http://www.pressian.com/article/article.asp?article_num=20061018165144§ion=01
"민주화-산업화 세력 힘 합쳐야"…노골적 'DJ 구애'
기사입력 2006-10-18 오후 5:18:24
햇볕정책에 대한 한나라당 지도부의 평가가 혼선을 거듭하고 있는 가운데 박근혜 전 대표는 18일 "한반도에 평화를 정착시켜야 한다는 포용정책의 정신과 기조는 줄곧 찬성해 왔다"고 말했다. 김대중 전 대통령의 고향인 전남 신안을 비롯해 화순, 해남 등을 방문한 자리에서다.
박정희 '7.4 남북공동성명'과 DJ '햇볕정책' 동일선상
박 전 대표는 전남지역 재보선 지원유세 도중 기자 간담회를 갖고 "포용정책은 원칙이 있고 안보상 상대가 어떻게 하느냐에 따라 한계가 있다. 북핵문제가 터진 것은 지금이고, '북핵에도 일리가 있다'며 이를 방조하고 조장한 것도 현 정부"라며 이같이 말했다.
사실상 김 전 대통령의 햇볕정책에 대해서는 긍정적으로 평가하면서 비난의 화살을 노무현 대통령에게 집중한 셈이다.
박 전 대표는 "시대적 형편과 경제력의 차이만 있었지 대북포용정책은 특정 정권에서만 있었던 것이 아니라 7.4 남북공동성명이나 남북기본합의서 등의 사례에서 보듯 매 정권마다 추진한 것"이라며 "김대중 전 대통령 때 경제력의 우위를 바탕으로 북한에 많은 지원을 해 왔고 이를 햇볕정책이라고 네이밍(=명명)한 것"이라고 강조했다.
김 전 대통령의 햇볕정책을 박정희 정권 시절에 이뤄진 7.4 남북공동성명의 연장선 상에 위치지운 발언이다.
"北 때문에 죽을 순 없어…PSI 참여해야"
김대중 전 대통령의 햇볕정책에 대한 긍정적 평가와는 달리 노무현 식 대북 포용정책에 대한 박근혜 전 대표의 비판은 거의 무자비했다.
박 전 대표는 "미사일 쏘고 핵실험을 한다고 위협을 가하는데도 현 정부가 어떤 태도를 취했는지 보라"며 "북한 때문에 손해를 볼 수는 있을지언정 북한 때문에 우리가 죽을 수는 없다"고 강조했다.
박 전 대표는 "북핵 위기가 극한으로 치달은 것은 6자회담 참여국 중 절대적인 공조가 있어야 할 한국과 미국 사이에 계속 엇박자가 났기 때문"이라며 "정말 국민의 재산과 생명을 책임지는 정치 지도자라면 결론을 내려야지 모호한 자세는 안된다"고 강조했다.
논란을 빚고 있는 대량살상무기 확산방지구상(PSI)에 관련해 박 전 대표는 "국제적인 공동의 노력에 협력해야 한다"며 "PSI를 주도하는 국가들이 참여를 요청할 때 우리는 긍정적으로 검토해야 한다"라고 지지를 표명했다.
이어 박 전 대표는 금강산 관광, 개성공단 사업에 대한 직접적인 평가는 없었지만 "우리의 생명을 담보로 핵실험까지 하는 상황에서 그런 정책을 펴나가야 되겠느냐"며 "정부 차원에서 세금이 들어가는 지원은 중단해야 하고, 핵실험 재원 마련에 도움이 되는 어떤 사업들도 잠정적으로 일체 중단해야 한다"라고 주장했다.
"민주당과 연대, 가능성 항상 열려 있어"
한편 민주당과의 공조 가능성을 묻는 기자들의 질문에 박근혜 전 대표는 "민주화 및 산업화 세력은 우리나라 발전을 이끈 양대 기둥이었다. 이제는 시대가 바뀌어 선진화를 하는 데 두 세력이 힘을 합해야 될 때"라며 "그런 의미에서 민주당과 연대는 가능성이 항상 열려 있다"고 밝혔다.
