[3] In his beginning career as naval officer, Kim was an active chief for PT boat repair during the Korean War,[4] and saw operations of different scale in places like offshore Wonsan, north of the 38th parallel.

[2] On 6 April 1966, he became captain of the destroyer DD-91 Chungmu (충무),[3] and saw combat against a North Korean spy ship at night on 10 October.

Kim, commanding Chungmu on a security mission at Japan Sea, encountered the North Korean vessel on territorial waters between the 38th parallel and Ulleungdo, and sank it with bombardment after a three-hour chase.

[5] On 31 January 1967, Kim ended his tenure as the captain of Chungmu, and was assigned to a naval station (해군통제부) as its chief of staff in 1968.

[10][11] Kim Chong-kon retired from the post as Chief of Naval Operations on 14 May 1981,[3] and was later appointed the country's Ambassador to the ROC on 25 July.

Kim took the role of communicator for this incident for nearly one year, passing the Taiwanese public opinion to Seoul, and suggested the latter carry out administrative remedies as solution.

[16] The ROC government awarded Kim Chong-kon Order of Brilliant Star (2nd rank) for his contribution in enhancing Korea-Taiwan relations and cooperation as ambassador on 3 May.