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G-2 PERIODIC REPORT Secret From: 160800/I Dec 48 To : 170800/I Dec 48 Headquarters, USAFIK Seoul, Korea 1000/I 17 December 1948 PART I SOUTH KOREA No. 1015 Historical MAPS: KOREA, 1/250,000 Eastern ASIA, 1/1,000,000 1. ARMED FORCES Constabulary (Secret) The Korean Military Academy, established to train officer personnel for the Constabulary, began its first training, initially to be of 5 months duration, on 11 December. Approximately 1,100 cadets are enrolled for the first session. COMMENT: The enrollment of 1,100 cadets in the KMA is considered by both the American Advisors to the Constabulary and the Constabulary staff to be in excess of the physical capacity, housing and training facilities, and the number of capable instructors available. It is considered that the normal school capacity, for proper training, is 500 students, with an absolute maximum of 750. Despite advice and tentative agreement to this effect by the Department of National Defense, LEE Bum Suk, Minister of National Defense, has forced the enrollment to the present excessive figure. This large number of cadets in excess to the facilities available will make impossible the proper training of future officers and a consequent lowering of efficiency of the officer corps of the Korean Constabulary. Apparently the Minister of National Defense is more concerned with quantity than quality. Plans are also underway to establish a corps of Korean interpreters for use by the American Advisors in the field. These personnel will be given the relative rank of 1st Lieutenant and be subject to the Korean Articles of War. The Commanding General of the Constabulary is continuing to plan for the activation of a squadron of horse cavalry. He has recently agreed, however, to delay the activation of this unit and concentrate on the training of Cannon and Anti-tank companies. Constabulary units are still being inspected by U.S. and Korean Personnel. A survey of the training completed by the Constabulary units indicates a need for additional training by all rifle units. The Chief of Staff of the Constabulary recently visited the 2nd Regiment at TAEJON (1140-1470). This unit was scheduled to depart for CHEJU-DO on 15 December. All possible precautionary measures were taken prior to this units movement to prevent an occurrence similar to that which took place at the time of the proposed movements of element of the 14th Regiment to CHEJU-DO. (PMAG Report) DECLASSIFIED NND 756070 Authority Secret -1- XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #1015 Secret 2. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE a. Political Activities Negative b. Civil Unrest (1) Constabulary Action on CHEJU DO (Confidential) On 15 December, the Korean Constabulary, in action against the raiders near KANIK SA (960-1140), killed 8 raiders, captured 3 Japanese "99" rifles and 1 Japanese "37" rifle. One Constabulary officer was wounded during the firefight. (Constabulary Report) On 16 December approximately 500 unarmed raiders surrendered to the Constabulary at HAM DONG NI (960-1150) and CHUNG KUN NI (940-1120). Subsequent interrogations of raiders by the Constabulary revealed hiding places of raider leaders, weapons and supplies. (Constabulary Report) COMMENT: It is probable that the recent successful actions of the 9th Regiment against the raiders can be attributed to the following factors: 1) the aid and assistance rendered the Constabulary by the civilians; 2) the result of intensified training, organizing and screening of its members; 3) an esprit de corps' due to its successful sorties against the raiders and 4) the desire to set a high standard of operations and a good record of achievements for its successor, the 2nd Regiment, to attempt to equal. (2) Dates for Communist Riots and Disturbances (Confidential) The following is a recapitulation of current reports for possible communist riots and disturbances subsequent to 17 December: (see M/S #166, M/S #167, and P/R #1003) December Dates (1) "Revolts will occur all over South KOREA during the later half of December. The People's Army and dissident Korean Constabulary will stage the revolt." (C-6) (2) "Officials of the present South Korean government are to be assassinated by members of the SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY on the night of 25 December." (C-5) (3) "The SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY is to instigate a revolution in South KOREA prior to 31 December 1948." (B-3) January Dates (1) "Leftist elements will start an insurrection on 20 January 1949 when the North Korean People's Army will cross the 38th parallel." (Police Report) (2) "Rioting will take place in South KOREA in January 1949 if the American troops are withdrawn." (Police Report) (3) "The SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY is planning a people's revolt in January 1949 in an attempt to overthrow the South Korean Government." (B-4) February Dates (1) "General disturbances and uprisings are planned to take place sometime in February 1949 in conjunction with the crossing of the 38th parallel by North Korean armed forces." (F-6) -2- DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 2[illegible] 320 제주4·3사건 추가진상조사자료집 7 XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #1015 Secret (2) "The Democratic People's Front is scheduled to revolt sometime in February 1949 subsequent to the killing of staff members of the police and organizations supporting the police." (F-3) Indefinite Dates (1) "Rebels in the CHONG DO (1160-1410) area will sabotage railroads and telephone lines in the near future." (C-3) (2) "All students of South KOREA will demonstrate and sabotage in the near future." (C-4) COMMENT: During the past 4 months, the communists have made numerous plans to create riots and disturbances, but each planned widespread riot or disturbance has failed to materialize. In each instance advance and adequate warnings have enabled the authorities to take necessary action to prevent any such incident. However, it must be borne in mind that the communists have issued definite instructions to all levels to initiate