주한미육군사령부 정보참모부 주간요약보고

PART I SOUTH KOREA Secret From: 091200/I Apr.48 To : 161200/I Apr.48 Headquarters, USAFIK Seoul, Korea 16 April 1948 No. 135 Maps: KOREA 1/250,000 East ASIA, 1/1,000,000 A. ARMED FORCES 1. Strength (Secret) Police: 30,000 Constabulary: 27,899 Coast Guard: 2,859 2. Operational Activity (Confidential) Six border incidents occurred, five of which involved SOVIET troops: On 06 April YOHYON (948-1696) police observed two groups of SOVIETS, groups of ten and fifteen, fifty (50) yards south of the parallel. On 08 April three SOVIET soldiers, in company with three North Korean border guards, stole two bags of lime from a mine in the vicinity of (946.6- 1694.5). Shots were exchanged with South Korean police but there were no casualties. The US-USSR Joint Survey Agreement specifically states that this entire mine is considered in the U.S. zone. On 12 April seven SOVIET soldiers violated the parallel near (1024.2- 1695.5). On 13 April seven SOVIETS abducted a South Korean near (1023-1696), took him north of the border and interrogated him concerning the number of U.S. troops at OP #18. On 14 April a SOVIET fighter plane intercepted a U.S. plane near UFO-RI (940-1690). There was no firing. The sixth incident occurred 11 April near (959.2-1695.7). Eight North Koreans dressed as civilians invaded South KOREA, wounded a South Korean policeman, and returned north of the boundary. Five of these men were armed with SOVIET-type sub-machine guns. COMMENT: This is the largest number of incidents to be reported for several weeks and the first incidents involving SOVIET personnel since 18 March. 3 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #185 PART I B. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE 1. Political Activity a. Status of Registrations 8,055,295 South Koreans, or 91% of that part of the population eligible to vote according to the 1946 census as revised by Korean authorities, registered for the 10 May elections. The distribution by province follows: PROVINCE NO OF REGISTERED PERCENTAGE OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS SEOUL 568,291 92 KYONGGI DO 1,131,319 95.7 KANGWON DO 474,723 96.5 CHUNGCHONG PUKTO 461,084 98 CHUNGCHONG NAMDO 791,663 90.3 KYONGSANG PUKTO 1,210,264 90.6 KYONGSANG NAMDO 1,314,440 95.3 CHOLLA PUKTO 791,499 88.4 CHOLLA NAMDO 1,229,200 88.9 CHEJU DO 82,812 64.9 8,055,295 Incomplete returns available 16 April show 198 candidacy registrations, 47 of which are in Seoul. Some of the more prominent candidates for office include RHEE; CHANG Hyon, former KILA member; LEE Yun Yong, chairman of the Chosun Democratic Party; PAK Seung Ho, KILA member; General LEE Chung Chun, Dai Dong Youth Corps; Helen KIM, President of EWHA College; PAIK Nam Hoon, Hankook Democratic Party. COMMENT: Communist activity on CHEJU DO (see par. B,2.b) accounted for the comparatively small turnout there. The overall results are considered gratifying. It is still not known whether communists themselves registered while orally and physically opposing registration in general. b. Developments Toward the North-South Conference Postponement On 13 April Radio PYONGYANG announced the postponement of the opening meeting of the political leaders of North and South KOREA, previously scheduled for 14 April. The request of the principal guests, KIM Kyu Sik and KIM Koo, for a postponement was probably the main reason for it. A new date for the meeting has not been set. Report of Liaison Men KIM Koo's representative, AHN Kyung Kun, and KIM Kyu Sik's representative, KWON Tai Yong, acting liaison personnel with North Korean authorities, departed from SEOUL on 07 April (W/S #134, B, 1,c) and returned from PYONGYANG on 09 April. They reported that they had spoken with KIM Il Sung, Chairman of the North Korean PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE, and KIM Doo Bong, Chair man of the NORTH KOREA LABOR PARTY, for one hour on 08 April. The following day, prior to their departure, the liaison men were shown the city where they noted signs of prosperity and a lower cost-of-living than in South KOREA. They also were of the opinion that the conference would be successful. No startling revelations resulted from this venture into the SOVIET zone of occupation. KWON Tai Yong spent an hour in presenting an account of his experiences in North KOREA, before a meeting of the Political and Standing Committees of the moderate National Independence Federation on 13 April. But here, too, he added nothing of significance to his report. (B-2) 4 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 128 제주4·3사건 추가진상조사자료집 5 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #135 PART I KIM Ky Sik's Position As Radio PYONGYANG continued to announce the arrival of additional "representatives" (mainly South Korean Communists), KIM Kyu Sik was in a quandary as to how he could avoid serving thinly disguised communist purposes and at the same time proceed with the North-South consultations, which he has long -publicly- supported. On 13 April it was reported that KIM Kyu Sik was planning to make his attendance conditional on the acceptance of the following demands, which would be summarily rejected by the North Korean authorities but which the majority of non-communists would deem reasonable: 1. The portrait of STALIN must be removed from all public places in order to reduce the number of ubiquitous reminders that North KOREA is a satellite state. 