ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1765 10 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1044) 5 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE, Tu Hyong (李斗馨) (이두형) |
| PW NO: | None |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 20 |
| DUTY: | Plt Ldr |
| UNIT: | 110th Security Regt, 41st Bn, 3rd Co, 1st Plt |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 years) Middle School (6 years) Normal School (1 year) |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 12 km S of TAEJON (大田) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 29 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HWANGHAE-Do, SINCH'ON-Gun, KARYON-Myon, TONGNYONG-Ni #83 (黃海道 信川郡 加連面 東嶺里 六八三) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | HONDA (FEAF) |
PW was very cooperative and extremely bitter toward the North Korean Government. However information is limited. No further interrogation recommended.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
1 Aug 50 - Drafted in the NKPA at HWANGJU (黃州) and assigned to 1st Co, 1st Bn, NCO Training Regt where he received infantry basic training for one month, upon completion of which he was promoted to Jr Lt (少尉). PW stated that the NCO Training Regt consisted of 2,700 trainees of whom about 600 were promoted to Jr Lts.
7 Sep 50 - Recently commissioned officers (50) from the NCO School, including the PW, arrived SEOUL, and were assigned to 3rd Co, 41st Bn, 110 Security Regt which was activated at this time. All the one-month trainees arrived at SEOUL later in small groups. About 50 additional Jr Lts and 350 NCO's were assigned to the 110 Security Regt. Some were sent to TAEJON (大田) and assigned to 109th Security Regt.
16 Sep 50 - The 110th Security Regt arrived at KOCH'ANG (居昌) by train via SUWON (水原), CHOCH'IWON (鳥致院) TAEJON and YONGDONG (永同). Rested there for 10 days.
25 Sep 50 - Received orders to advance to MUJU (茂朱) but 30 minutes later the order was changed and the 110th Security Regt started to retreat.
27 Sep 50 - 200 men of the 110th Security Regt retreated to TOK YUSNA (德遊山) with some guerrillas (400 men).
29 Sep 50 - On the way to TOK YUSAN, the PW and two other Jr Lts, former classmates, deserted and surrendered 12 km S of TAEJON.
As of 29 Sep 50, the retreating troops in TOK YUSAN were completely isolated. Only the guerrilla force was equipped with US M-1 Rifles, US Carbines and Japanese Model 99 Rifles. The troops each carried 4 kg of rice. There were 10 nurses in the guerrilla force. Prior to the retreat, Regt CO told the men that RUSSIA would rescue them with aircraft and tanks within 20 days. He was also told that PWs would be immediately shot by the enemy. It was rumored that the Regt CO had been in RUSSIA and also in the CCF.
Unit Organization and Strength:
The 110th Regt was composed of 41st, 42nd and 43rd and 44th Bn's with 100 men in each Bn. In addition, a Signal Platoon, Recon Plt, Engr Plt, Transportation Plt, and Medical Plt, were attached to Regt.
4. GENERAL:THORIUM Deposit Area:
Ore which contained Thorium was said to be mined from a river passing through HWANGHAE-DO, SINCHON-Gun, KUKUNG-Myon (黃海道 信川郡 九弓面). The deposit area was called KUGUNG KWANGSAN (九弓鑛山).
PW heard from one of the employees that the ore was size of gravel and could be easily identified as it was a shiny light brown color.
PW never went to the mining area but heard that ore was being mined from the shallow sandy river bed. No special equipment was used except shovel and screens. After screening a shiny gravel is obtained. All the work is done by hand. When he was a student at the Normal School, PW heard from a Chemistry instructor that the ore mined in this area contained 0.15% thorium. It was also heard that N. KOREA had the second largest deposit in the world.
Exact production figures could not be given but heard that a handful of ore was obtained per man per day. It was also said at the school that ore was called MO NAZ (Phonetic) Mineral Ore as it contained an oxide, "Th304".
PW stated that all the available citizens including those physically unfit, as well as healthy females were employed in the ore area. He stated that as of Apr 49, the deposit was expanded into a large project and the development is being watched with keen interest by the N. Koreans.
The ore was said to be shipped to the USSR.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
