ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2908 17 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1300) 5 January 1951
| PW NAME: | KIM, Pong Jun (金鳳俊)(김봉준) (Korean) |
| RANK: | Sgt |
| ORGANIZATION: | NKA V Corps, 12th Div (Code: 829 Unit), 2nd Regt (Code No: 31st Inf Regt), 2nd Bn (Code No: 505th Bn), 5th Co, 3rd Plat, 7th Sqd. |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (4 Years) |
| DUTIES: | Squad Leader |
| AGE: | 27 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | PYONGYANG PUKTO, SKCHU GUN, TONGSAN MYON, ORI DONG (平北 朔州郡 東山面 五里洞) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 031600 Jan 51 at a mountain 12 Km south of HONGCHON (DS 0271) by 8th ROK Regiment |
| INTERROGATOR: | T.M.O. |
PW was very cooperative and information seems reliable.
Conscripted into the NKA o/a 15 Jun 50 at TONGSAN MYON, SAKCHU (XE 7472), with 15 others into the 7th Div Repl Bn.
On or about 27 Jun 50, the PW’s unit consisting of about 700 replacement troops marched to SINUIJU (XE 1839) and arrived there o/a 30 Jun 50.
Jun 50, the PW’s Replacement Battalion and one other unknown unit traveled over night to WONSAN (OV 6634) by rail. Jul 50 upon arrival at WONSAN, most of the troops detrained except the PW’s unit.
2 Jul 50, the PW’s unit traveled to PYONGYANG by rail, arriving o/a 4 Jul 50. From P’YONGYANG, the PW’s unit and another unit moved by rail under cover of darkness to CHECHON (DS 3510).
PW’s unit detrained at CHECHON o/a 7 Jul 50, and marched through TANYANG (DP 3987), P’UNGGI (DR 8542), and YONGJU (DR 6675) arriving there o/a 11 Jul 50. From YONGJU, the PW’s unit returned to P’UNGGI, where the unit was broken up and absorbed by the 7th NK Division. The PW was assigned to the 7th Division supply.
O/a 16 Jul 50, the 7th NK Division Headquarters moved to YONGJU. O/a 19 Jul 50, the Div Hqs moved to ANDONG (DR 7646) and o/a 23 Jul 50 advanced to CHONGSONG (DR 5307).
O/a 29 Jul 50, the PW was evacuated to the Division hospital at CHECHON for compound malaria and dysentery. After receiving treatment at the Division hospital for about 10 days, the PW was transferred to the 4th Field Hospital (NKA) at YONGJU.
The PW was at the 4th Field Hospital until the NKA started to retreat o/a 15 Sep 50.
The PW, during this period, was still recovering from malaria.
From YONGJU, the walking patients released by the 4th Field Hospital marched east until they arrived at the TAEBAEK Mountain range in the vicinity of TANYANG. Upon arriving at the TAEBAEK Mountain rage the PW and the patients released by the 4th Field Hospital met elements of 1st and 2nd Regiments of the 7th NK Division, who numbered about 3,000.
On the same date the 7th Division troops departed for the South (location unknown): the PW and the 150 patients walked Northward day and night through the TAEBAEK Mountain Range until they arrived at KANGGYE in Nov 50.
During their Northward march approximately 60 troops of the 150 hospital troops were lost due to illness and desertions.
Upon arrival at KANGGYE, the PW was reassigned to the 12th Div.
On 26 Nov 50, the 12th NK Div was reorganized and re-equipped and departed for South Korea on orders of the V Corps. The entire 12th Div arrived at a mountain 8 Km South of HONGCHON o/a 30 Dec 50.
The mission of the 12th Div is to conduct guerilla warfare in the rear of UN Lines by disrupting supply and communication lines. They are also to attack ROK Police out-posts.
The 1st Regt was last observed (3 Jan 51) in the mountains 8 Km South of HONGCHON (name of Mountain unknown).
The 2nd Regiment was observed in the mountain 10 Km South of HONGCHON.
The 3rd Regiment was located 10 Km South and 3 Km east of the 2nd Regt.
