1. POW CAMPS IN NORTH KOREA 2. MOVEMENT OF PRISONERS TO THE SOVIET UNION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001000390007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 6, 2009
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 27, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

INFORMATION REPORT
Approved For Release 2009/05/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001000390007-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 703 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form In prohibited.
SECRET.
UUCURITY INFORMATION
25X1
COUNTRY
Korea REPORT
SUBJECT 1.
POW Camps in North Korea DATE DISTR.
27 April 1953
2.
Movement of Prisoners to the Soviet
Union NO. OF PAGES
3
DATE OF INFO. REQUIREMENT NO. RD
PLACE ACQUIRE REFERENCES 25X1
This is UNEVALUATED Information
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
POW Camp at YE-062993
1. From May to July 1952, a POW camp with more than 1,000 POW's all American
soldiers, was at YC-062993, near Pyoktong (N 40-38, E 125-261 (YY-0600).1 The
American soldiers included a major general app$.;;many other high-ranking officers.
The camp was in a two-story building, which looked like a school-building. The
roof of the building was covered with a red cloth about 3 meters wide. with
large writing on it in white paint. The camp was guarded by one platoon of
North Korean army soldiers. The guarding was not strict but the`soners had
made no attempts to escape. The only apparent work the prisoner;;"{.ld was to
repair air-raid damage in groups of about 10 or 20. Villagers in the area
stated that many POW's had died in the spring of 1952 because of the lack of
medicine, food, and decent living conditions. Most of the deaths were the
result of epidemic diseases. In early May 1952, eight POW's passed through
Pyoktong. Later the same day four POW's passed through Pyoktong. Each group
of men was guarded by one North Korean army soldier armed with a 'sub-machine
gun. One of these POW's wore United States Army fatigue pants but the others
wore old North Korean army uniforms and headgear. All 12 POW's had long hair.
DPMO review completed.
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POW Camp at XE-84801
2. In late December 1952 a POW camp with approximately 500 white and colored
.United Nations POW's was in the vicinity of XE-874801, near Chang-ni (N 40-27,
E 125-12) (ICE-8780).2 The prisoners were housed in six wooden buildings with
tile roofs. Each building was 10 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 3 meters high.
The POW's arose at 6 a.m. They had breakfast at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 1 p.m., and
dinner at 7 p.m. Their rations included rice, millet, bean curd, dried fish,
and vegetables. They were given a physical examination approximately every
5 days. Approximately 50 Chinese Communist troops guarded this camp.
American POW's in the Hamhung Area
3. In late August 1952, approximately 100 American POW's were working in a tunnel
in the Hamhung (N 39-54, E 127-32) (CV-7517) area.3 The prisoners, wearing
old North Korean army uniforms, were loading rocks into hand-carts under the
supervision of North Korean army guards. They appeared underfed and weak.
POW Camp at YD-3 214
4. In October 1952 a POW camp with between 1,500 and 2,000 ROK POW's was.at
YD-355214, in the former Sosong-ni People's School in Sosong-ni (N 39-01,
E 125-43) (YD-3522). This camp was in Kirim-ni (N 39-02, E 125-45) (YD-3824),
Pyongyang, until July 1952.5 The camp was in a two-story, brick building and
was surrounded by a barbed wire fence. The camp was guarded by approximately
40 North Korean army guards. One guard was posted at each corner of the fence
and there were several roving guards in the camp. Contact of prisoners with
the outside was strictly regulated and no civilian was allowed to enter the
camp. Guarding within the camp was not strict and the POW's were` not obedient
to the guards. When the guards gave orders to the POW's the POW's pretended
not to hear the orders. No disciplinary action was taken by the guards. The
POW's were required to go outside the camp in groups of 20 to 30 to repair
damage after an air raid. The work details were guarded by four'or five
soldiers. If a POW became thirsty when on a work detail, he was allowed to go
to a villager's house for water, accompanied by a guard. When working. outside
the camp or. on the streets, the prisoners were often given cigarettes or food
by the villagers. These were the only outside contacts permitted by the guards.
POW Camp at 62,233
5. On 8 December 1952 approximately 500 ROK POW's were being held in a former
scaool building, approximately 70 meters long and 10 meters wide, at YD-369223,
near P'yo~ngyang.6 The prisoners worked in groups of 70 at a time in the
vicinity of the building cleaning up the rubble after United Nations bombings.
They wore blue pants, olive drab coats, and North Korean army caps without
insignia.
POW Camp at Sunan(N 12, E 125-41 YD- 242
6. On 8 December 1952, approximately 600 ROK POW's were in a camp on the northern
edge of Suunan.? The prisoners were dressed similarly to those in the above
mentioned POW camp at YD-369223, near Pyongyang. They repaired roads and
collected bricks from detroyed buildings in the area.
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7.
Movement of North Koreans Prisoners to the Soviet Union,
In.mid.September 3.952 by order of the North Korean labor Party, an.estimated
20,000 prisoners were moved from various prisons in North Korea to Unggi
(N 42.21, 2 130.24) EP8.1589). These prisoners included persons convicted of
political crimes against the North Korean government,, civilians' iho were
kidnapped in South Korea`durring the North Korean ocoupation, and an estimated
5,400 ROK POW'e. In early October these prisoners were sent to the Ural
industrial area in the Soviet Unionam laborers.
o, n li nos Summery N bor , 5 September 1952, POW OnQ Number
a , O ongy was listed among the names of PCM camps in North
This is obab 'the same cam as the 5 Zdependent Inelosure.of the No. 8
PcJ Camp It is possibly the same camp. teported at 25X1
YD-353213s. near song=n According to 1IC In i enve 25X1
Numbs 3649. 5 September 1952, POW Camp Number 11.Wthe saw area
was listed among a names of POW camps in North Korea submitted by the
Communist deggation to the United Nations Command Armistiee Delegation
on 17 July 1952,
delegation to the United Nations Command Armistice Delegation. on 17 July
1952.
among the name of POW camps in North Korea submitted by the'Communiet
Korea submitted by the Communist delegation to the United Nations Command
Armistice Delegation on 17 July 1952,
'
2. This is possibly the same camp reported at n-877796, now
Oh'ang?ni. Another American agency reported that on 4 November 1952 a
PSI camp with 800 white and colored United Nations POW's was in a wooden
building at ZE?874801. According t o enoe Bummax-Y.Number 4. ,
5 September 1952, PCM Camp Number 1 at . , C ang.n , +wa,s s
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5. JW C1M*#Mbor 5,%, with 1,200 ' ms's j vas " " the
i'cr _ r m.ni Primary School in"" Kirim?ni, Plyonglraag, In: Itd-J :1952..
6. Another American agency reported that on 23 November 1952 a 1W camp with
100 ROK prisoners was at YD.368222. This is probably the hey' camp,
on 30 September 1952 a PM camp with 000 ROC 25X1
prisoners was at YD.327 12, east of Sunan. in late 25X1
July a POW Camp with 1,000 ROK lW's was at the site of the former &man
High School. According to EEC Inte 1i nce Summer lumber 1642, 5 September
1952, POW Camp Number 13, Bunn, was 1 eted among the name of POW fps
in North Korea submitted by the Communist delegation to the United Nations
Command Armistice Delegation on 17 July 1952.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2009/05/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001000390007-1