이어 박 전 대표는 "(호남인들의 시각이) 처음보다 많이 따뜻해지고 거부감 이런 것들이 많이 없어져 기쁘게 생각한다"고 덧붙였다.
그러나 정계개편 논의와 관련해 박 전 대표는 "국민의 뜻을 무시하고 선거에 이기겠다는 목적으로 서로 맞지도 않는데 억지로 (정계개편을) 추진하는 것은 야합"이라고 명시적으로 비판했다. /송호균 기자
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
난 대통령 참모일뿐 외교선생 될 수 없다
http://www.chosun.com/politics/news/200504/200504190364.html
반외교, 국회서 "외교 최고 책임자는 대통령"
▲ 반기문 외교통상부 장관이 19일 국회 통일외교통상위에서 안경을 만지고 있다. 한나라당 의원들은 이날 외교부가 대통령의 눈치를 보느라고 제 역할을 못하고 있다고 질책했다./ 임현찬기자
한나라당 의원들은 19일 국회 통일외교통상위에서 외교통상부가 제 역할을 하지 못하고 있다고 강하게 질책했다.
한나라당 김문수(金文洙) 의원은 “외교관들은 친미파·친일파로 몰릴까봐, 노비어천가(노무현 대통령을 칭송하는 노래)를 부르고 있다”며 “외교 분야는 대통령도, 정동영 국가안전보장회의(NSC) 상임위원장도 아마추어인데 외교전문가들이 이렇게 하고 있으면, 어떻게 하자는 것인지 참으로 걱정”이라고 말했다. 같은 당 박계동(朴啓東) 의원은 “노무현 정부에서는 외교부가 외교사무국 노릇밖에 하지 못하고 있다. 외교부 장관은 어디로 갔는지 찾아볼 수가 없고, 비전문가들에 의해서 좌지우지 되고 있다”고 했다. 그는 “윤영관 전 장관이 NSC의 자주외교 논자들에 의해 물러난 후, 외교관들이 (공직에서) 물러나는 것이 두려워서 납작 엎드리기로 나가고 있다”고도 했다.
이에 대해 열린우리당 최성(崔星) 의원은 “외교부는 한반도 평화를 훼손시킬 수 있는 일방주의 외교에 대해서 ‘노(No)’라고 할 수 있어야 한다”며 “신군국주의 시도에 대해서는 당한 외교전을 불사할 수 있는 자주외교가 필요하다”고 맞섰다.
한나라당 홍준표(洪準杓) 의원이 “반 장관은 외교부의 역량이 미치지 못할 때 대통령이 명쾌하게 가르쳐 준 것을 감사드린다고 말했는데, 대통령의 외교 선생인 외교부 장관이 어떻게 이런 말을 하느냐”고 묻자, 반 장관은 “외교부 장관은 대통령의 외교 참모일 뿐 대통령의 외교 선생이 될 수 없다”고 말했다. 반 장관은 또 “외교의 최고 책임자는 대통령이며, 나는 대통령의 외교철학이나 방침을 집행하는 책임을 지고 있다”고, 자신의 ‘외교부 장관론’을 밝히기도 했다. 그러면서 “대통령의 철학·비전이 당대의 외교 흐름을 이끌어가는 것이 국제사회 관례”라고도 했다.
반외교, 국회서 "외교 최고 책임자는 대통령"
▲ 반기문 외교통상부 장관이 19일 국회 통일외교통상위에서 안경을 만지고 있다. 한나라당 의원들은 이날 외교부가 대통령의 눈치를 보느라고 제 역할을 못하고 있다고 질책했다./ 임현찬기자
한나라당 의원들은 19일 국회 통일외교통상위에서 외교통상부가 제 역할을 하지 못하고 있다고 강하게 질책했다.
