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ATIS REPORT NO. 1940　21 October 1950

Ref to IR No 1941 and No 1942

Informant seemed frightened and anxious to give the “right” answers to avoid possible death at the hands of US forces, but appeared to be remain pro-Communist in thought. Does not believe American propaganda. Attitude toward Russia is favorable due to intense indoctrination.

On 15 Sep 50, KIM Man Ik was ordered to apprehend some draft-dodgers then at sea in fishing boats. He ordered 4 North Korean security police (CHA WI TAE) (SEE TIS 1933 ( to accompany him and after a few hours captured 8 men in 3 boats and started back for SIMMIDO. Tired from long hours of duty Kim fell asleep, and was overpowered by the 8 draft-dodgers who forced him and the CHA WI TAE men to accompany them in an escape to South Korea. On the high seas o/a 24 Sep the entire party was picked up by a US freighter headed for JAPAN. At YOKOHAMA the 8th Army took them into custody pending reshipment to KOREA.

a. Armed Forces:

Informant could give no information on NK armed forces. He stated that there was an infantry school in UIJU (NE OF SINUIJU).

b. Security Forces and Methods:

(1) Police headquarters are located in NAM MYON and SONGCHON, the latter shared with military police. Civil police have authority to investigate all matters. Persons known in the Police department (NAI MU SUH) in PYONGYANG PUKTO, SONCHUN GUN, UN JUNG MYUN were:

(2) Railway Police (KYUNG PI TAI) are only charged with responsibility for patrolling the right-of-way; they do not ride the trains.

(3) Identification card are issued by the KUN police office after investigation by the Myun Peoples Committee (MYUN WI WON WHEI)

(4) No information could be obtained on illegal ID documents, but informant presumes they can be procured by bribery at the KUN Police offices.

(5) Prior to 25 Jun 50 travel was unrestricted, but since then a pass has become necessary for travel. Passes are issued by Kun Peoples Committee and are written on a white piece of paper with the seal of the Kun Peoples Committee.

(6) Identification Cards must be checked every three months when a record is made at police Hq to show that holder has not left the district.

(7) Travel permits are good for all available transportation except automobiles which may be used only on official business.

(8) Fishermen have a written pass called the CHU RYUNG KI giving the number of persons on the ship and its home port.

(9) Curfew hours were from 2200 to 0400 throughout N Korea, but travel was possible during curfew with a hard-written pass issued by police. Police and CHA WI TAE are free to travel during curfew.

(10) Road blocks are controlled by unarmed CHA WI TAE along main highways. Roads are blocked by stakes or stones. There is a road block on the highway between the coast and SUNGHON.

c. Subversive Activities:

Informant claimed to have no knowledge of subversive activities despite his LP and police connections.

d. Political:

(1) The UN JUNG MYON village labor party is comprised of about 30 members and its leader is KIM Kyong Ho. When meetings of Myun labor leaders are called, about 25 men are usually present.

(2) MUN Tok Chun, the major of UN JUNG MYON, is a Communist who obeys party orders implicitly.

(3) Regular civil courts are held in SONCHON. Police Courts are run by Intelligence Corps and try only police department officials.

e. Sociological, UN JONG MYON

(1) The population of UN JUNG MYON is now about 700, a lower figure than it was in 1945, since many persons have escaped south of the 38th parallel. There are no foreign nationals in the village.

(2) About 30 men are unemployed in the village, but work cannot be left to seek other employment. The average wage of a laborer is 1,200 WON a month; clerks earn from 600 to 1300 WON. Workers do not respond to propaganda directly at increased output. The leader of the MYON Farmers’ Union (NONG MIN TONG MEN) is KIM Hang Puk; the leader of the SONCHON KUN Union is HANH Chin Ok.

(3) Housing is not critical in UN JUNG MYONG because of the population decrease. Houses are generally privately owned, but those which were previously the property of the wealthy have been confiscated and are being used free of rent. There are no hotels or restaurants in the village.

There is a Presbyterian church in the MYON which has not been closed nor has its pastor been molested. Communists advocate non-attendance, but those who sue it, though they are considered more democratic than the communists, are not bothered by the police.

(4) Uneducated persons are inclined to believe communist propaganda and thus supported NKA military action in South Korea, however the US, because of its economic strength, is more generally favored than USSR. Educated persons are pro-American. The average citizen has access to no outside news since radios found tuned to ROK stations are confiscated. NKA reverses are not reported. UN forces may meet underground resistance from members of the People’s Police Force since their discipline is good and they have been subjected to intense indoctrination.

(5) There is daily bus service from SONCHON to KUSON. One way fare is 80 WON. The bus, which has a capacity of 12 passengers, departs SONCHON at 0900-1000 and returns from KUSON at 1900. Mail is delivered and picked up at individual residences in SONCHON. Postage rate within NK (uncensored) is 1 WON; the rate to MANCHURIA and S. KOREA (probably censored) is 2 WON. There are no special regulations pertaining to foreign mail. Long distance telephone call can only be made from the SONCHON telephone office; informant stated that these are unregulated and not monitored. Telegrams can be sent at the post office.

f. Economic:

Rice, the only rationed item in NK must be purchased in SONCHON where the official price is 70 WON per MAL. Workers are allowed to purchase 2 MAL and non-workers 0.6 MAL. The blackmarket price for rice is 600 WON per MAL. Clothing is not rationed; white cotton cloth sells for 270 WON a yard. Items which can readily be converted into cash are medicine (all types), rice and clothing. War contributions have drained all ready cash from circulation.

Banks are in operation but are government owned. The disposition of gold mined by the government was unknown but some gold mined secretly and sent to MANCHURIA and South KOREA by blackmarketers.

Translations of the documents found in informant’s possession are given in the following two pages

For the Commanding Officer:

(Cover)

(Page 1)

(Page 2)

FROM:1 Jul 1950

TO: 31 Dec 1950

NAME: KIM Man Ik

The above mentioned Comrade is appointed a member (Grade: Low Class Grade 1) of Unjong-Myon Sub-Office, Sonchon-Gun Provincial Administrative Office, Pyongan Pukto, Democractic People’s Republic of Korea

#1

(Page 1)

PARTY MEMBERSHIP CARD No. 599928

Name: KIM Man Ik

Date of Birth: 27 June 1925 (TN: SIC)

Date Joined: 16 Feb 1947

Organization which awarded membership Card:

Sonchon-Gun Party Branch Pyong An-Pukto

Member’s Signature: (KIM Man Ik)

City or Country Branch Chairman’s Signature: (KIM Hyong Sik)

Date Issued: 13 May 1947.

(Page 2)

PAYMENT OF MEMBERSHIP FEES 1947