ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3934 10 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (3D DIV IPW NO. 089) 15 February 1951
| PW NAME: | CH’OE, Hi Yong (崔熙陽) |
| AGE: | 22 |
| RANK: | Private |
| UNIT: | 8th NK Div, 1st Regt, Signal Co |
| DUTIES: | Telephone operator |
| EDUCATION: | 6 yr industrial school |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| HOME ADDRESS: | SEOUL, SINSEL TONG, #405015 |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | Captured at CS 344443 0600 14 Feb 51 |
| UNIT MAKING CAPTURE: | I&R Platoon, 7th RCT |
| INTERROGATOR: | RKN & AHS |
PW and one other NK soldier walked down toward US troops from hill 0600 14 Feb 51 to surrender themselves. Had not eaten for three days and had been separated from their unit.
Physical condition: Good
Attitude: Cooperative
Reliability: Good
Recommended for further interrogation.
a. Unit Strength:
| Unit | Original | Present |
| Regt Sig Co | 66 | 51 |
| Inf Battalion (ea) | 750 | 600 |
| 1st Regt | 2100 | 2000 |
b. Unit Location:
Unit (1st Regt) ordered by 8th Div CG to take enough rice for one week and head S toward UN lines. Regt left SEOUL at dusk 12 Feb 51 and arrived at an unknown hill 2½ km N of CS 344443.
There the unit was attacked and encircled by UN troops who kept up fire fight until nightfall. After the sun had set the regiment slipped out of the encirclement and escaped but were encountered and fired upon by US troops in the vicinity of KODUNG NI (CS 325440). As a result of this action the regiment was scattered and troops fled the area in disorder.
Separated from his unit and surrendered to US troops 0600 14 Feb 51.
c. Unit Mission:
The first two days were to be spent in capturing and occupying areas occupied by UN troops in the SUWON area and to destroy roads and bridges N of SUWON. After this is done the 2d and 3d Regiments of the 8th NK Div and the 17th and 47th NK Divisions would start a southward offensive. At this time duty of 1st Regt was to attack retreating US troops from the rear.
Claims that his company political officer told him in Dec 50 that the strategy of the NK forces was divided into four stages. The plan is now in its fourth stage. They are as follows:
Stage 1. Attack S to NAKTONG RIVER (June 50)
Stage 2. Retreat up to the YALU River (Nov 50)
Stage 3. Restaging in SEOUL (Jan 51)
Stage 4. Offensive south (present)
Subject claims that the plan called for 2d and 3d Regt to take over the mission of the 1st Regt if the 1st Regt failed in its mission.
d. Location and Identification of Other Units:
(1) 8th NK Div: 2d and 3d Regt of the 8th Div are in SEOUL last seen 12 Feb 51.
(2) 17th NK and 47th NK Divisions: Subject overheard 8th Div CG and 1st Regt CO talking over phone 9 Feb 51 at SEOUL. CG was saying that the 17th and 47th Divisions were located in and around CHANGCHUNDAN PARK (CS 240570) in SEOUL. These two divisions to defend SEOUL until 1st Regt infiltrated behind UN lines near SUWON and cut off UN route of retreat, then start an offensive south.
(3) NK I Corps Hq: 6 Feb 51 and 12 Feb 51 heard his division’s courier state that the NK I Corps Hq was located in the vacated home of President RH■E, Syngman, located on slope of hill N of KYONGPOK Palace (CS 215605 in SEOUL).
(4) 8th Div Hq: Also overheard telephones conversation between 8th Div CG and 1st Regt CO 7 Feb 51 when the CG told his regiment commander that the 8th Div Hq located in a small village in the E slope of Mt INWANG SAN (CS 200610) (Hill 333).
e. Heavy Weapons:
(1) 45mm AT Gun - Two in 1st Regt.
(2) 82mm mortar - Three in 1st Bn.
f. Reinforcements:
36 recruits came to 1st Regt 8 Feb 51 at SEOUL. Replacements were youths conscripted into the army from HAEJU by Regimental political supervisor. Men were equally divided among the three bn.
g. HAN River:
Unit crossed HAN River at TOKSON (CS 280560) night of 12 Feb 51. No bridging equipment used since the river was frozen.
h. General:
(1) Organization of the 8th Div: 8th Div organized at CHOSAN in middle of October 50 from stragglers and remnants of various NKA units. Unit trained for 15 days in the hills around CHOSAN. Unit left CHOSAN during early December 50 and arrived in SEOUL 8 Jan 51 via UNSAN, SINANJU, PYONGYANG, SARIWON, HAEJU, and KAESONG.
(2) Signal equipment of the 1st Regt:
(a) Two switchboards
(b) Night telephones
(c) Twenty rolls of line
(d) Three wireless sets
(e) Two walkie talkies
(3) Air Cadets: After the Northward retreat of the NKA during Sep 50, an unknown number of intelligent North Korean youths with middle school education or better were sent to RUSSIA to attend pilots school. Seven youths sent from his company at that time. Overheard telephone conversation in which the 8th Div CG told his regimental CO 8 Feb 51 that these youths will graduate soon and return to KOREA. Then the NKA will be able to start air offensive because there are many new aircraft available.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SOWERS