한나라당 김문수(金文洙) 의원은 “외교관들은 친미파·친일파로 몰릴까봐, 노비어천가(노무현 대통령을 칭송하는 노래)를 부르고 있다”며 “외교 분야는 대통령도, 정동영 국가안전보장회의(NSC) 상임위원장도 아마추어인데 외교전문가들이 이렇게 하고 있으면, 어떻게 하자는 것인지 참으로 걱정”이라고 말했다. 같은 당 박계동(朴啓東) 의원은 “노무현 정부에서는 외교부가 외교사무국 노릇밖에 하지 못하고 있다. 외교부 장관은 어디로 갔는지 찾아볼 수가 없고, 비전문가들에 의해서 좌지우지 되고 있다”고 했다. 그는 “윤영관 전 장관이 NSC의 자주외교 논자들에 의해 물러난 후, 외교관들이 (공직에서) 물러나는 것이 두려워서 납작 엎드리기로 나가고 있다”고도 했다.
이에 대해 열린우리당 최성(崔星) 의원은 “외교부는 한반도 평화를 훼손시킬 수 있는 일방주의 외교에 대해서 ‘노(No)’라고 할 수 있어야 한다”며 “신군국주의 시도에 대해서는 당한 외교전을 불사할 수 있는 자주외교가 필요하다”고 맞섰다.
한나라당 홍준표(洪準杓) 의원이 “반 장관은 외교부의 역량이 미치지 못할 때 대통령이 명쾌하게 가르쳐 준 것을 감사드린다고 말했는데, 대통령의 외교 선생인 외교부 장관이 어떻게 이런 말을 하느냐”고 묻자, 반 장관은 “외교부 장관은 대통령의 외교 참모일 뿐 대통령의 외교 선생이 될 수 없다”고 말했다. 반 장관은 또 “외교의 최고 책임자는 대통령이며, 나는 대통령의 외교철학이나 방침을 집행하는 책임을 지고 있다”고, 자신의 ‘외교부 장관론’을 밝히기도 했다. 그러면서 “대통령의 철학·비전이 당대의 외교 흐름을 이끌어가는 것이 국제사회 관례”라고도 했다.
Tuesday, August 3, 2004
North Korea to build new missiles using Soviet design
Tue, 2004-08-03 17:39 —
http://www.russiajournal.com/node/18233
North Korea is deploying new land- and sea-based ballistic missiles apparently to be based on a decomissioned Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missile, the R-27. They can carry nuclear warheads and may have sufficient range to hit the United States, Jane's Defence Weekly said Wednesday.
North Korea is deploying new land- and sea-based ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads and may have sufficient range to hit the United States. Communist Korea had acquired the know-how during the 1990s from Russian missile specialists and by buying 12 former Soviet submarines which had been sold for scrap metal but retained key elements of their missile launch systems, Jane's Defence Weekly said Wednesday.
In an article published Wednesday, Jane's said the two new systems appeared to be based on a decomissioned Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missile, the R-27. Jane's, which did not specify its sources, said the sea-based missile was potentially the more threatening of the two new weapons systems.
"It would fundamentally alter the missile threat posed by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and could finally provide its leadership with something that it has long sought to obtain – the ability to directly threaten the continental U.S.," the weekly said. Apart from targeting the United States, South Korea or Japan, cash-strapped North Korea might seek to sell the technology to countries that have bought its missiles in the past, with Iran a prime candidate, the article added.
Ian Kemp, news editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, said North Korea would only spend the money and effort on developing such missiles if it intended to fit them with nuclear warheads. "It's pretty certain the North Koreans would not be developing these unless they were intended for weapons of mass destruction warheads, and the nuclear warhead is far and away the most potent of those," he told Reuters.
North Korea pulled out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in January 2003 and is locked in long-running crisis talks with the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea over terms for scrapping its atomic weapons programme. The extent of that programme remains unclear, although North Korea's deputy foreign minister was quoted as telling a senior U.S. official last year that Pyongyang possessed nuclear weapons.
