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SOUTH KOREA Secret From: 261200/I Mar.48 To : 021200/I Apr.48 Headquarters, USAFIK Seoul, Korea 02 April 1948 No. 133 Maps: KOREA 1/250.000 East ASIA, 1/1,000,000 A. ARMED FORCES 1. Strength (Secret) Police: No change Constabulary: No change Coast Guard: No change 2. Operation Activity (Confidential) Border Incidents On 22 March two (2) Soviet single-engine fighter aircraft violated the 38th parallel when they flew over the ONGJIN peninsula after taking off from HAEJU (876-1702) airfield. On 24 March two (2) U.S. soldiers were taken into custody by North Korean Constabularymen fifty (50) feet south of the border and forced to accompany their captors into North KOREA. On 26 March the two soldiers were delivered to the U.S. zone. On 26 March four (4) North Korean Constabularymen abducted and killed a South Korean policeman from the village of KOIN-JUNG (933.4-1696.6). Fellow policemen went north of the border to retrieve the body of their comrade and were fired upon. No further casualties were reported. On 27 March eight (8) North Korean Constabularymen came south of the parallel and fired on South Korean police. No casualties were reported. 3 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #133 PART I B. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE 1. Political Activity a. UNTCOK Activities In furtherance of its intention to observe pre-election preparations UNTCOK is planning an itinerary to include SEOUL, INCHON, KAESONG, CHUNCHON, CHEJU, CHONGJU, TAEJON, and CHONJU for the week ending 10 April. On 01 April the Commission announced that "having considered a suggested postponement until 24 May of the election previously fixed for 09 May 1948,.... it is the wish of the commission that the elections should still be held on 09 May...." COMMENT: The suggestion was made by the National Election Committee because of the great mechanical difficulty involved in preparing for an election within the short time allowed after the Commission had finally approved an election law. b. National Election Committee The National Election Committee appointed members to the provincial election committees, which include one for each province, one for SEOUL, and one for CHEJU-DO island. The addition of KANG Ki Duk completes the membership of fifteen (15) on the NEC. KANG came to South KOREA early in 1946 from North KOREA. At one time he studied law in SEOUL. Although he has no known party affiliation, he is a close friend of KIM Byong Lo, director of the Department of Justice and one of the founders of the HANKOOK DEMOCRATIC PARTY. c. Further Developments on NK-Proposed Conferences The Proposal: A proposal for conferences between North and South Korean leaders was announced by PYONGYANG Radion on 25 March (See W/S #132, par B, 1, f.). The North Korean radio station broadcast the text of a letter which allegedly had been adopted by the "DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S COALITION FRONT OF NORTH KOREA" and contained the following announcement to "the South Korean political parties and social organizations which are against the formation of a separate government in South KOREA": "Dear Countrymen! The policy of the American imperialists which aims to take possession of and divide our fatherland is continuing. Now this policy has reached the most dangerous stage, threatening the unity of our fatherland and the autonomous and democratic existence of our people. The international reactionaries controlled by the American ruling cast are attempting to strike a new blow at the fundamental interests of our people of KOREA.... In South KOREA preparations are now under way to hold separate elections under the grand pretext of forming a so-called National Government. "...Four members of the United Nations Commission favored a delay in the elections. Two delegates, the Canadian and the Australian, voted against the proposed elections, and two delegates, from FRANCE and SYRIA, abstained from voting. "...Can we remain unconcerned spectators of the scheme of the American imperialists attempting to drive us into the merciless fate of slavery? Of course, we cannot. ...We demand the withdrawal of the United Nation's Commission on KOREA.... We demand that, after the withdrawal of foreign troops from KOREA, true elections for the People's Assembly be held by a secret ballot based on universal, direct, fair election rights.... 4 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #13[illegible] PART I "We, leaders of North Korean political parties and social organizations hereby propose to hold a joint conference of all democratic parties and social organizations in North and South KOREA which are opposing separate elections in South KOREA to meet in PYONGYANG on 14 April this year. We propose to draft a concrete plan at this conference so that we can make joint efforts to study the internal political situation, undermine all schemes of the reactionaries designed to divide our country, promote the unity of our fatherland, and expedite the formation of a democratic, unified state in KOREA which will take its place as a equal member of the freedom-loving people of the world...." The following fifteen (15) persons, to represent South KOREA, were invited by North Koreans to attend the North-South conferences: NAME POLITICAL TENDENCY POLITICAL AFFILIATION 1. KIM Koo Rightist KOREAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY 2. CHO So Ang Moderate KOREAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY 3. KIM Kyu Sik Rightist NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FEDERATION 4. KIM Boong Choon Moderate NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FEDERATION