2. The PYONGYANG meeting must be viewed only as a preparatory one, with the first official meeting to be held in SEOUL. All parties interested must take part. 3. North Koreans must elect one hundred (100) delegates to join the two hundred (200) assemblymen elected in the South. 4. UNTCOK must be invited to send at least one member to observe the elections in North KOREA. 5. The conference, whether in PYONGYANG or SEOUL, must discuss only methods of attaining independence. It must not be empowered to discuss and adopt a constitution, establish a government, adopt a flag or a name for the government. 6. Agitation by Koreans for joint withdrawal of occupation forces must be discontinued. Instead the SOVIETS are to be requested to initiate a joint US-USSR conference regarding the conditions of troop removal. However, after long periods of wrangling with the Political and Standing Committees of the National Independence Federation on 14 April, he obtained approval of only the following: 1. The establishment of a government shall be preceded by a free, national, general election to elect the body which shall determine the structure of the Korean government. 2. "We shall establish an independent state which shall not permit monopolistic capitalism, but which shall guarantee the rights of private property." 3. "We shall not agree to any form of dictatorship whatsoever, and shall advocate and establish a truly democratic government." 4. "We shall consider as unfriendly any nation that seeks to establish or establishes military bases in KOREA." Later KIM Kyu Sik added a fifth principle embodying the same idea contained in point "6" of his previously considered conditions, i.e., the withdrawal of troops. COMMENT: It is considered that KIM Kyu Sik was sincere in drawing up his original conditions, and that they marked the lines along 5 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #135 PART I which a fight could be waged for a unified KOREA that is not openly communist dominated. The new conditions give no indication of results other than those predicted in W/S #134, par. B, k, c. Both KIM Koo and Kim Kyu Sik, it is reported, will depart for PYONGYANG sometime during the coming week. 2. Civil Unrest a. No Uprising Date Yet Named No definite information was received during the period concerning prospective dates for communist uprisings. b. 22 Attacks on Registration Centers Communist attackers left police boxes in comparative peace this week but launched attacks against twenty-two (22) registration booths. These, combined with the ones covered last week and by delayed reports, brought the total to forty-four (44). KYONGSANG-PUKTO's capitol, TAEGU, was hit the hardest. Here at least eleven (11) attacks were made on registration centers. It is known that 523 registration cards were lost and another 500 were probably lost. Attacks in CHUNGCHONG-PUKTO were heaviest in that province's capitol, CHEONGJU, where six registration centers were hit. Two policemen and three rightists were killed in continued and sporadic violence on CHEJU-DO this week. One police box was attacked on the KANGWON-DO — KYONGSANG PUKTO border by a 100-man mob. Five policemen and two civilians who were helping the police were injured. One rightist was assassinated in CHUNGCHONG-PUKTO five days after he received a threatening letter which warned him to cease election activities. COMMENT: Considering that there were a total of 13,455 booths set up, the communist effort against them during the post-registration period this week and the preceding 10-day registration period has not been serious. The destruction of registration records does not nullify the registrants' right to vote. Election committees will not require registrants to re-register, but can "reconstruct" registration records. c. Police Resign in Fear of Communist Terror The threat of an impending communist guerrilla campaign against the election, wherein police boxes will no doubt become primary targets along with election officials and polling places, has caused an undetermined number of police to resign from the force in areas where the communists are strongest. In the communist stronghold area in and around TAEGU (see par 3,2,b), 177 policemen resigned from the force last month and 31 resigned during the first 10 days in April. This is far in excess of the normal 1.8% turnover of police personnel in this area. The significant reason given by resigning police is, "Communists are growing stronger each day with help of government officials." They are referring to: (a) The pre-registration release of 3,140 prisoners who had been convicted for active participation in communist acts against the government such as inciting to riot and strike. (b) The passage of the new criminal code which provides for search warrants and the privilege of bail. 6 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 CIVIL UNREST CHART HWANGAE-DO KANGWON-DO ongjin · chunchon 38°N KYONGGI-DO seoul CHUNGCHUNG PUKTO KYONGSONG CHUNG-CHONG NAMDO taejon taegu chongju CHOLLA-PUKTO kwangju CHOLLA-NAMDO KYONGSONG-NAMDO pusan N ↑ SOUTH KOREA cheju CHEJU-JU ⊕ ATTACKS ON REGISTRATION ⊙ POLICE KILLED BOOTHS ⊗ ATTACKS ON POLICE BOXES . ○ RIOTERS KILLED 7 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2-H/S #135 PART I C. WAR POTENTIAL 1. Economic The results of a price survey