Jane's said the new land-based system had an estimated range of 2,500 to 4,000 km (1,560 to 2,500 miles), and the sea-based system, launchable from a submarine or a ship, had a range of at least 2,500 km. "If you can get a missile aboard a warship, in particular aboard a submarine...you can move your submarine to strike at targets such as Hawaii or the United States, just as examples. Whereas it would be much more difficult to actually develop a ground-launched missile to achieve that sort of a range," Kemp said.
Until now only the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China have been known to possess submarine-launched nuclear weapons, although there has been speculation that Israel has a similar capability. Jane's said North Korea appeared to have acquired the R-27 technology from Russian missile experts based in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk. It said one such group was detained in 1992 when about to fly to North Korea, but others visited later.
It said Pyongyang was also helped by the purchase, through a Japanese trading company, of 12 decommissioned Russian Foxtrot-class and Golf II-class submarines which were sold for scrap in 1993. It said the missiles and electronic firing systems had been removed, but the vessels retained their launch tubes and stabilisation sub-systems.
http://www.russiajournal.com/node/18233
North Korea is deploying new land- and sea-based ballistic missiles apparently to be based on a decomissioned Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missile, the R-27. They can carry nuclear warheads and may have sufficient range to hit the United States, Jane's Defence Weekly said Wednesday.
North Korea is deploying new land- and sea-based ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads and may have sufficient range to hit the United States. Communist Korea had acquired the know-how during the 1990s from Russian missile specialists and by buying 12 former Soviet submarines which had been sold for scrap metal but retained key elements of their missile launch systems, Jane's Defence Weekly said Wednesday.
In an article published Wednesday, Jane's said the two new systems appeared to be based on a decomissioned Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missile, the R-27. Jane's, which did not specify its sources, said the sea-based missile was potentially the more threatening of the two new weapons systems.
"It would fundamentally alter the missile threat posed by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and could finally provide its leadership with something that it has long sought to obtain – the ability to directly threaten the continental U.S.," the weekly said. Apart from targeting the United States, South Korea or Japan, cash-strapped North Korea might seek to sell the technology to countries that have bought its missiles in the past, with Iran a prime candidate, the article added.
Ian Kemp, news editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, said North Korea would only spend the money and effort on developing such missiles if it intended to fit them with nuclear warheads. "It's pretty certain the North Koreans would not be developing these unless they were intended for weapons of mass destruction warheads, and the nuclear warhead is far and away the most potent of those," he told Reuters.
North Korea pulled out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in January 2003 and is locked in long-running crisis talks with the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea over terms for scrapping its atomic weapons programme. The extent of that programme remains unclear, although North Korea's deputy foreign minister was quoted as telling a senior U.S. official last year that Pyongyang possessed nuclear weapons.
Jane's said the new land-based system had an estimated range of 2,500 to 4,000 km (1,560 to 2,500 miles), and the sea-based system, launchable from a submarine or a ship, had a range of at least 2,500 km. "If you can get a missile aboard a warship, in particular aboard a submarine...you can move your submarine to strike at targets such as Hawaii or the United States, just as examples. Whereas it would be much more difficult to actually develop a ground-launched missile to achieve that sort of a range," Kemp said.
Until now only the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China have been known to possess submarine-launched nuclear weapons, although there has been speculation that Israel has a similar capability. Jane's said North Korea appeared to have acquired the R-27 technology from Russian missile experts based in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk. It said one such group was detained in 1992 when about to fly to North Korea, but others visited later.
It said Pyongyang was also helped by the purchase, through a Japanese trading company, of 12 decommissioned Russian Foxtrot-class and Golf II-class submarines which were sold for scrap in 1993. It said the missiles and electronic firing systems had been removed, but the vessels retained their launch tubes and stabilisation sub-systems.
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
“실미도 대원 31명 명단 있다”
http://www.hani.co.kr/section-005000000/2004/02/005000000200402171958965.html
‘실미도 부대’로 불리는 공군 684부대 훈련병 31명의 명단이 처음으로 확인됐다.
