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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3361　15 February 1951

FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MISD - 0239)　31 January 1951

Prisoner was cooperative in giving information which is considered fairly reliable due to his above average education. However, due to a somewhat poor memory, complete details were lacking and information was limited. Not recommended for further interrogation.

The PW received one week of political training at HUPYONG-NI (CT3875) and o/a 20 Nov 50 was conscripted and assigned to the CHIRI-SAN Guerrilla Unit. Approximately three days later, the whole unit departed HUPYONG-NI and proceeded south.

On this march south, the unit encountered enemy forces and police units suffering many casualties. 25 Jan 51, the unit arrived at KALPYONG-NI (DR2572). Two days later upon departing, PW and 2 others were ordered to carry and guard the 2nd Sector Unit commander, who was suffering from typhus. While travelling, they fell behind and were attacked 281300 Jan by ROK unit in the mountains. PW, the only survivor, escaped and hid in the mountains until dark and arrived at KOSA-RI 290500 Jan. He hid in the hills that night and on the following day returned to the village to inquire of the villagers, as to the location of his unit. Upon receiving a negative reply he departed and 291930 Jan arrived at PONGHWA CHI (DR243880). He heard from villagers that his unit had gone over the TOKKONG-NI Hills (DR234887). He rested overnight and while hiding in the nearby hills was discovered by children who in turn persuaded him to surrender to the local police. On the way to the Police Station the PW was picked up by a US MP 311100 Jan near PONGHWA CHI.

O/a 25 Dec 50, the CHIRI-SAN Guerrilla Unit changed its designation to Korean Peoples Guerrilla Unit Southern Army. The new name was adopted to protect the identity of the unit, whose old name was supposedly too well known.

A rear echelon supply unit of 80 men, called the "Liberation Hq Unit" was attached to the unit. In addition, there was a "General Staff Dept," also known as the "Research Dept," consisting of approx 50 men, which planned and made decisions on strategy and operations. A reconnaissance unit of approx 30 men was also attached.

The Korean Peoples Guerrilla Unit was composed of the "Peoples Brigade" (150 men), a "Victory Division" (150 men), and the "First Military Group" (approx 600 men) under which were the 505 (EWAN IL Unit), 506 (HUNG BOK Unit), 507 (CHONG CHONG KI Unit) and the 508 (KO HYON SOK Unit) Regt. The 507 Regt consisted of the 6th and 7th Sector Units. The 507 Regt had a strength of 80 men, while the 6th Sector Unit was organized into 2 platoons of 18 men each. The present strength of the Korean Peoples Guerrilla Unit was heard to be approx 1000 men who, as far as is known, operated independently.

Present disposition of PW unit was unk. PW last observed the unit 4 km W of KALPYONG-NI hearing northwest. On 291930, PW heard from local villagers at PONGHWA CHI that his unit was observed going in the direction of TOKKONG-NI.

While at TOKCHON-DONG, on 3 Jan 51, PW superior officers stated that the Guerrilla Unit had contacted the 10th NKA Div.

The Korean Peoples Guerrilla Unit was armed as follows:

Rifles were carried by all members of the unit except those carrying mortars, machine guns, automatic rifles or ammo. PW observed some men carrying 2 to 3 rifles, including Carbines, M-1 Rifles, type 38, 99 Rifles and Russ Rifles and PPsh SMG. Ammo for each rifle varied, from 30-150 rd. Every PPsh SMG had 3 drums of 70 rd each.

Food, money and clothing were looted from villagers in places attacked by their unit. This money was used in the purchase of food from civilians in other villages. There were times when the men did not eat for one to two days, when food was scarce, or in hiding from the UN forces.

The mission of his unit was to disrupt the enemy rear by wrecking bridges, cutting communication wires, attacking UN Hq, spread propaganda and revive communist organizations. In the PW opinion, his unit had operated in the TOKCHON-DONG, CHOKSONG-NI, UGONG-NI and KALPYONG-NI areas from 1 Jan to 28 Jan, while awaiting the expected advance of the NKA and the CCF south.

CHONG Chong Gi, age 24, 507 Regt CO, stocky build, 5' 5".

KO Hyon Suk, age 30, 508 Regt CO, stocky build, 5' 8".

HUN Bok, age 24, stocky build, 506 Regt CO, 5' 4".

KWAN IL, age 23, 505 Regt CO, slender.

Five men in the 2nd Sector Unit were suffering from trench foot. PW observed three men, who were unable to walk, who were left behind to care for themselves.

In the TOKCHON-DONG, CHOKSONG-NI, UGONG-NI and KALPYONG-RI areas, the majority (802) of the local civilians were suffering from typhoid fever (Cho-Chibusu). 80% of his unit was suffering from the same malady. The majority of those afflicted, however, were cured when perspiring on long marches. PW observed two men die of typhoid fever in the 2nd Sector Unit. There were also a few cases of dysentery and colds in his unit.

Since his unit entered SOUTH KOREA, nearly 500 men with communist training were sent to their homes where the CCF had occupied their towns, to organize and carry on communist activities.

For the AC of S, G-2: