Mysterious Purge of N. Korea’s Army Corps

In 1995, North Korea's entire Sixth Army Corps was purged in a brutal and sudden crackdown, with nearly 400 officers executed, imprisoned, or disappeared. The event occurred during a time of extreme crisis: North Korea was reeling from economic collapse, mass famine, and the death of founding leader Kim Il Sung. Some sources report that the corps was violently disbanded after allegedly plotting to rebel against Kim Jong Il’s vulnerable new regime, though precise details remain elusive.

Accounts differ on the cause of the purge. Some scholars suggest a coup was being planned to seize key assets like ports, universities, and missile sites, potentially in coordination with other military units. Others, like journalist Barbara Demick, argue the purge stemmed from corruption, with army leaders accused of profiting from border trade during the famine rather than launching an outright rebellion.

Ultimately, the truth remains buried under North Korea’s secrecy. Without access to government records, the full story of what led to the devastating purge of one of the nation’s major military units will likely never be fully understood — another chilling mystery from inside the world’s most isolated regime.

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