극동사령부 군사정보국 정보요약보고

Military, Political, Economic, Social Situation, Press Review, Civil Intelligence, Miscellaneous Selected Items for the Information of Commanders and Staffs of the Far East Command No. 2323 MILITARY SITUATION 1. Current Developments: (a) Korean Army: With official recognition of the Korean Republic by the UN General Assembly on 12 Dec (Intell. Summary 2303), the South Korean Constabulary, which had its beginning on 15 Jan 46 as a Civil Security Force, was officially designated the Korean Army. (a) Source Comment: Future reports will reflect this change. South Korea's security forces hereafter will be designated as the Korean Army, Korean Coast Guard, the Korean Military Academy, and the police. (a) (b) Reserve Program: Definite progress is being made in the reserve program for the Korean Army. The reserve initially will be composed of nine regimental headquarters and 15 battalions with a strength of 13,500. Plans call for an eventual 50,000. Training will consist of two weeks' active duty and four hours of weekly drill. Weapons of parent organizations will be utilized for the program. (a) Korean Army units are making plans to witness a demonstration of the 5th U.S. Regimental Combat Team as a part of their training schedule. (a) (c) Promotions Announced: The following special officer candidates were appointed to the rank of colonel in the Korean Army on 6 Jan: OH Kwang Sun, KIM Suk Won, AHN Byung Bum, LEE Jun Shik, PAIK Hong Suk, and KWON Jun. OH Kwang Sun was graduated from the Song Hung Military School in China and claims to have been a major general in the Kwantung Army. Elected chairman of the Committee of National Defense of the Korean Independence Party (KIP) in May 47, he left the KIP on 13 Dec 48 and joined the recently organized Socialist Party (Intell. Summary 2299). KIM Suk Won reportedly was a colonel in the Japanese Army and committed acts of cruelty while on the Chinese front. He is a member of the Korean Veterans Association (KVA) and the KIP. AHN Byung Bum is a former colonel in the Japanese Infantry. He has been associated with KIM Suk Won in the KVA. LEE Jun Shik was graduated from the Chinese Military School and served as a field-grade officer in the Chinese Nationalist Army. He was second in command of the National Youth Corps under Prime Minister LEE Bum Suk. PAIK Hong Suk formerly was a lieutenant colonel in the Japanese Army. KWON Jun reportedly was a major general in the Chinese Nationalist Army. (a,b) Source Comment: The integration of these officers seems to be an attempt to bring into the Korean Army men with previous military experience who have influence with various political parties and other organizations. The appointment of KIM Suk Won as colonel is expected to be viewed with disfavor in some Korean circles because of alleged atrocities committed by him while a member of the Japanese Army in China. (a) (d) Casualties: Korean Army Headquarters announced on 6 Jan that South Korean Military forces suffered 1,057 casualties in action against rebels during the period 1 Oct to 25 Dec 48. During the same period, there were 577 cases of desertion or absence without leave. A recapitulation of casualties follows: Officers Enlisted Men Total Killed 20 186 206 Wounded 14 349 363 Missing 6 482 488 Total 40 1,017 1,057 Deserted or absent without leave 9 568 577 (a,c) (a) USAFIK 28793, 16 Jan 49 (b) USAFIK G-2 PR 1033, 10 Jan 49 (c) USAFIK G-2 PR 1032, 8 Jan 49 - 4 - DECLASSIFIED Authority E.o.12065 S E C R E T