teams required.

[for the attack on the South Korean "Blue House", a unit of 32 troops was created. Eight teams of four men each, 8 X 4 = 32.]

A North Korean army unit formed to initiate and carry out unconventional warfare [UW] operations in South Korea.

This "cut-throat" unit had troops that were of a SPECIAL caliber.

* Consisted of officers only. NO non-commissioned officers or enlisted.

* Was of men already possessing a black belt in Korean martial arts [tae kwon do].

* Men that had a minimum of ten years of active duty service.

Troops selected for the 124th Army unit, soldiers that already had demonstrated ability, had their skills developed to a much higher degree upon selection and entry into the ranks of the "elite".

Furthered their soldiering skills by intensive training that at times bordered on the sadistic.

Training that included:

* Specialized martial arts training. In addition to the tae kwon do ability, 124th Army unit soldiers received intensive instruction in knife fighting, wrestling, boxing, sentry elimination. In was not uncommon for a whole unit to level a forest of saplings with their BARE HANDS during exercises.

* Physical training, again, that bordered upon the sadistic. An ability to move 100 miles a day cross-country while carrying a 65 pound pack was stressed. Physical training would consist of running cross-country BARE FOOT WITH LEAD WEIGHTS strapped to the legs.

* Weapons training using the weaponry as utilized by the UW soldier. The sniper rifle, demolitions, mines. A lot of emphasis was placed on each and every soldier becoming an expert with the sniper rifle.

* Map reading, land navigation, reconnaissance. All this done at night. Obvious. YOU CANNOT move 100 miles in a day cross-country without being able to find your way.

* Parachute, air mobile, and amphibious landing techniques. 124th Army units could infiltrate South Korean territory from sea, air, land.

[reminds you of the U.S. Navy SEALS [Sea-Air-Land], does it not??!!]

This IS the type of training you do find in ranger/commando/special operations units throughout the various militaries of the world. It should be realized that North Koreans carried out this training with a fanaticism NOT found ANYWHERE ELSE!! The object was to create a soldier that would carry out his mission, heedless of danger to himself or his fellow troops.

[this sounds a lot like the Spetsnaz type of training given the "special purpose" troops of the Soviet Army. Just more severe and harsh and demanding. SADISTIC!]

The existence of the 124th Army unit became public knowledge with the attack on the South Korean Presidential residence, the "Blue House". This occurring in 1969.

"in January 1968, North Korea sent 30 commandos disguised as South Korean guerrillas to the Blue House in Seoul to kill South KoreaÂ’s President Park Chung Hee. Kim Il Sung had hoped this action would incite an uprising in the South and a subsequent request for military aid from the North, thus leading to reunification. But the commandos were captured, all but one were killed, and the failed plot was exposed."

[see an even better description of the raid here.]

[all these articles say that there were 31 infiltrators. I recall something different with regard to that number!!]

The actual number of North Korean commandos was thirty two [8 X 4 = 32??!!]. The attack almost succeeded, the infiltrators getting to with several blocks of the Blue House before being detected. One North Korean [this was Kim Sin-jo] was captured, all the rest being killed. This man proved to be very willing and able to talk, becoming a valuable source of intelligence on the 124th Army unit.

[I do not think torture was used in the case of the captured fanatic. He realized the jig was up and he had better cooperate. Otherwise it would become very unpleasant for him. And I think the South Koreans also realized an ounce of sugar in this case far outweighed the pound ofvinegarr.]

Subsequent to the Blue House raid, the 124th Army unit conducted further limited raids, ambushes, and mining against both American and South Korean units. Everyone was on edge. These folks [North Korean commandos], could and would appear anywhere at any time, and with a vengeance too. They meant to kill. Particularly galling to American soldiers WAS THAT THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE BY THE U.S. HIGH COMMAND THAT AMERICAN RETALIATION FOR SUCH ATTACKS WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION!! The North Koreans understood this and provoked without inhibitions, NOT FEARING the consequences.

Being stationed in Korea during the period 1968-1969 could be hazardous to your health!!

coolbert.