ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3362 15 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MISD - 0243) 3 February 1951
| NAME: | KIM Pyong Si (金炳施) |
| AGE: | 31 yr |
| RANK: | Cpl |
| DUTY: | Ass't Sqd Ldr |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 6 yr |
| UNIT: | North Korean Security Forces Hq, 578th Regt, 2nd Bn, 1st Co, Sup Plat, Sup Sqd |
| DATE AND PLACE CAPTURED: | 010800 Feb 51, at YONSANG-NI (DR100726) |
PW cooperative during interrogation. Not recommended for further interrogation.
a. Chronology
PW conscripted into the NKA 16 Jul 50 and after one month's training was assigned to the 572nd Security Regt at KWANGJU. O/a 15 Sep 50, after receiving order from NKA Security Hq, the Regt withdrew to INJE-GUN, INJE-NYON, N of 38th Parallel, arriving there o/a 15 Nov 50. Sometime in Nov 50, the unit gathered all stragglers heading north and organized the 578th Regt. PW said that the 578th Regt was organized under the supervision of the NKA 2nd Corps. After organization it came under the jurisdiction of the NK Security Force Hq.
O/a 17 Nov 50, the 578th departed INJE-MYON heading for ANDONG. Prior to leaving INJE-MYON, PW saw the other two regiments of the Security Hq there. The 578th Regt came through via HYON-NI (DS4099), ODAE-SAN (DS5983), PYONGUANG-SAN (DS7262), YORYUNG-NI (DS7546), KAYONG-SAN (DS7941), TAEBAEK-SAN (DS 0493), YONGCHUUN-MYON (DS0454) and arrived at CHANGNUM-NI (DR4584) o/a 1 Jan 51. Here the unit was attacked by UN Forces and was forced to make a wide circle north of TANYANG. O/a 10 Jan 51, the 578th Regt arrived in the vic of SUSAN-MYON (DR3088). Here, while they were crossing the road, they were again hit by UN Forces and the unit was scattered. O/a 15 Jan 51, the unit reorganized finding that about 100 men were missing. Upon reorganization they were again detected and attacked by UN Forces. Continuous attacks delayed their journey. O/a 27 Jan 51, PW was wounded. Thus became separated from his unit, wandered around the hills alone, and on 010500 Jan 51 surrendered to the YONPUNG Security Plat.
b. Organization and Strength (Present)
PW said the NK Security Hq had 3 Regt, the 578th and two other Regt (designation unknown).
The 578th Regt had 4 Bn with approx 350 men per Bn. Each Bn has 3 rifle Co and a Hv Wpn Co. The rifle Co, consisting of 114 men, 3 plat of 3 sqd with 12 men per sqd. Hv Wpn Co has 2 plat with 2 sqd to each plat. Each sqd has 8 to 10 men each. Regt had about 70 women who were regular guerrilla.
c. Deployment of PW Unit
PW does not know the 578th Regt present location, for the Regt has been under constant enemy attack. When PW was separated from his unit the Regt was still intact.
d. Deployment of Other Units
At SUSAN-MYON o/a 17 Jan 51, the Regt CO said the 10th NKA Div was south of the 578th Regt and that the 2nd NK Div was to the rear of the Regt. However, the location of these units were unk.
O/a 26 Jan 51, while 8 km N of YONPUNG, he heard from one of the local farmers that the South Sector Guerrilla Unit had passed about 5 days ago. PW said, he asked the farmer how he knew they were guerrillas and was told that he had made an inquiry and was told so. The farmer also related that the unit was formerly known as the CHIRI-SAN Guerrilla Unit. PW was also told by the political regimental commander that there was in addition to the South Sector Guerrilla Unit, a Central Sector Guerrilla Unit. He was told that the operational sector of the Central Sector Guerrilla Unit was from an unk point in Central South KOREA to the 38th Parallel while the South Sector Guerrilla Unit operated in the rest of the area.
e. Status of Arms, Ammunition, Supply, and Equipment
578th Regt had two 45mm AT guns with about 80 shells, four 81mm mortars with about 40 shells, 2 Russian rapid firing guns, 16 HMG with 1,500 rounds each, 120 LMG (1 per sqd) with 150 rounds each. Sqd Ldrs and on up were armed with PPSH SMG with 2 drums of ammo while the men were armed with either Russian rifles, M-1, or carbines with approx 60 rounds of ammo ea men. About ¼ of the Regt was armed with M-1 rifles. One of every 2 men had handgrenades. After the initial issue of arms and ammo no new issue received.
Each man always carried 2 days supply of rice.
f. Mission and Intention
578th Regt was to enter ANDONG from the East and West and deny the use of the main road to UN Forces.
g. Personalities
HAN Pyon Su (韓炳洙), age unk, Col, CO 578th Regt.
CH'OE Yin Kun (崔鏻健), age unk, CG NK Security Forces.
HAN In Su (韓仁水), age unk, Sr Lt, CO 1st Co.
h. Medical
About 1/6 of the men of 578th Regt was suffering from frost bitten feet and hands. In his Co there were 2 cases of typhus.
i. Propaganda
PW Regt CO said they would win the war, since CHINA has already sent more than a million men to KOREA.
For the AC of S, G-2:
IIDA
