Seoul: In a dramatic and tense historical episode, thirty-one North Korean commandos infiltrated the South Korean capital of Seoul in 1968 with a mission to assassinate then-President Park Chung-hee. The daring attempt brought the two Koreas to the brink of conflict, highlighting the intense hostilities that characterized the Korean Peninsula during the Cold War era.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the North Korean troops were stopped just 300 meters from the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae. The confrontation resulted in the death of twenty-eight commandos, while one was captured by South Korean authorities. Two others are believed to have successfully returned to North Korea. The only survivor, Kim Sin-jo, became infamous for his brazen admission during a nationally televised news conference, where he declared, “I came here to cut the throat of Park Chung-hee!”

This incident is a significant event in Korean history, as it not only underscored the volatile relationship between North and South Korea but also prompted South Korea to bolster its security measures in the aftermath. The infiltration attempt remains a stark reminder of the geopolitical tensions that have long plagued the Korean Peninsula.