It was created just before the North Korean invasion of 1950 with Lt. General Yu Kyong-su in command.
During the initial North Korean invasion of the south, it was in reserve, comprising the 10th Infantry Division (organised April 1950), the 13th Division (organised March 1950), and the 15th Infantry Division (organised March 1950).
[3] Although the North Koreans fielded more than 10 infantry divisions for the battle,[4] most of the divisions' strength were equivalent to an infantry regiment.
[5] In July 1951, the corps consisted of:[5] Joseph S. Bermudez reports that the corps is part of the KPA's third echelon and is deployed on the western coast of North Korea, around the Pyongyang area (surrounding the area of responsibility of the Pyongyang Defense Command.
He reports that as a rear corps it would contain two to five infantry divisions, a tank brigade, as well as artillery and other units.