North Korean assassin turned pastor dies at 82

In South Korea, Kim Shin-jo, an ex-North Korean commando, passed away at the age of 82 due to old age. He was known for his role in a notorious assassination attempt in 1968 when he was part of a 31-member unit that infiltrated the country aiming to assassinate President Park Chung-hee, who was ruling with an iron fist. Kim was captured after battles lasting two weeks, while most of his team was killed. His actions resulted in the deaths of about 30 South Koreans during the chaotic infiltration. After his capture, Kim stunned both South Korean officials and the public by admitting that he and his teammates intended to kill Park. He was pardoned due to his insistence of not having fired a gun during the operations, and subsequently, he renounced communism under the guidance of South Korean authorities. Thereafter, he became a public figure who traveled the country delivering speeches critical of North Korean leadership. Kim later revealed his painful background, learning that his family back in North Korea had been executed following his failed mission. He attributed the assassination order to Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s founder, arguing that it stemmed from fear that a thriving South Korea could pose a threat to the North’s regime. He speculated that Park’s potential success could allow South Korea to acquire more weapons, which posed a risk to North Korean interests. In the years following the attempted assassination, tensions between North and South Korea escalated as the South took serious steps to bolster its military and national security in response to the incident, including the establishment of military units aimed at countering North Korea and requiring military training in schools. In his later years, Kim embarked on a spiritual journey, eventually becoming a pastor in South Korea, where he shared his experiences and criticized the oppressive systems of North Korea up until his recent passing.