NEW PROGRESSIVE PARTY 5. PAIK Nam Oon Leftist LABORING PEOPLE'S PARTY 6. HONG Myong Hi Moderate NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FEDERATION DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENCE PARTY 7. KIM Il Chung Moderate leftist DEMOCRATIC KOREAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY 8. LEE Keuk No Moderate NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FEDERATION 9. PAK Hun Yong Communist SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY 10. HU Hun Communist SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY 11. YOO Yung Choon Communist SOUTH KOREAN DEMOCRATIC WOMEN'S LEAGUE 12. HU Sung Taik Communist COUNCIL OF ALL KOREA LABOR UNIONS 13. KIM Won Bong Communist PEOPLE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY 14. SONG Eul Soo Communist SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY 15. KIM Chang Choon Communist DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S FRONT This is a preliminary list. It is expected that invitations will also be dispatched to others, including CHANG Kun Soon, Chairman of the LABORING PEOPLE'S PARTY; KWON Tai Suk, Chairman of the DEMOCRATIC KOREAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY; LYUH Woon Hong, Chairman of the SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY; and probably representatives of the ALL-KOREA FEDERATION OF FARMERS' UNION, the DEMOCRATIC PATRIOTIC YOUTH ALLIANCE, the CHRISTIANS' DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE and the ALL-KOREA CONFUSIANISTS' ALLIANCE. All of these organizations possess strong leftist tendencies. In addition to the message which was broadcast, thirteen of the named conferees received identical letters. KIM Koo, leader of the Rightist Opposition to the South Korean elections, and KIM Kyu Sik, Chairman of the Moderate federation and former Speaker of the Korean Interim Legislative Assembly, received special letters signed by KIM IL SUNG, Chairman of the North KOREA PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE, and KIM Do Bong, Chairman of the NORTH KOREA LABOR PARTY. The letters, dated 15 March, acknowledged receipts of the conference proposal made jointly by KIM Koo and KIM Kyu Sik on 16 February and dispatched to KIM IL SUNG. The joint reply of KIM IL SUNG and KIM Do Bong made the following points: 1. It is deplorable that although two and a half years have passed since the liberation from JAPAN, KOREA remains divided. 2. North KOREA is capable of working out its destiny on its own initiative but the South Koreans are not because they are still controlled by the Americans. 5 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #133 PART I 3. The responsibility for the present unfavorable situation rests with those who actively opposed the MOSCOW Decision and the US-USSR Joint Commission. 4. Expressed disapproval of the UN resolution on KOREA and the recent action of the Little Assembly. 5. Demanded withdrawal of troops and self-determination as proposed by the Soviet Delegation to the US-USSR Joint Commission. Reactions to the Proposal: The North Korean proposal met with immediate and enthusiastic support from the organizations in South KOREA belonging to the communist DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S FRONT and the majority of the leadership in the small, unanchored moderate parties in the insecure NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FEDERATION. The following are summarizations of expressed reactions of the more important leaders: KIM BOO suspects that the North Korean proposal for consultations is aimed at delaying the South Korean elections, scheduled for 09 May 1948. He is convinced that during the conferences North Korean authorities will bring strong pressure to bear upon the conferees so as to bring about decisions calculated to force KOREA into the sovietized PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC. With this purpose apparent, satisfactory results in the forthcoming consultations cannot be expected. KIM KYU SIK suspects that the North Korean intention is to prepare the way for the announcement of the "DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA." Despite his pessimism, however, Dr. KIM feels that this outside chance for achieving the unification of a KOREA which would escape Soviet domination cannot be overlooked and seems anxious to participate in the PYONGYANG conferences. RHEE SYNG MAN, the uninvited, viewed the offer from the North as a political maneuver designed to delay the general elections. KIM DO BONG, is reported to have stated that the proposed consultations will provide an opportunity for the conferees to arrive at substantial and satisfactory settlements. KIM was also said to have asserted that PYONGYANG rather than SEOUL had been chosen for the conferences in order to avoid possible sabotage of the effort, particularly by the HANKOOK DEMOCRATIC PARTY, which, said KIM, holds a predominant position in South Korean politics. In PYONGYANG, KIM promised, safe-conduct will be given South Korean representatives. North Korean Representatives: The complete representation at the conferences, now scheduled for 14 April, is not yet known. The North Koreans proposed a preliminary conference for "early April," however, which would be attended by twenty-five (25) persons -- the aforementioned fifteen (15) from South KOREA and, reportedly, the following ten (10) persons from North KOREA: NAME POSITION KIM Il Sung Chairman, PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE KIM Do Bong Chairman, NORTH KOREA LABOR PARTY KIM Dal Hyun Vice-chairman, PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY TOH[EI] Yong Kun Commander-in-Chief, PEOPLE'S ARMY PAK Chung Ai Executive Committee, NORTH KOREA LABOR PARTY TOHE[I] Kyawng Dawk PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY KANG Dal Hyun FARMERS' ALLIANCE (?) 