Each Battalion was equipped with a radio transceiver (Russian type), (system of communication unknown).
The troops wore NKA uniforms unlike other guerilla units.
O/a 3 Jan 51, the PW and 11 others were found sleeping in an empty farm house. 3 of the 11 were killed and the remaining guerrillas were taken prisoners by ROK troops.
The V NKA Corps was organized o/a 20 Nov 50, at KANGGYE (BA 9737). During the same period the 12th Division and two other unknown divisions of about the same T/O (3,000 to 4,000 troops) were reorganized and re-equipped.
The 12th Division (3,800 troops) is composed of the 1st Rifle Regt (code no: unk), 2nd Rifle Regt (code: 31st Regt), and the 3rd Rifle Regt (code no: unk). Each Rifle Regiment was composed of about 1,220 men and officers.
The code numbers for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions in the 1st Regiment are 501, 502, and 503 units respectively.
The code number for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions in the 2nd Regiment are 504, 505, and 506th units respectively.
The code number for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions in the 3rd Regiment are 507, 508, and 509 respectively.
Each consisted of 405 officers and men and was composed of 3 Rifle Cos, 1 HMG Co, and 1 82 mm Mortar Company.
Each Rifle Company was composed of 3 plats, consisting of 29 EM and 1 officer.
Each Rifle platoon was composed of 3 sqds of 9 to 10 men each.
REMARKS: Break down of Mortar and HMG Cos are similar to that of the Rifle Cos.
| 3rd Plat | Original (27 Nov 50) | Present (2 Jan 51) |
| Personnel: | ||
| Officer | 1 | 1 |
| EM | 29 | 24 |
| Weapons and Ammo: | ||
| LMG, DP | 1 (700 rds per) | Unknown |
| M1891/30 rifles | 17 (200 rds per) | Unknown |
| M-1 Rifles (US) | 3 (150 rds per) | Unknown |
| PPsh SMGs | 7 (600 rds per) | Unknown |
| Grenades | 1 per man | Unknown |
| 5th Co | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Officers | 5 | 2 |
| EM | 85 | 73 |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| M99, M1891/30 Rifles | 67 | Unknown |
| PPsh SMGs | 20 | Unknown |
| LMGs, DP | 3 | Unknown |
| HMG Plat | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Officers | 1 | Unknown |
| EM | 35 | Unknown |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| M-1910 HMGs | 0 | Unknown |
| 2 HMG in this company (6 x 250 rd belt per HMG). | ||
| Mortar Platoon | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Officers | 1 | Unknown |
| EM | 35 | Unknown |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| M-1938, 82 mm Mortar | 0 | Unknown |
| Each mortar company had 2 x 82 mm Mortar (ammo, 250 rds per). | ||
The 12th Div does not have a supply system.
To replenish their ammo supply the guerrillas expect to make sporadic raids against police sub-stations that were not well defended.
Approximately 20 women agents between the ages of 18 to 20 were observed with the 12th NK Division Headquarters.
Women were used chiefly as agents to gather tactical information from ROK personnel.
Villagers were often used to reconnoiter areas in which guerrillas operate, while their families are kept as hostages.
Beginning 30 Dec 50, the elements of the 12th Div were bombed and straffed daily by US aircraft.
During the night since 1 Jan 51, the guerillas were attacked nightly by ROK patrols of the 8th ROK Regiment.
Since 30 Dec 50, the casualty rate for the division has been alarming (extent unknown).
Morale of guerillas have dropped considerably since 30 Dec 50, because they have been attacked by ROK patrols and US aircraft around the clock.
The PW heard that elements of an unknown Division under the command of the II NKA Corps and a guerilla unit are attempting to move south through the TAEBAEK Mountain Range (Destinations, unknown).
a. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so, why?
A. PW was captured; he did not volunteer.
b. Did you see any United Nations leaflets or hear any loudspeaker broadcasts?
A. Negative
c. Can you describe what they said?
A. Negative
d. What was your reaction to them?
A. Negative
e. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets or broadcasts?
A. Negative
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
