On the night of 30 October 1968, 120 members of Unit 124 of the Korean People's Army landed at 8 separate locations between Ulchin - Samcheok in Gangwon province and moved inland on a 30-day mission to create guerilla bases in the Taebaek Mountains.
On the night of 9 December several North Korean commandos burst into the Lee household demanding food and shelter.