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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1682　7 October 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADV ECH ATIS - 0001)　Date not given

(Ref to ATIS Rpt No. 1659)

Report seems quite reliable. Informant was cooperative and gave a quick reply to the questions asked him. He seemed to know what he was talking about.

Was inducted into NKPA on 20 Jul 50 and was attached to the 17th Div Hq, Finance Section until captured.

The 17th Div was made up of 2 infantry regiments consisting of 1st Inf Regt (1500 men), 2nd Inf Regt (1200 men).

The Div was divided in two and part went to SEOUL and the other part went to TAEGU. The units that went to TAEGU were the 1st and 2nd tank bns, the 1st Inf Bn of the 2nd Regiment and the Engineer Bn.

The units that went to SEOUL had tanks (all Russian made), rifles (most of them Russian made), heavy and light MG’s. When subject was captured there were about 5 HMG’s and 15 LMG’s with no ammo, 300 automatic rifles; 144 rds per gun, 150 rifles; 100 rds per rifle. The MGs and rifles were all in the 1st Inf Regt.

When subject was taken prisoner he heard that the 17th Dive Hq had moved to IJONBU (Korean pronunciation) or GISEIBU (Japanese pronunciation). Subject last heard that the army & navy were utilizing harbors in WONSAN, CHONJIN, CHINANPO and NAGIN. Radar installations were in PYONGYANG. Radio installations were in CHONGIN and PYONGYANG.

The 17th Div was to withdraw to IJONBU in case it had to retreat.

The 17th Div commander was Major General CHONG, Chol Wo. He was tall for a Korean and broad. Age was about 33.

Morale was always low. The division commander tried to bolster the morale but failed to do so.

Most of the weapons & equipment were of Russian make. A few rifles were of Japanese make which the 8th Route Army captured from the Japanese soldiers in MANCHURIA.

Subject observed an American PW Camp located in West PYONGYANG between 5 Jul 50 and 29 Jul 50. Prisoners were kept in #18 Civilian School or 18 IN MIN HACKKYO (Korean).

Location : PW camp was located about 500 m W of the playground, 3 km NNE of the W PYONGYANG RR station, and 2 km E of the BOTONG River. (See sketch.)

Area :The area of this school including grounds was about 80 m x 50 m. The actual size of school building was 80 m x 10 m. The roof was of slate and the building was of red brick. It was a two story building. There were approx 80 American prisoners when last seen. Two of the prisoners were Japanese Nisei. The prisoners seemed healthy when last seen.

Food : The American prisoners were fed the same food 3 times a day.

A telephone line was connected to this school. Electricity was also utilized. The entire area was surrounded by a barbed wire fence, 1 m high. A soldier was guarding the entrance to this place with a rifle and sometimes an automatic rifle was used.

Subject heard from other officers, who went to SINUIJU (located near the Manchurian border) for supplies, that there were ■■■■■■■■■■ antiaircraft guns along the Eastern border of KOREA & MANCHURIA. These guns belonged to the CCF (8th Route Army)

The supplies were mostly ammo in boxes marked “MADE IN RUSSIA” in the Russian language.

The CCF consist of Chinese, Korean and Japanese soldiers. The Koreans in the CCF are capable of reinforcing the NKPA.

Major supply dumps are in SINUIJU and YOPA (a little to the N of PYONGYANG). They are hidden within RR tunnels.

For the Commanding Officer:

American PW Camp #18 Civilian School ATIS ADV ECH #0001