Testimony Directly Refuting North Korean Troop Infiltration Theory in the May 18 Democratic Uprising Emerges

Mr. A, who claimed to be the special forces infiltrated at the time, makes a conscience confession: "It was a lie"

National 5.18 Democratic Cemetery

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] A testimony directly refuting the infiltration theory of North Korean special forces during the May 18 Democratic Uprising in May 1980 has emerged.

The May 18 Democratic Uprising Truth Investigation Committee announced on the 12th, at a press conference held one year before the start of the investigation, that they had secured a confession of conscience from a North Korean defector, Mr. A, who had claimed to have personally infiltrated Gwangju.

Mr. A had previously claimed that he had directly infiltrated Gwangju as a North Korean special forces soldier during the May 18 Uprising, but in March he contacted the committee directly and testified, "I lied."

He also expressed remorse, saying, "At the time, rumors spread that the special unit I belonged to had infiltrated Gwangju, and out of pride, I lied. I did not expect this to escalate to the point where it would be published in a book and become such a big issue."

The committee is analyzing the North Korean military infiltration theory by comparing it with information materials, manuals, and training guides held by the military and intelligence agencies, while supplementing the investigation results with North Korean documents such as Rodong Sinmun and Korean Central News Agency, as well as other publicly available materials.

They are also tracking the authenticity of the North Korean military involvement theory in the May 18 Democratic Uprising through U.S. government documents (from the U.S. Embassy in Korea, State Department, Department of Defense, CIA, etc.).

In this process, Mr. A's testimony is expected to serve as material to verify the possibility of North Korean special forces infiltration, linked with the data analyzed from materials submitted by the National Intelligence Service and the Ministry of National Defense to the committee.

Furthermore, it has been confirmed that among the 616 detainees related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising who were arrested and transferred, not a single one has any indictment or judgment content linking them to North Korea.

Significant testimonies have also been secured regarding the clashes and civilian massacres during the roadblock operations around Gwangju Prison and between Gwangju and Hwasun.

The civilian massacre that occurred during the Gwangju lockdown operation was so horrific that on June 11, 1980, shortly after May 18, a Level 2 secret report from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency described Gwangju as "the Korean version of the My Lai incident."

Testimonies from martial law troops confirming these suspicions have been secured.

Testimonies and documents confirm that there were at least 13 incidents of vehicle shootings involving clashes between protesters and martial law troops near the prison, including shootings at vehicles and civilians traveling on the highways between Gwangju-Suncheon and Gwangju-Damyang on both sides of Gwangju Prison.

Testimonies have also been secured that several officers and soldiers shot and killed a newlywed couple in a vehicle passing by the highway next to the prison.

In the areas of Junam Village and Jiwon-dong, in addition to the previously known microbus and ambulance shooting incidents, testimonies have emerged reporting that at least five other vehicles, including another van and ambulance, were shot.

The committee plans to conduct investigations to identify the victims based on these testimonies, especially focusing on the microbus shooting incident. They are comparing military records indicating at least 17 deaths at the scene with testimonies from Gwangju City Hall officials stating that 11 bodies were recovered at the site, and are investigating the post-processing of the missing bodies (at least six).

Clues have also been found to unravel the truth behind suspicions that some of the gunshot deaths around Gwangju Prison after May 22, 1980, were classified as Calvin gunshot wounds.

Regarding the 3rd Airborne Brigade, testimonies have been secured that after 10 p.m. on May 20, 1980, M60 machine guns were installed on the surveillance towers and rooftops of buildings at Gwangju Station, and that M1 rifles equipped with scopes were used to kill civilians after May 22.

For the 11th Airborne Brigade, testimonies acknowledging that snipers were deployed on the rooftops of major buildings on Geumnam-ro immediately after the mass shooting in front of the Jeonnam Provincial Office around 1 p.m. on May 21, 1980, and that they aimed and fired at protesters, have also been secured and are under analysis.