ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 2909 17 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1301) 6 January 1951
| PW NAME: | LEE, Ki Sun (李基淳) (리기순) (North Korean) |
| RANK: | Lt (中尉) |
| ORGN: | NKA II Corps, Independent 8th Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co |
| DUTIES: | Company “Cultural” (Political) Officer |
| EDUCATION: | 13 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| AGE: | 23 |
| ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, KILCHU-GUN, KILCHU MYON, YONGCHON-NI, #2012 (咸鏡北道 吉川郡 吉川面 龍川里 #2012) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 301730 I Dec 50, at CHUNGJON-NI (Phonetic) (approx 16 SW of CHUNCHON (CS 8893)). |
| INTERROGATOR: | G.W.A. |
Cooperative. PW was suffering from a severe case of “trench-foot”.
PW seems to be intelligent, has had more education than the average Korean, and talked freely despite the fact that he had apparently been thoroughly indoctrinated in Communist ideology.
Information seems to be reliable.
Inducted into the NKA Military Academy (OCS) at PYONGYANG on 3 Jul 50. Received 1 month training in rifle marksmanship. Communist ideology, and infantry tactics.
Commissioned as a Lt on 8 Aug 50, and assigned to the I Corps “Cultural” Bureau as a Cultural (Political) Officer. At that time I Corps was located at HYOPCH’ON (DQ 2435).
Departed from PYONGYANG 8 Aug 50, by truck, and arrived at HYOPCH’ON 25 Aug 50.
Departed from HYOPCH’ON 25 Sep 50, marched with hundreds of other NKA personnel who were retreating through the TAEBAEK SAN Mountain range, and arrived in the mountains around ICH’ON (CT 1563) 1 Nov 50, where the Independent 8th Regt was in the process of activation.
(PW stated that his regt was not greatly bothered by UN or ROK forces as the UN and ROK forces seemed relatively uninterested in that area.)
Departed from ICH’ON o/a 1 Dec 50, marched with the entire Independent 8th Regt, and traveled via the following places:
| Place Departed | Date | Mode of Travel | Place Arrived | Date |
| ICH’ON | o/a 1 Dec 50 | Marched | CH’ORWON (CT4335) | D/U |
| CH’ORWON | D/U | Marched | YONCHON (CT3116) | D/U |
| YONCHON | D/U | Marched | KUMHWA | 20 Dec 50 |
| KUMHWA | 20 Dec 50 | Marched | CHUNGJON-NI | 26 Dec 50 |
PW was separated from his unit after an attack by UN aircraft and ROK infantry 26 Dec 50. From that time until PW was captured by the ROK 3rd Division on 30 Dec 50, PW wandered about in search of his regiment.
II Corps is composed of the 2nd, 15th and 10th Divisions plus the Independent 8th Regiment.
The Independent 8th Regiment is composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Rifle Bns plus 1 Medical Plat, 1 Guard Plat, 1 Rear echelon Plat, 1 Recon Plat, 1 Security Plat and 1 Communications Plat.
The 1st Bn is composed of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Rifle Cos.
The 1st Co is composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Plats.
Each Plat is composed of 3 Squads with 7 men per squad.
| 1st Co, 1st Bn, Independent 8th Regt, II Corps: | ||
| Personnel: | Original (1 Nov 50) | Present (26 Dec 50) |
| EM | 81 | 844 |
| Officers | 6 | 55 |
| Total | 87 | 899 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| DP LMG | 1 | 11 |
| PPSH SMGs | 4 | 44 |
| Rifles (M1897/30 & M1) | 50 (150 rds per) | 50 (■■■ rds per) |
| US Carbines | 8 (30 rds per) | 8(30 rds per) |
| Rifles (Jap 38 & 99 models) | 25(200 rds per) | 25(200 rds per) |
| Handgrenades | 2 per man | 2 per man |
| Pistols | 3 | 3 |
| 1st Bn, Independent 8th Regt, II Corps: | ||
| Personnel: | Approx 300 | Approx 300 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| MAXIM HMGs | 2 | 2 |
| 60mm Mortars | 1 (10 rds per) | 1 (10 rds per) |
| Independent 8th Regt, II Corps: | ||
| Personnel: | Approx 1,100 | Approx 1,000 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| Wireless transmitter-receiver | 1 | 1 |
| Field Telephone | 1 | 1 |
| Field Glasses | 15 prs | 15 prs |
The Independent 8th Regt had not entered combat until 250800 I Dec 50 at which time they engaged in a two hour fight with a ROK platoon in the vicinity of CHUNGJON-NI. 24 ROK soldiers were captured at that time and the remainder of the ROK platoon withdrew.
