ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1724 9 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1021) 4 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KANG, Ki Don (姜基敦) (강기돈) |
| RANK: | Maj (小佐) |
| AGE: | 31 |
| DUTY: | Cultural Unit CO |
| UNIT: | 104th Security Regt, 23rd Bn |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 4 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Laborer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 4 km E of TAEJON (大田) (1040-1490) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 29 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | P'YONGAN-PUKTO, YONGCH'ON-GUN, SINDO-MYON, TONGHA-DONG #237 (平安北道 龍川郡 薪島面 ?河洞 二三七番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG-PUKTO, KYONGHUNG-GUN, NOSO-MYON, CHOSAN-NI YONG HYON-DONG (咸鏡北道 慶興郡 蘆西面 造山里 龍峴洞) |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA (FEAF) |
PW admits he is a Communist. Was frank and did not seem to be trying to conceal information. He claims his military knowledge is limited because his activities were confined to the Cultural Section.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
15 Dec 45 - Entered the Internal Guards at SINUIJU. Received 2 months basic training.
1 Feb 46 - Entered NKPA Political Training School and studied politics for six months. Graduated with rank of Jr Lt.
O/a 15 Sep 46 - Assigned to the CH'ONCH'ON-MYON (前川面) Security Platoon as platoon leader.
O/a 10 Dec 46 - Transferred to YONGAMP'O as the CO of the guards to the Ministry of Interior.
O/a 1 Feb 48 - Entered the Staff School at YONGSONG (龍城) and graduated after 7 months. Millitary tactics and political training were taught.
O/a 20 Dec 48 - Assigned to a Guard platoon on the Korean-Russian Border at HONGUI (洪儀). This platoon acted as Customs officials, searching and investigating border traffic. Traffic was strictly limited to Korean Diplomats and Russian Embassy Staff members and Russian Military personnel with permits. Promoted to Capt (大尉).
16 Jun 50 - PW was transferred to KUMCH'ON (金川) (in N KOREA) and became Cultural Officer of the 3600 Unit (equivalent to a Bn).
15 Jul 50 - The officers of the 3600 Independent Guard Unit were transferred to SEOUL and assigned to the 23rd Independent Security Bn. PW was promoted to Major and became Asst CO of the Cultural Section.
26 Jul 50 - The 23rd Independent Security Bn departed by train and arrived in SUWON on 27 Jul 50.
27 Jul 50 - The entire 23rd Bn left SUWON on foot.
O/a 3 Aug 50 - The 23rd Bn arrived in MUJU via TAEJON. Here PW was told that the 23rd Bn had been attached to the 104th Security Regt and was no longer an Independent Bn. The 104th Regt Hqs was stationed in KOCH'ANG and the 23rd Bn was ordered to SACH'ON.
O/a 1 Sep 50 - The 23rd Bn arrived in SACH'ON and Bn Hqs was established there. Once Co was sent to SAMCH'ONP'O (三千浦) and another to NORYANGJIN (鷺梁津).
O/a 10 Sep 50 - The 104th Regt Hq was moved to CHO DONG (草洞), 6 km S of SACH'ON (泗川).
O/a 25 Sep 50 - The 23rd Bn Hqs evacuated SACH'ON. Bn Hqs lost contact with the Regt Hqs o/a 15 Sep 50. The Hq Staff left on foot and when they arrived in CHINJU, PW heard UN troops had occupied SACH'ON. PW took mountain trail and arrived 4 km E of TAEJON. The Hq Staff intended to escape to N KOREA, but when they arrived near TAEJON, they discovered their retreat was cut off, so they surrendered to UN troops. At that time the entire Bn Hqs Staff except the Supply Officer and a few EM had fled.
Organized and Strength:
104th Security Regt consisted of the 1st Bn, 14th Bn, 21st Bn and the 23rd Bn. Originally the 23rd Bn had 450 men. Present strength none, since the Bn was completely disorganized.
Disposition:
The entire 104th Regt had been routed. The Regt'l Hqs evacuated o/a 15 Sep 50, without giving any final orders to its lower echelons.
23rd Bn Hqs fled SACH'ON on 25 Sep 50, but the companies under its command were given no final instructions to the PW's knowledge.
Propaganda:
The Cultural Section's duty was to educate the troops politically by conducting classes and distributing newspapers and other periodicals. In addition the Cultural Section tried to increase interest in the Youth's Democratic Association (Young Communist Party).
In occupied areas the Cultural Section tried to indoctrinate the local population by distributing newspapers.
The Bn Cultural Section disseminated counter propaganda against all UN Propaganda Leaflets.
Other Units:
PW saw scattered groups of 5 to 6 NKPA soldiers throughout his travel form SACH'ON to TAEJON.
4. GENERAL:To be an officer in the Cultural Section one must be a graduate of the Political School. In order to enter this school one must have the recommendation of a member of the Labor Party or some similar Communist organization.
PW became a bona fide labor party member in 48, and talks like a die-hard Communist.
He claims that the North Korean Government is working toward the ultimate goal of Communism as the only "Democratic" way of life.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
