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G-2 PERIODIC REPORT Confidential From: 070600/I Dec 48 To : 080800/I Dec 48 Headquarters, USAFIK Seoul, Korea 1000/I 08 December 1948 PART I. No. #1007 SOUTH KOREA MAPS: KOREA, 1/250,000 Eastern ASIA, 1/1,000,000 Historical 1. ARMED FORCES Negative 2. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE a. Governmental Activities On 03 December the Korean Cabinet decided to take a nation-wide census on 01 May 1949. (B-2) COMMENT: The last true census in Korea took place in 1944. Since that time there has been a considerable shift in population due to refugees from north to south Korea and also due to repatriation of Koreans from overseas. All SKIG estimates for planning were based on adjustments of the 1944 census. On 06 December the National Assembly unanimously passed a Resolu- tion that: "(1) Petroleum refineries(should)be immediately completed and every effort made for the production of petroleum. "(2) The organizations of petroleum distribution be transferred (to our Government) immediately and that it be put under State Control." It was pointed out by Assemblymen that Korea has no natural petroleum resources and that the industry of the country to a large degree depends on petroleum products. Three big petroleum companies of a "certain country" were reported to be planning to make Korea a victim of their petroleum market policy. It was further stated that the present distribution plan, now under control of foreigners, is but a disposal organization for the waste products of a "certain country." The Resolution concluded with the statement that Korea did not want to be the economic slave of a foreign country. (B-2) COMMENT: Although the points made by the Assemblymen have the same ring as have the Radio PYONGYANG rantings about American plots to colonize and enslave Korea, it does not necessarily follow that the Assemblymen are showing communist leanings or that they have been affected by communist propaganda. A desire for economic as well as political independence is natural to Koreans. b. Civil Unrest (1) Constabulary Action on CHEJU DO The Constabulary continued to conduct operations against the raiders on CHEJU-DO. During the period 03-06 December 105 raiders were killed and 40 captured. (Constabulary Report) -1- Confidential DECLASSIFIED Authority [illegible] XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #1007 Confidential (2) Assassination of Rightist in CHUNGCHONG NAMDO On 02 December 1948 3 or 4 unidentified youths killed KIM Young Min, a staff official of the NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE ACCELERATION OF KOREAN INDEPENDENCE in YANGCHON Myun (1010-1475). The youths were armed with a Japanese 99 rifle and 1 Japanese sword. (Police report) 3. PSYCHOLOGICAL Translation of SEOUL Newspapers. (See Incl. #1) 4. SABOTAGE AND ESPIONAGE Negative. PART II NORTH KOREA 1. ARMED FORCES a. Soviet Forces Negative b. North Korean Forces Negative 2. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE a. Rice Moving to PYONGYANG Beginning in November 1948 all food levies collected in HWANGHAE-DO, the granary of North Korea, will be transported to and stored in various warehouses in the PYONGYANG City area. Shipping will proceed on a 24 hour basis utilizing all available means of transportation. The source could not state the reason for this stockpiling. Corroboration of this information was obtained from a truck driver at SARIWON (880-1758) who had hauled supplies from that city to PYONGYANG. (F-6) COMMENT: American sources report that each Fall large quantities of rice move into the PYONGYANG area. It is likely that this is a normal movement of the crop for ration control to government agencies. b. Ships Entering the Port of CHINNAMPO (840-1780) (1) The following 4 ships entered the port of CHINNAMPO on 9 August 1948 with coal from SAKHALIN Island: NAME OWNER COUNTRY DISPLACEMENT BUILT IN KING S. WOOLSY U.S. War Shipping USA 7,000 1942 Administration MOSES BROWN U.S. War Shipping USA 7,176 1943 Administration HELGOY Unknown NORWAY 5,614 1920 BRONNOY Unknown NORWAY 4,791 1926 -2- Confidential DECLASSIFIED Authority NND [illegible] XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #1007 Confidential The informant heard that three additional ships entered the port of HUNGNAM (1020-1870) also loaded with coal from SAKHALIN. Two of the ships were of PANAMANIAN registry and one from CHINA. (2) The following is a list of SOVIET vessels entering the port of CHINNAMPO during the same period: NAME DISPLACEMENT CARGO REMARKS In Out LEONID KRASIN 1,840 Salt Unknown Two voyages during July and August between DAIREN and CHINNAMPO ALDAN 2,161 Fertilizer Cotton thread Left CHINNAMPO in July and raw rubber for HONGKONG returned in August AVIAZOVSKII 3,000 Black Lead Unknown Left CHINNAMPO in August for KOBE, Japan ZVEZDA 850 Glass Unknown Two voyages in August and September between DAIREN and CHINNAMPO KARAGANOA 5,627 Glass Unknown Arrived in August from VLADIVOSTOK L'VOV 5,627 Glass Unknown Arrived in August from VLADIVOSTOK TOMSK 5,557 Glass Unknown Arrived in August from VLADIVOSTOK TSIOLKOVSKY 3,475 Glass Unknown Arrived in CHINNAMPO in September COMMENT: Many of the above listed tonnages were obtained from Lloyd's Register after the names of the ships and their approximate tonnages were checked. 3. WAR POTENTIAL a. Cost of Living in North Korea The following list of Cost-of Living prices was secured in four towns in North Korea by 7 sources in the first two weeks of November: Rice Millet Barley Potatoes Fish Salt mal* mal mal mal barrie** serng*** SINPO (1110-1940) 230 200 120 60 4000 50 SCHOJIN (1060-1910) 200 130 ---- 40 ----- 20 WONSAN (1040-1830) 230 190 ---- 40 4000 20 HAMHUNG (1040-1920) 210 180 95 55 5000 55 * One small mal equals 2.38 gallons ** One barrie equals approximately 165 pounds *** One serng equals 3.18 pints COMMENT: The North Korean won continues to be traded for South Korean won on the basis of one North Korean won to three South Korean won. Rice prices appear to have leveled off at approximately 200 to 230 won per small mal while the official prices continues to be 37.50 won for the same quantity. Confidential -3- DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 76370 Confidential XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #1007 4. PSYCHOLOGICAL Negative 5. ADJACENT AREAS (MANCHURIA AND EASTERN SIBERIA) Negative - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Watlington AC of S, G-2 [illegible] 1 Incl. Translation of SEOUL Newspapers Under the provisions of par 33a (1), AR 380-5, 15 August 1946, authority is hereby granted for destruction of this document after it has served its purpose, and is of no further value to the receiving agency. This authority is extended to cover destruction of previous issues of this publication in accordance with the foregoing instructions. DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 74576 Confidential -4-