ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2975 23 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1314) 11 January 1951
| PW NAME: | KIM, Hyong Kwon (金亨權)(김형권)(NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGANIZATION: | II Corps, 7th Div, 1st Regt, 2nd Bn, 3rd Co, 3rd Plat, 2nd Sqd. |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | Higher Primary School (3 years) |
| AGE: | 19 |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| ADDRESS: | HANG HAE DO, ANAK GUN, TAEWON MYON, OMGONG RI, #236 (黃海道 安岳郡 大遠面 嚴空里 二三六) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 28 Dec 50 at SUIN-NI (DT0608) by ROK 7th Div. |
| INTERROGATOR: | T.M.O. |
PW had a good memory and was very cooperative.
Information seems to be fairly reliable.
The 7th NK Div started to reorganize and re-equip o/a 15 Nov 50, in the vicinity of YULI (BU6105). This reorganization was completed around 4 Dec 50.
The 7th Division is composed of approximately 3,500 troops.
The Division Headquarters is divided into two sections: the forward and rear. To the Division Headquarters the following units were attached:
1 Signal Company
1 Recon Company
1 Medical Unit (strength unknown)
Each rifle regiment consisted of approximately 1,000 troops and were divided into 3 Rifle Battalions of about 300 troops each.
Each Rifle Battalion was composed of 3 Companies of about 100 troops. Each company was further broken down into 3 plats of about 30 troops each.
A Plat was composed of 3 squads of 10 men each.
The personnel strength is way below strength of a regular division, but, at present, the 7th Division is at full strength for the personnel compliment required under the reorganization of 4 Dec 50.
| Rifle Platoon | Original (As of Nov 50) |
| Personnel: | |
| EM | 29 |
| Officers | 1 |
| Equipment and Ammo: | |
| DP LMG | 1 (250 rds per) |
| M1891/30 Rifles | 25 (80 rds per) |
| M1891/30 Carbine | l (80 rds per) |
| PPsh 1941 SMGs | 3 (140 rds per) |
| Grenades | 2/3 of troops in platoon issued one grenade each. |
| Rifle Company | |
| Personnel: | |
| Officers | 5 |
| EM | 95 |
| Equipment and Ammo: | |
| PTRD AT Rifle | 1 (ammo unknown) |
| M-1910/30 HMGs | 2 (400 rds per) |
| Other weapons: Same as above | |
Remarks: The 1st Regt was armed with rifles and automatic small arms only. The 1st Regt, up until date of capture, had only 1 x 60 mm Mortar (20 rds per). Present strength not available.
Between 16 Dec 50 to 21 Dec 50, the PW saw approximately 3,000 CCF troops in the vicinity of the SADONG Coal Mine located 1 Km North of P'YONGYANG.
The troops were observed using the coal mine as a billet or a temporary headquarters of a sort.
The PW heard from civilians that the CCF troops have been using the coal mine since their entry into P'YONGYANG.
The forward elements of the 7th NK Div Hq 28 Dec 50, were in HWACHON, in the coal mine shaft located in Eastern outskirts of the town. The PW believes that the forward elements of the Division Headquarters have moved to YANGGU and the Division Headquarters (rear) have moved to coal mine previously occupied by Division Headquarters (forward).
The original mission of the 7th NK Division was to infiltrate in the rear areas of the UN Forces and to set up a road block in the vicinity of CHUNCHON (CS8893) while the 9th NK Division was to make a frontal attack across the 38 parallel with CHUNGCHON as their objective (this was heard o/a 28 Dec 50).
If the NK operation was a success, their future operations were to follow the same pattern with the 7th NK Div infiltrating UN Lines and setting up road blocks, while the 9th NK Division made the frontal assault.
The PW heard (rumor among troops) that the 10th NK Division besides his own was supporting the 9th NK Division. The PW also heard that most of the troops in the 10th NK Division were either killed or wounded between 25 Dec 50 and 27 Dec 50, along the 38 parallel North of CH'UNCH'ON.
The PW heard that the 9th and 10th NK Divisions, along with the 7th, were under the chain of command of the II NK Corps.
The II NK Corps is rumored to be in YONCHON (CT3218). (Basis of rumors: heard from troops that came from YONCHON).
Conscripted 16 Sep 50, ANAK GUN and assigned to the CHUNPUK Guard Battalion (Code: 102 Unit) stationed at CHONGJU (CQ3264).
The PW did not undergo any military training. On 27 Sep 50, the CHUNPUK Guard Unit, was ordered to retreat and on the same night the unit marched through MUJU (CQ7984), CHINSAN (CQ5399), bypassing TAEJON (DQ2670) and to POUN (CR5921).