김성호 의원(열린우리당)은 “지난 7일 국방부의 대면보고를 받는 자리에서 실미도 훈련병들의 이름이 포함된 ‘8·23 난동사건 상황일지’를 확인했다”고 17일 밝혔다.
이 문건에는 훈련병 31명의 이름과 나이, 숨진 장소 등이 적혀 있으며, 사건이 일어난 이틀 뒤인 1971년 8월25일 공군작전상황실이 만든 것이라고 김 의원은 전했다.
지금까지는 훈련병 31명 가운데 충북 옥천에서 한꺼번에 행방불명된 청년 7명이 모두 실미도 부대에 입대한 사실이 공식확인됐고, 사형당한 4명 가운데 1명의 유가족이 신원확인 요청을 제기한 상태로, 부대원 전원의 명단 존재 사실이 밝혀진 것은 이번이 처음이다.
하지만 김 의원은 “옥천 실종자 7명 가운데 김병염·장명기 등 2명의 이름은 이 명단에 포함돼 있지 않았는데 국방부가 이들의 명단을 확인했다고 발표한 경위가 의문”이라며 “국방부가 훈련병 모두에 대해 가족들한테 신원을 통보하고 주검을 묻은 장소를 공개해야 한다”고 지적했다.
이에 대해 국방부는 “이름 한 글자가 틀리다거나, 부대에서 다른 이름으로 불린 경우 등 실명과 일치하지 않는 경우가 있을 수 있어 여러 자료를 토대로 최대한 신원을 확인중”이라며 “명단 공개 여부는 결정된 바 없다”고 밝혔다.
한편, 이 문건에는 훈련과정에서 사망한 7명에 대해 ‘익사 2명, 도주중 체포돼 즉결처분 2명, 자살 3명’이라고 기록돼 있는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 지금까지는 익사 1명, 즉결처분 6명으로 알려져 왔다. 이지은 기자 jieuny@hani.co.kr
‘실미도 부대’로 불리는 공군 684부대 훈련병 31명의 명단이 처음으로 확인됐다.
김성호 의원(열린우리당)은 “지난 7일 국방부의 대면보고를 받는 자리에서 실미도 훈련병들의 이름이 포함된 ‘8·23 난동사건 상황일지’를 확인했다”고 17일 밝혔다.
이 문건에는 훈련병 31명의 이름과 나이, 숨진 장소 등이 적혀 있으며, 사건이 일어난 이틀 뒤인 1971년 8월25일 공군작전상황실이 만든 것이라고 김 의원은 전했다.
지금까지는 훈련병 31명 가운데 충북 옥천에서 한꺼번에 행방불명된 청년 7명이 모두 실미도 부대에 입대한 사실이 공식확인됐고, 사형당한 4명 가운데 1명의 유가족이 신원확인 요청을 제기한 상태로, 부대원 전원의 명단 존재 사실이 밝혀진 것은 이번이 처음이다.
하지만 김 의원은 “옥천 실종자 7명 가운데 김병염·장명기 등 2명의 이름은 이 명단에 포함돼 있지 않았는데 국방부가 이들의 명단을 확인했다고 발표한 경위가 의문”이라며 “국방부가 훈련병 모두에 대해 가족들한테 신원을 통보하고 주검을 묻은 장소를 공개해야 한다”고 지적했다.
이에 대해 국방부는 “이름 한 글자가 틀리다거나, 부대에서 다른 이름으로 불린 경우 등 실명과 일치하지 않는 경우가 있을 수 있어 여러 자료를 토대로 최대한 신원을 확인중”이라며 “명단 공개 여부는 결정된 바 없다”고 밝혔다.
