ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2685 12 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1185) 4 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | PAEK, Yun Kwan (白潤寬) (백윤관) |
| RANK: | Civilian |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| AGE: | 33 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Laborer |
| ADDRESS: | HWANGHAE DO, SUAN GUN, SUKU MYON, SUKTAK RI #217 (黃海道 遂安郡 水口面 石達里 二一七) |
| INTERROGATION: | T.M.O. |
30 Oct 50 the informant was sent to P’YONGYANG by the SUBU MYON anti-communist group.
Information seems very accurate and very reliable.
3. NORTH KOREAN ARMY IN UN LINE:18 Oct 50, approximately 2,000 N Korean troops were observed in SOKTA LI (BU7706). The troops were armed with rifles, SMG’s, grenades and TNT.
The troops after dark went to Mt. PAEKSAN (BU9715) to join forces with several thousand NKA troops already at Mt. PAEKSAN.
On 18 Oct 50, another force of between 4,000 to 5,000 NKA troops were observed going to Mt. PAEKSAN, utilizing mountain trails from SUKCllON. The troops were armed with SMG's, rifles and grenades.
On the same date, the informant heard from several villagers, that a force of between 2,000 to 3,000 NKA troops were moving south to Mt. PAEKSAN.
The three forces totalled over 10,000 troops isolated behind UN lines. The troops discarded their uniforms and were dressed as civilians.
On 18 Oct 50, the three forces joined at TONJU MAEK (a small village at base of Mt. PAEKSAN, southern sector) prior to going into the mountains.
The troops are using TONJU MAEK as the headquarters. The informant saw one of the houses with radio and wireless equipment.
All NKA troops behind UN lines are reported to be going to Mt. PAEKSAN.
The informant heard from the villagers that small groups of between 10 to 15 troops are arriving at Mt. PAEKSAN every three days from the North. These troops are believed to be infiltrating through UN lines.
The troops at Mt. PAEKSAN, when speaking to each other, use the Chinese language and when speaking to villagers use Korean.
The troops in the vicinity are not restricted in their movement because there are no UN troops in the vicinity.
On or about 17 Oct 50, several hundred troops armed and dressed as peasants were observed hauling several tons of rice from the HOLTONG GOLD MINE. (20 km W of Mt. PAEKSAN).
The troops, during daylight, go from village to village, confiscating rice (force the farmers to harvest the crop), confiscate livestock, clothing, etc to take back to the mountain.
From the amount of food stuff the troops confiscated the informant estimates that it will feed 10,000 troops for about six months.
Until the day the informant left for P’YONGYANG, the NKA troops were raiding the villages for food and clothing.
Most of the men are between the ages of 17 to 45, living in the vicinity of Mt. PAEKSAN have been rounded up and forced to join the troops.
Besides the 50 NKA nurses with the troops an additional 30 young women were forced to join them.
NKA troops are using the wives of the NKA troops; and women members of the Labor Party as informers.
15 Oct 50, these troops laid a mine field at a by-pass 8 km out of SOKTALI on the road extending to RYULLI (phonetic) (bridge knocked out near the by-pass). Informant claims he knows the location of every mine in this field.
Between 18 Oct 50 and 30 Oct 50, the troops were observed hauling cement to the mountain for the purpose of constructing pill boxes.
The troops have enough winter clothing to keep warm.
Patrols consisting of 10 men or less are daily sent out in all directions from Mt. PAEKSAN. In the patrol there are usually 3 to 5 civilians who advance in front of the troops.
The villagers are closely guarded and they are not permitted to leave the village.
It is rumored that these troops are Koreans from Communist CHINA who were in P'YONGYANG, at one time.
Because the troops are well armed and equipped with radios and wireless, the informant believes that they will attempt to attack UN troops from the rear as soon as they build up enough strength.
The informant heard that the troops were commanded by at least one general officer.
4. REMARKS:Because most of the troops were dressed as civilians, rank was hard to distinguish them free civilians.
On or about 25 Oct 50, about 100 NKA troops from Mt. PAEKSAN went to PAEKMYON COBALT MINE (vicinity of UNSON), for the purpose of killing anti-communist N Koreans. Informant was present when they attacked. After killing about 6o anti-communists the troops returned to Mt. PAEKSAN.
On 25 Oct 50 (hearsay), another group of 100 NKA troops dressed as civilians entered PYONGWONLO, vicinity south of Mt. PAEKSAN, and murdered 40 anti-communists (anti-communists were armed with 3 Japanese M99 rifles).
The anti-communists were first tied then shot. The informant knows of 3 Koreans who escaped from the NKA troops.
On 16 Oct 50, at 2300 hours, 1,000 NKA troops believed to be from Mt. PAEKSAN came to SOKTAL LI. The first group that entered the village were dressed as ROK Army personnel. When the people cheered the troops, believing that they were S Koreans, the troops took off their disguise and arrested 80 civilians. Three of the civilians were tied and shot. The remaining civilians were killed on the spot.
The informant was present when the killing occurred. The informant was not able to recognize the troops by face but states that their accent were N Koreans from the Korean-Siberian frontier.
17 Oct 50, about 40 NKA trucks belonging to the troops in Mt. PAEKSAN were observed in RYUL LI.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