From the vicinity of POUN, the unit entered the SOBAEK Mountain Range and marched for several days until they arrived at Mt. OTAE SAN (date unknown). At Mt. OTAE SAN, 15 NK stragglers joined the CHUNPUK Guard Unit.
From Mt. OTAE SAN, the unit marched due north through the mountains for about 30 days and arrived at KARYOJU (CT2691) o/a 15 Nov 50. At KARYOJU the elements of the CHUNPUK Guard Unit, who had lost contact with the main body during the retreat (27 Sep 50), rejoined the unit.
On or about 16 Nov 50, the CHUNPUK Guard Unit, after regrouping, received orders from the II NKA Corps to proceed to KOKSAN (BT9795) and arrived there o/a 20 Nov 50. At KOKSAN, the PW came in contact with the 2nd NK Div Hq, which then occupied the town.
22 Nov 50, the unit received further orders from the II NK Corps to infiltrate into P'YONGYANG by way of SUNGCHON GUN (BV6568).
25 Nov 50, the PW's unit arrived in the vicinity of YULI (BV6105) and came in contact with elements of the 7th NK Division which was reorganizing. On or about 4 Dec 50, the PW's Battalion was broken up and the troops were integrated into the 1st Regiment of the 7th Division.
Between 27 Sep 50 to 25 Nov 50, the CHUNPUK Guard Unit had lost approximately 50% of its original 250 troops while retreating: the fatalities were caused by an unknown disease.
On 5 Dec 50, the PW and 80 others were sent to YUNGJUNG (BU6629). Upon arriving at YUNGJUNG o/a 6 Dec 50 the PW's group received orders to remain in the mountains until further orders from the C.G. 7th Div.
On or about 15 Dec 50, the PW's group was ordered to go to P'YONGYANG, and arrived there o/a 16 Dec 50.
Upon arriving at PYONGYANG, the PW's group rejoined its parent organization, the 1st Regiment of the 7th NKA Division.
Between 16 Dec 50 to 21 Dec 50, the PW's unit was collecting ammo which the retreating UN Forces failed to destroy and also those that were hidden by the civilian population prior to the UN Army's entry into P'YONGYANG.
Between 16 Dec 50 to 21 Dec 50, the PW saw one group of 3,000 CCF troops in the vicinity of the SADONG Coal Mine (1 Km North of P'YONGYANG). The CCF troops appeared to be headquarters personnel, and they were observed utilizing the coal mine (not buildings) as billets and offices.
On or about 21 Dec 50, all elements of the 7th Div (numbered approximately 3,000 troops) were ordered to proceed to SANGWON (BU4404).
The entire division arrived at SANGWON the following morning. From SANGWON, the unit marched through SUAN (BT7186), SINGYE (BT8564), SIBYON NI (BT9941), YONGCHON (CT3216) and arrived at HWACHON (CT8717) o/a 26 Dec 50.
On or about 27 Dec 50, the 1st Regt of the 7th Div was ordered to go to the reservoir (name unknown) located halfway between HWACHON and YANGGU (DT1117). Reason for this movement was unknown.
When the 1st Regiment received its orders, the 7th Div Hq was located within HWACHON.
28 Dec 50, the 1st Regiment advanced to YANGGU.
Enroute to YANGGU, the PW and one other were left behind from the unit because they were not able to march because of frozen and sore feet.
28 Dec 50, the PW and another soldier were taken PW at SUIN NI (DT0608) by elements of the 7th ROK Division, while attempting to locate their unit.
The troops of the 7th NK Div, since its reorganization (4 Dec 50) have never carried rations. The troops confiscated food supplies from the villages and towns that they passed through.
The PW heard from the Div (7th ammo carriers that the main ammo dump supplying the Div was under the command of the II NK Corps which was at YONCHON (location unknown).
Ammo was delivered to the front-line troops by means of oxcarts and "A"-frame bearers.
The morale of the troops in the 7th Div was excellent when they started their southward drive from PYONGYANG.
By the time the Division reached the 38 parallel, morale gradually began to fall because a large percentage of the troops became ill (type of illness unknown).
All personnel in the Recon Company of the 7th NK Division were their hair long unlike regular troops. When the troops were in rear areas they were observed with regular NKA uniforms, but prior to embarking on a recon mission, the troops generally changed into a farmer or refugee clothing.
a. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so, why?
(1) Yes. The PW surrounded because he felt that it was useless to fight.
b. Did you see any United Nations leaflets or hear any loudspeaker broadcast?
(1) Yes. On one of the leaflets the PW remembers the following phase: "listen to the UN broadcast every night 2130 hours".
c. Can you describe what they said?
(1) Same as b.
d. What was your reaction to them?
(1) Negative
e. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets or broadcasts? What did they say or do?
(1) Negative
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