한편, 이 문건에는 훈련과정에서 사망한 7명에 대해 ‘익사 2명, 도주중 체포돼 즉결처분 2명, 자살 3명’이라고 기록돼 있는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 지금까지는 익사 1명, 즉결처분 6명으로 알려져 왔다. 이지은 기자 jieuny@hani.co.kr
Friday, February 6, 2004
Military Admits `Silmido Unit' for First Time
http://web.archive.org/web/20060513162442/http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200402/kt2004020617442611960.htm
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter
With hundreds of thousands of South Koreans enthused by the recently released domestic film ``Silmido,’’ military authorities on Friday confirmed for the first time the existence of ``Unit 684,’’ a secret unit of agents who were trained for the assassination of then-North Korean leader Kim Il-sung in late 1960s.
The Defense Ministry said the unit in question is a detachment of the ROK Air Force’s Squadron 2325, which recruited 31 civilians for special missions on April 1, 1968.
``Seven of them died in training, 20 were killed in a rebellion and the four survivors were put to death after military trial,’’ ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Nam Dae-youn said in a press briefing.
Nam added the ministry found five out of the seven men from a village of Okchon, North Chungchong Province, who altogether went missing around the time, had identical names with five of the 31 unit members. ``We cannot confirm if the five are the same people that were members of the unit, because most of records were destroyed. We will have to check further,’’ he said.
Keen public attention was drawn to Unit 684 and the Silmido incident as a movie, portraying the fate of 31 unit members in rebellion, was released late last year.
The unit was launched in retaliation against a North Korean attempt to assassinate South Korean president Park Chung-hee in 1968. On Jan. 21, 1968, 31 North Korean agents sneaked into Seoul on a mission to assassinate then-president Park Chung-hee. They almost reached Chong Wa Dae, but most of them were killed in the mountains surrounding the presidential residence.
The number of the unit, 684, stands for the April, 1968 when the unit was founded. The members were trained harshly on a remote, deserted island in the West Sea called Silmido.
The identities of those 31 figures and how they joined the unit are not known, though the movie described them as condemned criminals.
The unit was ready by 1969 for its infiltration mission into Pyongyang, but by that time relations between the two rival Koreas had thawed somewhat, and Seoul reconsidered its assassination plans. The unit members were left isolated on the island, unable to leave, for about three years in conditions described in the film as inhumane.
In August of 1971, unit members rose to kill their overseers and made their way to Chong Wa Dae in rebellion. Most of them, however, committed suicide with their grenades when confronted with troops in Seoul.
jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr
02-06-2004 17:46
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_684
Unit 684 was an expendable and unorthodox South Korean "black ops" team whose mission was to kill North Korea's premier Kim Il-sung.
The unit was set up by the Chief of Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) on the orders of President Park Chung-hee. The Defense Ministry said the unit in question was a detachment of the ROK Air Force’s Squadron 2325, which recruited 31 convicted Death Row criminals for a 'deep penetration' mission on April 1, 1968. One that was essentially a suicide mission, but the convicts were promised their freedom and a new start, if they achieved the mission's aim. Faced with the alternative, they accepted, and Unit 684 was born.
Mimicking North Korea's Unit 124, which had earlier failed to assassinate the South Korean President, Unit 684 was made up of 31 men, and the Unit's mission was to assassinate the then-leader of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung.
The number of the unit, 684, stands for April 1968 when the unit was founded. The members, being expendable, were trained harshly on the remote deserted island of Silmido Island in the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Incheon.
After about three years of rigorous training, during which seven of them died, Unit 684 set off in rubber inflatable boats towards North Korea on their mission. However, en route, it was terminated, and the members forcibly turned back by their instructors. This was because the Korean governments were now looking towards a peaceful reunification.
In August 1971, the KCIA cancelled the mission for good, ordering the instructors to terminate all Unit 684 trainees, and erase all evidence of the project. Before they could be murdered, the Unit 684 members rose up to kill their overseers.
They then attempted to make their way to the Blue House (South Korean President's House) in a rebellion. Most of them, however, committed suicide with hand grenades when roadblocked, and confronted by government troops, before they could cross the Han River. The survivors were sentenced to death by a military tribunal.
The story of the unit is loosely told by the Korean movie Silmido.