on 25 cost-of-living items for this period shows a decline for seven, increase for four, and no change for 14. These prices are from the SEOUL area. Bank of Chosun currency in circulation fell 4.81 billion won during the first quarter of 1948 and further declined 95 million won in the first 13 days of April. The Bank of Chosun issue on 13 April stood at 29.2 billion won. For the first month since the occupation SKIC receipts (February) exceeded expenditures; the margin was 430 million won. The expenditures included the occupation cost. 2. Rice Prices Local rice prices increased 60 won during the past seven days, reflecting increased transportation charges. COMMENT: Excess baggage charges on the railroads have not been made prior to 13 April. On this date, to relieve congestion in passenger cars, the transportation department enforced an existing regulation charging passengers for all rice in excess of four large mal carried in coaches. Local merchants immediately passed this charge on to the consumer. Rice Price Summary PRICE (won) AREA Dec. Jan. Feb. March 16 April SEOUL 750 743 746 710 680 KANGWON DO 632 791 850 * CHUNGCHONG PUKTO 500 586 * * CHUNGCHONG NAMDO 650 630 662 * KYONGSANG PUKTO 534 541 550 * KYONGSANG NAMDO 575 650 707 * CHOLLA PUKTO 674 608 608 * CHOLLA NAMDO 575 558 575 * CHEJU DO 729 753 680 * AVERAGE 631 648 676 * Official Price -- 140 won Source -- National Price Administration * No data available -8- DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #135 PART I 3. Surrendered and Disarmed -- No Change: 179,375[illegible] 4. Progress of Repatriation This Period To Date Japanese Civilians Arriving from N of 38° N'KOREA, CHINA and MANCHURIA 0 288,525 Japanese Evacuated to JAPAN 46 883,803 Total Koreans Returning 3,787 2,090,522 Total Repatriates Moved Since 15 August 1945 2,973,409 5. Koreans Returned to KOREA Attempted Illegal Entry to JAPAN 230 22,476 * Incomplete report DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 9 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #135 PART I D. PSYCHOLOGICAL The South Korean press, from the extreme right to left have found a common subject on which they agree: the treatment of Koreans in JAPAN. Schools come in for particular interest. The closing of Korean schools and the transfer of children to Japanese schools brought cries that the Japanese are trying to kill Korean culture and spirit. Highlighted in the news columns was a proposed protest to SCAP. The excitement in the press did not far exceed the feeling in some departments of SKIG. Conferences were held by the departments of Education and Foreign Affairs for the purpose of drafting a protest to General MacARTHUR. The metropolitan press reported all details. The PYONGYANG conference is still the No. 1 story to the press, with much speculation as to the outcome and with particular emphasis on the positions of the two KIMS. The return of the two liaison agents, sent by the KIMS, caused the leftist papers to devote over half of their front pages to the news. Actually the news released by KIM Koo and KIM Kyu Sik amounted to a brief announcement of the return and that their agents' report was under study. COMMENT: See paragraph B, 1, b. The PYONGYANG conference had a close second in the coming elections. Much space was devoted to the candidacy of various favorites. Dr. RHEE's statement — that the people could best realize their sovereignty through positive cooperation with the election: — received top news column space in the CHOONG ANG SHIN MUN, with other rightist papers falling in line. The left wing DOK LIB SINBO compared the coming election in KOREA with those in GREECE and after a lengthy discussion best briefed their own editorial in a final word: "Beware." The powerful right wing KYENG HYANG SHIN MUN bemoaned what they termed "excessive candidacy." This subject was a matter of concern to all of the rightist papers. Attention was called to the fact that at least five candidates had announced in some districts. This was causing loud criticism and great confusion. The CHOSUN ILBO, in a profound editorial, came close to the democratic viewpoint when they reasoned that if the government, or someone in the government is evil, the wrong exists in the electorate. Calling for sincerity, the editor stated that the world powers are rushing into a crisis and displaying their respective powers, and for KOREA there is no power to display, and only sincerity and unification have a power stronger than the atomic bomb. It was pointed out that indifference to the elections is regrettable and the ballot is not only a right but a sound obligation. 10 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #135 PART I E. SABOTAGE AND ESPIONAGE In addition to the sabotage committed in conjunction with communist attacks on registration booths (see Part 1, B, 2) delayed reports were received of four other instances. On 05 April it was discovered that a well in KAESONG (950-1690) had been poisoned. On 04 April communists threatened to poison the PUSAN (1200-1340) reservoir if registration officials did not cease their work. Six were arrested for the PUSAN threat. During the night of 05-06 April telephones lines were cut at thirty (30) points in CHOLLA NAMDO, and on the night of 06 April telephone wires were cut and stolen in KYONGSANG PUKTO. 11 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 795070