He commanded a division, and later a corps, on the front line of the conflict and received North Korea's two highest military honours, the Hero of the Republic and the Order of the National Flag, First Class.

[3] Some reports indicate he was also a Lieutenant in the Soviet Red Army during World War II and a personal friend of Kim Il Sung.

Kim personally gave Lee command of the newly formed 4th Division of the Korean People's Army Ground Force.

[8] After the defeat of the North Korean forces at the Pusan Perimeter, Lee was promoted to Lieutenant General and relieved Kim Ung as the commander of the NK I Corps.

By 1959, however, Kim Il Sung systematically purged all rivals within the Soviet and Chinese factions of the KPA, and Lee was removed from his position.