Unit 684: Difference between revisions
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The unit was set up by the Chief of [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|Korean Central Intelligence Agency]] (KCIA) on the orders of President [[Park Chung-hee]] on 1 April 1968 to retaliate for the [[Park Chung-hee#The Blue House Raid|Blue House Raid]] on 19 January 1968. The Defense Ministry said the unit was a detachment of the [[ROK Air Force]]’s Squadron 2325, which recruited 31 civilians, either petty criminals or unemployed youths who were promised money and jobs if they succeeded in their mission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/15/world/south-korean-movie-unlocks-door-on-a-once-secret-past.html?pagewanted=1|title=South Korean Movie Unlocks Door on a Once-Secret Past|publisher=The New York Times|date=15 February 2004}}</ref> |
The unit was set up by the Chief of [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|Korean Central Intelligence Agency]] (KCIA) on the orders of President [[Park Chung-hee]] on 1 April 1968 to retaliate for the [[Park Chung-hee#The Blue House Raid|Blue House Raid]] on 19 January 1968. The Defense Ministry said the unit was a detachment of the [[ROK Air Force]]’s Squadron 2325, which recruited 31 civilians, either petty criminals or unemployed youths who were promised money and jobs if they succeeded in their mission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/15/world/south-korean-movie-unlocks-door-on-a-once-secret-past.html?pagewanted=1|title=South Korean Movie Unlocks Door on a Once-Secret Past|publisher=The New York Times|date=15 February 2004}}</ref> |
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Mimicking North Korea's [[Unit 124]], which had failed to assassinate President Park in the Blue House Raid, 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 were harshly trained on the island of [[Silmido]], in the [[Yellow Sea]], off the coast of [[Incheon]]. |
Mimicking North Korea's [[Unit 124]], which had failed to assassinate President Park in the Blue House Raid, 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 were harshly trained on the island of [[Silmido]], in the [[Yellow Sea]], off the coast of [[Incheon]]. Seven members of the Unit were killed during training. |
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Following an improvement in intra-Korean relations the Unit's assassination mission was cancelled. |
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After about three years of rigorous training, during which seven 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, as the Korean governments were now looking towards a peaceful reunification. |
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On 23 August 1971, for reasons which remain unclear, Unit 684 members rose up and killed their guards |
On 23 August 1971, for reasons which remain unclear, Unit 684 members rose up and killed their guards and made their way to the mainland where they hijacked a bus to Seoul. 20 members of the Unit were shot or committed suicide with hand grenades when stopped by government troops. The 4 survivors were convicted by a [[military tribunal]] and executed on 10 March 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/15/world/south-korean-movie-unlocks-door-on-a-once-secret-past.html?pagewanted=1|title=South Korean Movie Unlocks Door on a Once-Secret Past|publisher=The New York Times|date=15 February 2004}}</ref> |
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The South Korean Government concealed all information regarding Unit 684 until the 1990s. The Unit came to public attention with the release of the film Silmido in 2003, but the Government only released an official report into the Unit and the uprising in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2920722|title=Silmido agents' families get $217,000|publisher=Joong Ang Daily|date=120 May 2010}}</ref> |
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In 2009 the families of 21 members of Unit 684 sued the South Korean Government for 670 million Korean Won in compensation. On 19 May 2010 the Seoul Central District Court ordered that the Government should pay 273 million Korean Won in compensation to the families.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2920722|title=Silmido agents' families get $217,000|publisher=Joong Ang Daily|date=120 May 2010}}</ref> |
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==In popular culture== |
==In popular culture== |
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Revision as of 02:42, 8 July 2010
Unit 684 was a South Korean "black ops" team whose mission was to kill North Korea's premier Kim Il-sung.
Overview of the unit
The unit was set up by the Chief of Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) on the orders of President Park Chung-hee on 1 April 1968 to retaliate for the Blue House Raid on 19 January 1968. The Defense Ministry said the unit was a detachment of the ROK Air Force’s Squadron 2325, which recruited 31 civilians, either petty criminals or unemployed youths who were promised money and jobs if they succeeded in their mission.[1]
Mimicking North Korea's Unit 124, which had failed to assassinate President Park in the Blue House Raid, 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 were harshly trained on the island of Silmido, in the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Incheon. Seven members of the Unit were killed during training.
Following an improvement in intra-Korean relations the Unit's assassination mission was cancelled.
On 23 August 1971, for reasons which remain unclear, Unit 684 members rose up and killed their guards and made their way to the mainland where they hijacked a bus to Seoul. 20 members of the Unit were shot or committed suicide with hand grenades when stopped by government troops. The 4 survivors were convicted by a military tribunal and executed on 10 March 1972.[2]
The South Korean Government concealed all information regarding Unit 684 until the 1990s. The Unit came to public attention with the release of the film Silmido in 2003, but the Government only released an official report into the Unit and the uprising in 2006.[3]
In 2009 the families of 21 members of Unit 684 sued the South Korean Government for 670 million Korean Won in compensation. On 19 May 2010 the Seoul Central District Court ordered that the Government should pay 273 million Korean Won in compensation to the families.[4]
In popular culture
The story of the unit is loosely told by the Korean movie Silmido.
References
- ^ "South Korean Movie Unlocks Door on a Once-Secret Past". The New York Times. 15 February 2004.
- ^ "South Korean Movie Unlocks Door on a Once-Secret Past". The New York Times. 15 February 2004.
- ^ "Silmido agents' families get $217,000". Joong Ang Daily. 120 May 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Silmido agents' families get $217,000". Joong Ang Daily. 120 May 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)