and maintain a "war of nerves" until definite orders are disseminated concerning an all-out plan. (3) Communist Violence (Confidential) (a) Weekly Violence Summary for Period 10-17 December CHOLLA KYONGSANG CHEJU DO TOTAL NAMDO PUKTO Attack on villages 2 2 Communists killed 1 7 137 144 [illegible] (b) Delayed Reports Which were not Previously Reported (ref: 4, P/R #1000) KYONGSANG KYONGSANG KANGWON CHEJU CHOLLA CHUNGCHONG TOTAL PUKTO NAMDO DO NAMDO PUKTO Attacks on villages 2 1 3 Attacks on rightists 1 1 Attacks on schools 1 1 Communists killed 1 106 7 16 130 Rightists killed 1 1 Police killed 1 1 Demonstrations 7 1 8 (4) Other Violence (a) A summary of acts of violence on the part of persons of unknown political affiliations for the period 10-17 December. SEOUL TOTAL Attacks on rightists 1 1 Police killed 1 1 (b) No rightist-inspired acts of violence were reported during the period 10-17 December 1948. Secret -3- DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745010 XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #1015 Secret (5) Raider Activity in CHOLLA-NAMDO and KYONGSANG-NAMDO (Confidential) Prisoners recently captured in clashes with security forces in CHOLLA-NAMDO have indicated areas of operation of 3 separate bands. One group of 90 is said to be located in the PAEGUN-SAN (1060-1340) area. Seventy of this group are reportedly Constabulary mutineers, and the remainder are civilians. (F-3) A larger group, reported to number 900, is supposed to be located in KURYE Gun (1040-1350). The third force with an estimated strength of 85 were reportedly located in the vicinity of SHINMUN-NI (1050-1360). On 11 December those raiders ate in SHINMUN-NI, but they now are thought to be in the CHIRI-SAN (1070-1370) area. In fighting during the period 6-11 December, 42 raiders have been reported as killed and 40 captured. (F-3) Recent reports from both the police and Constabulary indicate that the majority of raiders in KYONG-SANG-NAMDO are located in the CHIRI-SAN area, a conventional guerrilla hideout. One group, numbering nearly 100, was recently seen in MGRAEKOL (1080-1380). This group is now thought to have moved to SARIKOL (1070-1390). (Police Report). In a clash with Constabulary near CHIRI-SAN on 6 December, the raiders, who escaped to the mountain, killed 2 Constabularymen. (F-3) COMMENT: The estimates of the size of these raider groups are considered exaggerated, especially in the case of the group of 900. 3. PSYCHOLOGICAL Translation of SEOUL Newspapers. (see Incl #1) 4. SABOTAGE AND ESPIONAGE Guerrillas Sabotage Railroad Lines and Communications in CHOLLA-NAMDO Between 160100 and 160600 December, guerrillas in CHOLLA-NAMDO struck at the following locations and inflicted the following damages: a. Approximately 3 meters of railroad tracks removed from the main line between POLGYO (1030-1310) and SUNCHON (1050-1320) b. Telephone lines severed between POLGYO and SUNCHON. c. Section of railroad track removed at a point (1045-1340). d. Police telephone lines severed between KWANGJU (990-1350) and TOKCHONG (1040-1310) near a point at (1020-1340) (Police Report) COMMENT: Thus far, this is the only reported incident which may have been in implementation of communist plans to sabotage railroads on or about 15 December. (page 5, P/R #1013) 5. WAR POTENTIAL a. Economic (1) Progress of the Grain Purchasing Program (Confidential) Korean authorities reported to Civil Affairs Section, USAFIK, that a total of 2,085,835 suk of rice has been collected throughout South KOREA as of 16 December. This represents approximately 28% of the government's quota. (see page 5, P/R #1009) COMMENT: American advisers state that the last week's collection dropped below the weekly average because of the Korean celebrations and holiday regarding the United Nations decision. Secret -4- DECLASSIFIED NND 226070 Authority XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #1015 Secret (2) Price of Rice in SEOUL (Restricted) The average price of rice on 17 December from 5 open markets in SEOUL was 750 won per small metric mal. (1 small metric mal equals 18.48 lbs). (3) Currency Exchange Rate (Restricted) United States silver certificate equals 1,000 won. Military Payment Certificates equals 500 won. NOTE: These exchange rates are from the open market in SEOUL. b. Population Progress of Repatriation (Confidential) During the period 09 to 16 December 865 Koreans entered South KOREA from North of the 38th parallel. A total of 2,187,015 counted Koreans have entered South KOREA legally from all areas since 15 August 1945. PART II NORTH KOREA 1. ARMED FORCES a. Soviet Forces Negative b. North Korean Forces (1) North Korean Security Forces Occupy Entrenchments (Confidential) On 13 December 1948 U.S. personnel at CP 14 (986.3-1696.5) were notified by South Korean police that 40 members of the North Korean Constabulary had entrenched themselves north of the 38th parallel in the vicinity of coordinates (986.10-1696.45). A U.S. patrol dispatched to investigate confirmed the existence of this group of North Korean Constabulary, reporting that they were armed with rifles and were occupying a position consisting of trenches and foxholes on the west slope of a hill at (984.1-1697.8). (B-2) COMMENT: Individuals and small groups of North Korean Constabulary have used foxholes and trenches before. The use by a relatively large group may indicate combat training beyond that previously credited to the NKC. It may also indicate a resumption of entrenching because of fear, inspired by North Korean propagandists, of an invasion by South Koreans. See page 29 W/S #164 and page 24 W/S #132 for entrenching activity north of the 38th parallel since March 1948. (2) Changes in Uniform North Korean Armed Forces (Confidential) Shoulder straps obtained from the uniform of a former member of the Security Forces of the Department of Internal Affairs are adorned with the new uniform button first reported on page 21, W/S #167. The button is manufactured of brass, and bears the outline of a five-pointed star with a raised center. A hammer and sickle is embossed in the center of the star. (F-2) -5- Secret DECLASSIFIED Authority [illegible]