It has been learned that North Korea founded in tight secrecy a special forces unit to safeguard the well being of National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il late in 1996, and christened it the 'O Jung-hup 7th Brigade,' publicized as the legendary troops of Korea's anti-Japan guerrilla warfare. The foundation of the special forces unit consisted of recruiting outstanding officers and enlisted men in the Army, Navy and Air Force and subjecting them to a year-long harsh training in the rugged terrain of Mounts Yangdok and Maengsan in South Pyongan Province, according to sources familiar with North Korea.

The 'O Jung-hun 7th Brigade' has been publicized as a unit that ensured the safety of the then guerrilla commander Kim Il Sung in 1938 by defeating a Japanese expeditionary force chasing Kim's troops. The special forces unit was so christened with a view to safeguarding Kim Jong Il in a like manner, observed a source. In recruiting members of the special forces unit, Pyongyang put out a catch phrase, "Let's safeguard the revolutionary headquarters," signifying the safeguarding of Kim Jong Il, added the source.

The brigade, unlike its designation, is organized in strength somewhere between division (12,000-14,000 troops) and corps (over 150,000 troops). Its commander also is not a full colonel as is the case with a regiment, but a major general. Tasks of the 'O Jung-hup 7th Brigade' cover not only guarding Kim Jong Il, but also conducting secret special operations ordered by him. "Whenever he visited People's Army units since the late 1990s, Kim Jong Il has emphasized the so-called 'storm infantry,' capable of waging mobile warfare using helicopters, and the 'O Jung-hun 7th Brigade' is the only such unit existing in the North," said the sources.

Appointed as the first commander of the brigade was a certain General Yi, commander of the 2nd Division, reputed to have the strongest combat capabilities in the North. Yi, in his late 40's, is known to have enjoyed the deep trust of Kim Jong Il.

An indication of the higher status of the brigade can be found in the fact that its commander is authorized to use four motor vehicles, twice the number allotted to ordinary division commanders. He is authorized to use a Mercedes limousine, a Mercedes jeep, a Russian-made military-use jeep Uarz, and a commander's armored car fitted with communication equipment. Supplied to ordinary division commanders are only Mercedes jeeps and commander's armored cars. The brigade's battalion commanders are supplied with military-use jeeps, which are available to regimental commanders and above in ordinary units.

Another special treatment enjoyed by the brigade is the fact that it is allowed to use live ammunition in training practices as many as ten times more than the case with ordinary units. Each unit of the brigade is also authorized to use Russian-made 5-ton trucks, only four units of which are allocated to ordinary divisions.

Pyongyang has conducted a "campaign capturing the designation of O Jung-hup 7th Brigade" among ordinary military units since 1998 aimed at maintaining security about the existence of the brigade. The campaign, is aimed at not repeating the incidence of dissolving a special forces unit "534th Unit" in the 1970s when it was exposed by South Korean and American intelligence agencies. The existence of the "534th Unit," stationed in Hochon, South Hamgyong province, was verified by South Korea, among other countries, when the late President Park Chung-hee revealed "A kid tiger is being raised in Hochon." Thereupon the unit was dismantled immediately.

(Lee Kyo-kwan, haedang@chosun.com )