6 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #133 PART I NAME POSITION PAK Ook DEMOCRATIC YOUTH ALLIANCE (?) PAK Sang Soon DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES KIM Soong Kyuk DEMOCRATIC BUDDHISTS ALLIANCE (?) COMMENT: Soviet-inspired North Korean authorities have so selected representatives for the conference that ostensibly all shades of opinion will be hear: Communist, Moderate and Right; labor and cultural, male and female. A dash of Moderates and sprinkle of Rightists adds a hardlyto-be-discernible non-communist flavor to an otherwise communist mixture. Unfavorable results of the conferences, if hold, can be expected to be: (1) encouraging the moderates and leftists who now oppose South Korean elections to continue to oppose them, with the result that it can be claimed before the UN General Assembly that the elections did not represent the will of a large part of the South Koreans and consequently that a government resulting from the elections should not be recognized by governments of other nations; (2) confusing further the already confused South Koreans electorate; (3) establishing a claim that the North Korean Democratic People's Republic is supported by a large percentage of South Koreans. The favorable result can be expected to be: (1) convincing moderate and leftists who have announced their boycott of the South Korean elections that there is no hope of unifying KOREA (except under Communism) prior to such elections, if at all. 2. Civil Unrest Communist mobs, some armed with captured police weapons and others with home-made bombs and spears, attacked ten (10) police boxes this week in South KOREA. Nine communists died either resisting arrest or in the attacks. The only coordinated attacks against police were made in a single southeastern KYONGSANG-PUKTO area where communist attacked four police boxes on 27 March. COMMENT: Definite and repeated indications point to a new era of communist-sponsored disorders to commence in early April. A resurgence of the communist effort against elections is also scheduled for the week prior to elections. The Red 01 May anniversary may be the initial starting date for the communists final attacks against elections. 1948 Communist Activities in South KOREA : JAN : FEB : MAR* : Attacks on Police : 0 : 125 : 114 : Police Killed : 0 : 33 : 20 : Rioters Killed : 1 : 74 : 70 : Non-Rioters Killed : 1 : 14 : 14 : Disorders, Demonstrations, School Strikes, : : : : Attacks on Rightist Offices and Homes : 6 : 123 : 75 : Attacks on Government Buildings : 0 : 9 : 14 : Sabotage (comm) : 14 : 51 : 57 : Sabotage (RR lines) : 1 : 12 : 6 : Sabotage (RR locomotives) : 0 : 50 : 0 : Sabotage (roads) : 0 : 13 : 5 : Sabotage (bridges) : 0 : 6 : 9 : Strikes : : 14 : 5 : *Incomplete 7 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 CIVIL UNREST CHART HWANGAE-DO Ongiin Chunchon YONGGI-DO KANGWON-DO Seoul CHUNG-CHUNG-PUKTO Taejon Chongju CHOLLA-PUKTO Taegu KYONGSONG-PUKTO KYONGSONG-NAI-DO Kwangju CHOLLA-NAI-DO Pusan SOUTH KOREA Cheju CHEJU-DO LEGEND ⊕ ATTACKS ON POLICE BOXES 8 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #133 PART I C. WAR POTENTIAL 1. Economic - Rice Prices The local rice price dropped 20 won per small mal for the period. Bank of Chosun notes in circulation fell from approximately 31 billion outstanding on 02 March to less than 29 and one-half billion on 29 March. Unit: 1 mal (2.38 gals., polished rice) Official Price - 140 won PRICE (Won) AREA Dec. Jan. Feb. March 02 Apr. SEOUL 750 743 746 710 660 KANGWON DO 632 791 860 * CHUNGCHONG PUKTO 600 586 * * CHUNGCHONG NANDO 650 530 652 * KYONGSANG PUKTO 534 541 550 * KYONGSANG NANDO 575 650 707 * CHOLLA BUKTO 634 608 608 * CHOLLA NANDO 575 558 575 * CHEJU DO 729 733 680 * AVERAGE 631 648 675 * Source - National Price Administration * No data available 2. Surrendered and Disarmed -- No change: 179,376 3. Progress of Repatriation -- This Period To Date Japanese Civilians Arriving from N of 38°N KOREA, CHINA and MANCHURIA 0 288,518 Japanese Evacuated to JAPAN 0 883,757 Total Koreans Returning 3,019* 2,084,720 Total Repatriates Moved Since 15 August 1945 2,971,393 4. Koreans Returned to KOREA Attempted Illegal Entry to JAPAN 22,246 * Incomplete report for the period 9 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #133 PART I COMMENT: In South KOREA the farmer now pays 33 per cent of his crop rental and on purchase will pay only 20 per cent while in North KOREA the farmer pays 23 to 27 per cent. In the South he will have title after fifteen (15) years and in the North title remains with the state. Advantages of the system to the farmer in the North are not very obvious. 11 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #133 PART I B. SABOTAGE AND ESPIONAGE (Confidential) Three instances of sabotaging U.S. communication lines occurred this week. It has not yet been determined whether or not the sabotage is planned or spontaneous. Communist members continue to infiltrate into governmental units. One member of the PUSAN Harbor Police was arrested upon suspicion of being a liaison agent for the communist SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY. Monetary aid from North KOREA continues to flow into South Korean communist pockets. One such transaction was disclosed when fifty (50) million won was confiscated at INCHON (960-1630) this week. This money was being smuggled into South KOREA from HAEJU (870-1700) by ship. 12 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070