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter
With hundreds of thousands of South Koreans enthused by the recently released domestic film ``Silmido,’’ military authorities on Friday confirmed for the first time the existence of ``Unit 684,’’ a secret unit of agents who were trained for the assassination of then-North Korean leader Kim Il-sung in late 1960s.
The Defense Ministry said the unit in question is a detachment of the ROK Air Force’s Squadron 2325, which recruited 31 civilians for special missions on April 1, 1968.
``Seven of them died in training, 20 were killed in a rebellion and the four survivors were put to death after military trial,’’ ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Nam Dae-youn said in a press briefing.
Nam added the ministry found five out of the seven men from a village of Okchon, North Chungchong Province, who altogether went missing around the time, had identical names with five of the 31 unit members. ``We cannot confirm if the five are the same people that were members of the unit, because most of records were destroyed. We will have to check further,’’ he said.
Keen public attention was drawn to Unit 684 and the Silmido incident as a movie, portraying the fate of 31 unit members in rebellion, was released late last year.
The unit was launched in retaliation against a North Korean attempt to assassinate South Korean president Park Chung-hee in 1968. On Jan. 21, 1968, 31 North Korean agents sneaked into Seoul on a mission to assassinate then-president Park Chung-hee. They almost reached Chong Wa Dae, but most of them were killed in the mountains surrounding the presidential residence.
The number of the unit, 684, stands for the April, 1968 when the unit was founded. The members were trained harshly on a remote, deserted island in the West Sea called Silmido.
The identities of those 31 figures and how they joined the unit are not known, though the movie described them as condemned criminals.
The unit was ready by 1969 for its infiltration mission into Pyongyang, but by that time relations between the two rival Koreas had thawed somewhat, and Seoul reconsidered its assassination plans. The unit members were left isolated on the island, unable to leave, for about three years in conditions described in the film as inhumane.
In August of 1971, unit members rose to kill their overseers and made their way to Chong Wa Dae in rebellion. Most of them, however, committed suicide with their grenades when confronted with troops in Seoul.
jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr
02-06-2004 17:46
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_684
Unit 684 was an expendable and unorthodox South Korean "black ops" team whose mission was to kill North Korea's premier Kim Il-sung.
The unit was set up by the Chief of Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) on the orders of President Park Chung-hee. The Defense Ministry said the unit in question was a detachment of the ROK Air Force’s Squadron 2325, which recruited 31 convicted Death Row criminals for a 'deep penetration' mission on April 1, 1968. One that was essentially a suicide mission, but the convicts were promised their freedom and a new start, if they achieved the mission's aim. Faced with the alternative, they accepted, and Unit 684 was born.
Mimicking North Korea's Unit 124, which had earlier failed to assassinate the South Korean President, Unit 684 was made up of 31 men, and the Unit's mission was to assassinate the then-leader of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung.
The number of the unit, 684, stands for April 1968 when the unit was founded. The members, being expendable, were trained harshly on the remote deserted island of Silmido Island in the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Incheon.
After about three years of rigorous training, during which seven of them died, Unit 684 set off in rubber inflatable boats towards North Korea on their mission. However, en route, it was terminated, and the members forcibly turned back by their instructors. This was because the Korean governments were now looking towards a peaceful reunification.
In August 1971, the KCIA cancelled the mission for good, ordering the instructors to terminate all Unit 684 trainees, and erase all evidence of the project. Before they could be murdered, the Unit 684 members rose up to kill their overseers.
They then attempted to make their way to the Blue House (South Korean President's House) in a rebellion. Most of them, however, committed suicide with hand grenades when roadblocked, and confronted by government troops, before they could cross the Han River. The survivors were sentenced to death by a military tribunal.
The story of the unit is loosely told by the Korean movie Silmido.
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
North Korea's Connection to International Trade in Drugs, Counterfeiting, and Arms
http://www.heritage.org/Research/AsiaandthePacific/test052103a.cfm
by Larry M. Wortzel, Ph.D.
Testimony Before the Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Management, Budget, and International Security
Testimony Before the Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Management, Budget, and International Security
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