The second time that the Indep 8th Regt engaged ROK forces was when the Regt was attacked by ROK units in the vicinity of CHUNGJON-NI at 260600 I Dec 50. At this time the PW became separated from his unit. PW considers the combat effectiveness of the Indep 8th Regt to have been high in both engagements with ROK forces. He states that though the ROK’s used a large quantity of ammunition, the Indep 8th Regt was kept virtually intact in its ammo supply and number of troops.
| Unit | Location |
| II Corps Hq: | KUMHWA (CT 6538) as of 20 Dec 50 |
| All elements of the Indep 8th Regt: | Scattered throughout the mountains around CHUNGJON-NI. |
As of 26 Dec 50, the objective of the Independent 8th Regt was to take HONGCHON by traveling Southward through the mountains west of it, then attacking the town from the south.
The mission of the II Corps units was to proceed from KUMHWA through the northern part of the TAEBAEK SAN Mountain Range and to attack towns such as WONJU (DS 0634), CHECH’ON (DS 3010), TAYAN (DR 3987) and TAEGU, when the CCF, which is moving south along the western half of KOREA, comes within proximity of those towns. The II Corps units do not intend to make a major attack until CCF units come from the northwest in proximity with towns and cities in the eastern half of KOREA (roughly between the 38th and 36th parallels). Until such time, II Corps units are to harass UN troops but to avoid major engagements. They are to make attacks on villages and small towns not normally accessible to trucks and automobiles and such areas as are of apparent little interest to UN forces.
PW observed an unidentified battalion of CCF encamped in an unidentified village approx 20 Km south of KUMHWA on the KUMHWA - SINP’AL-LI (CS 4788) road on 201200 1 Dec 50. No other information.
PW was told by fellow officers in the 1st Bn, Independent 8th Regt, on 20 Dec 50 that the II Corps was maintaining liaison with the CCF (units unknown) by wireless transmitter - receivers. II Corps units were to notify the CCF when all units of the II Corps were south of the 38th parallel. Then a combined CCF and NKA attack would be made upon UN positions (location unknown to PW).
CH’OE, Hyon (최현), Maj Gen, CG, II Corps
KIM, Song (김성), Col, CO, Indep 8th Regt
LEE, Sang Kil (리상길), Col, Ass’t CO, Indep 8th Regt
KIM, Tok Il (김덕일), Major, Ass’t CO, 1st Bn, Indep 8th Regt
An, Chin Ch’ol (안진철), Capt, CO, 1st Co, 1st Bn, Indep 8th regt
Independent 8th Regt personnel brought rations sufficient for 4 days (3 meals per day) when they departed from KUMHWA on 20 Dec 50. Thereafter personnel subsisted by confiscating food from Korean farmers.
Received no ammo supplies since departing from KUMHWA on 20 Dec 50. At that time KUMHWA was a food and ammo supply center for II Corps. Independent 8th Regt personnel were told, however, that they could obtain more ammunition and weapons by contacting the CCF which was advancing down the western half of KOREA.
Observed none and heard of none in the II Corps.
Personnel of the Independent 8th Regiment had high morale because they believe that the UN and ROK forces will be defeated.
3 US PW’s (including one Negro) and 3 British PW’s were released approx 16 Km north of YONCH’ON on 18 Dec 50. They were released by command of the II Corps CG and passed by the Independent 8th Regt as they were returning to UN Forces. No other information.
1. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so, why?
a. No.
2. Did you see any United Nations leaflets, or hear any loudspeaker broadcasts?
a. Observed leaflets dropped for CCF on 24 Dec 50 in the vicinity of HWACHON (CT 8717)
3. Can you describe what they said?
a. No
4. What was your reaction to them?
a. These leaflets were of little interest to PW as they were evidently intended for CCF personnel.
5. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets or broadcasts? What did they say or do?
a. These leaflets made little impression on Independent 8th Regt personnel as they were written entirely in Chinese.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
