Ex-NK armored spy says “NK could attack at any time”

On Jan. 21 1967, Kim Shin-jo, then 27, one of specially trained North Korean agents, crossed the truce line on a mission to kill then President of South Korea Park Chung-hee. At that time, as the commander of the Army's 25th Division, Major Gen. Yoon Bong-ju struggled hard to search for him, before he was caught near the presidential residence of Cheong Wa Dae.

On Jan. 19, the two figures met again 44 years later at the 25th Division in Yeoncheon County, but this time there was no tension. Kim, 71, who spoke out his mission of "cutting the head of Park Chung-hee" is a priest now in the South and Yoon is an old gentle grandpa at the age of 91. They sat together at an event of "Remember January 21" arranged there aimed to not forget the infiltration of North Korean agents.

“We searched here and there both at daytime and night to capture the 31 North Korean agents when they crossed through the area under the jurisdiction of the 25th Division," Yoon recalled. "In 1968, one year later, we also did never sleep a single night in comfort, doing as many as 36 anti-spy operations."

Yoon also talked about the testimiony in which Kim corrected his inflitration route and tougher training his troops experienced.

“Our division was free from the accusation of poor guard against the North Korean agents as Kim said that they "crossed the border in Banjeong-li, Jangnam-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. 2nd Division" then not the area under the jurisdiction of the 25th Division," Yoon said. "After the incident, all the soldiers of our division marched 70 kilometers with sand bags tied to both legs without wearing underwear even in winter. The uniforms now soldiers are wearing have not been got with ease. The uniforms bear their seniors' sweat."

Kim had also feeling quite different from other meetings. This was the first time that he had ever talked with Yoon although he may happen to meet with Yoon since the former was captured.

“Yoon is from North Hamgyeong Province as I am from. I found that Yoon had suffered hardship because he was assigned to the division one week before I cross the border," Kim said. “All the people have to be aware that North Korean soldiers could infiltrate into the South at any time as they have trained tougher for a long period.”