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 13 Mar 49 No. 2377 MILITARY SITUATION 1. Mountain Fighting Corps: a. Composition: A "Mountain Fighting Corps" (MFC), which receives its orders directly from the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, is controlled by the South Korean Labor Party (SKLP), according to KIM Byong Kyon, who claims to be corps commander. KIM said that at least one brigade of the MFC is in South Korea with an unrevealed number of troops. Five battalions are reported to be in South Kyongsang Province, with each battalion assigned the responsibility of four or five counties. Each battalion is composed of five or six companies; each company has three platoons; and each platoon has 15 to 20 men. A staff officer of the various battalions in South Kyongsang Province is assigned to each county and receives his orders from the battalion commander, who in turn receives orders from North Korea. (C-3) (a) b. Mission: While being interrogated by South Korean police, KIM said that the company having jurisdiction over a particular county is charged with the responsibility of training guerrilla units of the SKLP located within the county. Upon completion of training, the company disperses throughout the area. Trained guerrilla units are charged with committing murder, arson, and instigating uprisings directed by the SKLP. Personnel of the guerrilla units coordinate their activities with rebellious factions when such elements are present in the area. The source stated that each guerrilla is equipped with a Japanese rifle and two homemade hand grenades. (C-3) (a,b) Comment: Although its existence is unconfirmed, MFC appears to be a specialized force with the primary mission of training South Korean Communists in the art of instigating riots and sabotage, and committing murders. Guerrilla activity in South Korea has subsided since extensive operations in Dec 48, but reports indicate that it may be stepped up in the near future. The MFC could be employed in conjunction with North Korean guerrilla units (Intell. Summary 2278) and other Communists to instigate disturbances in order to weaken the South Korean Government. This action may include: an increase in border incidents, instigation of strikes and civil disturbances, infiltration of Communists into the Republic's armed forces and key government positions, instigation of revolts, sabotage of important installations, and assassination of government officials. Action of this type would dissipate the Republic's armed forces, leaving the nation more vulnerable to Communist activities. This softening up process could be followed at an opportune time by an attempted coup d'etat or invasion by North Korean armed forces. POLITICAL REPORT 2. Party Switch: a. Turnover of Members Blamed: The Northwest Young Men's Association reportedly is moving from its rightist stand to that of a more moderate position. This action is attributed to the turnover of members experienced by the organization during recent months. The majority of the old members now are in the police force, in the Army, and other governmental positions. The present membership is composed largely of refugees from North Korea. Cliques, formed by men who come from the same area in North Korea, have resulted in dissention within the ranks, and staff members have even endeavored to replace each other. Publicly the party's policy remains unchanged, although many members are in discord with President RHEE Syngman's government and look to KIM Koo for a unified Korea. (B-2) (c) (a) USAFIK S/I, 4 Feb 49 (b) USAFIK S/I, 5 Feb 49 (c) USAFIK S/I, 6 Jan 49 - 5 - S-E-C-R-E-T [illegible] [illegible]