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Military, Political, Economic, Social Situation, Press Review, Civil Intelligence, Miscellaneous Selected items for the Information of Commanders and Staffs of the Far East Command 21 July 49 MILITARY SITUATION No. 2507 1. Current Developments: a. Police Passes: The Korean Republic's National Police recently announced that it will initiate a plan, effective 20 Jul 49, whereby passes will be necessary for all personnel in the area limited on the north by the 38th Parallel and extending southward about 12.5 miles. Each person traveling across or within the zone will be required to have a proper pass, issued by the National Police. (a) Source Comment: The pass plan ostensibly is a means of controlling traffic in the vicinity of the 38th Parallel, and of preventing the passage of North Korean agents and guerrilla forces into South Korea. (a) Comment: Apparently the Government believes that such precautionary measures will help alleviate the tense situation along the border. However, enforcement of the order may be difficult, since it will place very stringent restrictions on the movements of local inhabitants. b. Cheju Island Quiet: Guerrilla activity on Cheju Island, approximately 50 miles south of the Korean mainland, has been reduced to a minimum. Consequently, the Korean Army plans to relieve the 2d Regiment and replace it with the 1st Separate Infantry Battalion. Present plans indicate the battalion will be built up to full strength by recruiting local inhabitants. (a,b) Trials for approximately 2,000 Communists were completed recently on Cheju Island. Approximately 1,650 persons received prison sentences ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment, while 350 received the death penalty. President RHEE Syngman had not approved the sentences, as of 16 Jul. (a) Source Comment: It is believed that the police and one battalion are adequate to maintain law and order. The inhabitants want the Army to reduce its forces on the island. (a) Comment: The reduction of guerrilla activity on Cheju Island can be at- tributed largely to Col YU Jai Hung, who was sent to Cheju on 2 Mar as an over-all task force commander of the armed forces on the island (Intell. Summary 2402). The 1st Separate Infantry Battalion is subordinate to the Capital Division. c. Army Increases Strength: The Korean Army increased its strength by more than 5,000 during the period 8-15 Jul, concurrently increasing the overall strength of the Republic's armed forces. The Army now numbers 86,909 and the Navy 5,407. These figures represent an increase of 5,123 in the Army and a decrease of one in the Navy, since 8 Jul (Intell. Summary 2501). The Korean Army Reserve Corps retained its strength of 33,841, while the National Police remains at 50,484. Comment: If the Korean Army continues its present rate of expansion, it will reach its authorized strength of 100,000 before 15 Aug 49. Over-all strength of the Republic's armed forces has increased more than 15,000 since the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Korea (Intell. Summary 2491). All of the increase has occurred in the Army and Army Reserve Corps. d. Army to Assist Police Training: A recent conference between officials of the Korean Army and National Police was highlighted by a tentative decision that Army officers will assist in training the police. Details of the plan will be released at a later date. The Army temporarily has discontinued plans for formation of three Army corps. (a) e. Reporters Accredited: The Korean Army's Public Information Office recently "graduated" 34 Korean reporters from a special school on reporting Army activities. The graduates now are officially accredited to the Army. (a) Source Comment: Since KIM Koo's assassination (Intell. Summary 2484), the Army has shown an active interest in the press. In one instance, the Army attempted to suppress news "in the interest of the public." (a) Comment: In view of the Government's readiness to suspend publication of newspapers, which allegedly print stories inimical to the administration (Intell. Summary 2442), it behooves each newspaper to be well versed in reporting news which involves unlimited support of the executive branch of the Government. (a) AMILAT, Seoul 90711, 16 Jul 49 (b) KMAG Weekly Activity Rpt, 5 Jul 49 DECLASSIFIED - 4 - Authority E.O. 12065 S E C R E T