ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2719 18 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MISD - 0188) 23 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | KIM, Hyon Chon (金炯鐘) |
| AGE: | 23 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Kitchen Police |
| UNIT: | 38th Army, 114th Div, Unk Regt, Unk Bn, Officers' Mess |
| DATE CAPTURED, PLACE: | 161500I Nov 50, at SONBULDONG, 3 km SW of KAGIL-LYONG (BV-5400) |
| CIVIL OCCUPATIONS: | Farmer |
| EDUCATION: | 8 years schooling |
PW possessed poor memory, and also due to language difficulties PW was unable to give detailed information, hence information given was not very reliable. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TO/E, DISPOSITION:a. Own Unit:
(1) PW inducted 15 Jul 50, into the Home Ministry 12th RR Guard Brig, 6th Bn, 3rd Co, 4th Plat, 2nd Sqd at WONSAN. The 6th Bn was responsible for guarding the tunnels and RR bridges within HAMGYONG NAMDO, HAMGYONG PUKTO, and KANGWON DO areas until 31 Sep 50. Beginning of Oct, PW and his Co was ordered to report to P'YONGYANG, Home Ministry Headquarters. Upon arrival at P'YONGYANG, the Co was assigned as 12th RR Brig Hq Guards Unit and issued Russian rifle, SMGs, and LMGs. A day before P'YONGYANG fell, his Co withdrew with the 12th Brig commander (name unknown) to SUNCH'ON on 5 trucks, and about 20 Jeeps. From here, the Co and 200 Security Force troops further withdrew to MYOHYANGSAN (BV-6834) by travelling through mountain trails on the day the UN paratroopers landed in SUNCH'ON. Beginning of November, PW's unit came down to the vicinity of TOKCH'ON and after the consolidation of the remnants of the P'YOGAN PUKTO garrison troops, guerrilla troops, and 400 Security Force troops withdrew to MANP'OJIN o/a 9 Nov 50 for the purpose of reorganizing and rearming. PW and 32 men were assigned to various units in the 114th Div by order of the 12th Brig commander, who left for MANP'OJIN with the rest of the troops on the same day. PW and 5 men were assigned to Bn Mess as kitchen helps. While PW was on duty to guard the mess hall, he woke up 4 other Koreans and deserted from their unit 160100I Nov 50. However, one was killed by a guard while the three others made good their escape. After travelling through mountain for 15 hours, PW surrendered at SONBULDONG, 3 km SW of KAGIL-LYONG (BV-5400) on 161600I Nov 50.
(2) While serving meals, to Bn personnel, PW observed about 600 CCF troops, of whom about 70 were officers. He also observed 5 Korean interpreters, at the Mess Hall.
(3) The Bn was armed with 2 x 82mm mortars (US), 3 x 60mm mortars, 27 LMGs (Russian made), 50 SMGs. 60% of the Bn was armed with Russian rifles (150 rounds per rifle), 30% Japanese M38 rifles (200 rounds per rifle), 10% US M-1 rifles (80 rounds per rifle).
(4) PW claims that food was a very serious problem and most of its supply consisting of corn, rice, and potatoes was supplied by farmers or villagers.
(5) Prior to PW's desertion 16 Nov 50, he stated that the 114th Div Hq was believed to be located at approximately 10 km north of KAGIL-LYONG (BV-5400). The Regt Hq (code number unknown) was reported at vicinity of WOLBONG-SAN (BV-5303). His Bn Hq was located at KAGIL-LYONG (BV-5400).
b. Other Units:
(1) O/a 9 Nov 50, vic TOKCH'ON, PW observed approximately 200 guerrillas who were armed with 110 Russian rifles (300 rounds per rifle), 100 SMGs (3 drums per SMG), 7 Soviet LMGs (4 drums per LMG) and 3 grenades per man. Also 200 unarmed Security Force troops, and the PW's former Guard Co (strength 100 men with 80 Russian rifles with 160 rounds per rifle, 15 SMGs (2 drums per SMG), 5 LMGs (500 rounds per LMG), and 1 grenade per man.
PW claims that the 12th RR Guard Brig commander who was in charge of all troops at MANP'OJIN on 9 Nov 50.
4. MISCELLANEOUS:a. Knowledge of US Prisoners:
Three days before P'YONGYANG fell, PW observed about 500 US prisoners marching on the road toward west P'YONGYANG, guarded by about 10 NKA troops. PW heard from one of the guards that these prisoners were being sent to MANP'OJIN, or somewhere in MANCHURIA.
For the AC of S, G-2:
IIDA
