TRANSPORTATION IN CH'ONGJIN NORTH KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R006400100020-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 28, 2012
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: March 4, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/28: CIA-RDP80SO154OR006400100020-4
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION. REPORT
REPORT
SUBJECT Transportation in Ch'ongjin, DATE DISTR.
4 March 1955
North Korea.
NO. OF PAGES
2
REQUIREMENT
50X1 -H U M
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
2.
50X1-HUM
1. The main thoroughfares of Ch'ongjin are still in defective condition and no
repair work hs,s?been undertaken in the past few months. Vehicles must continually
zigzag to avoid the many holes and-tires wear out very quickly. The tires of
nearly all the vehicles are. not good enough for the winter season, and recent
snowstorms brought proof of this. Night traffic is limited to a few buses and
two or three jeeps used by the Neutral Nations Inspection Team (NNIT) stationed
here. The bridges over the drainage canal are in good condition and do not seem
to have been damaged by the war. The Susong Bridge, however, was destroyed and
has been replaced by a .pontoon bridge which enables heavy trucks to cross. The
railroad bridge over the Susong Ch'on has been restored, but trains cross it
only at a very low speed.
About 30 trucks are in circulation, all of Soviet type; light, medium and heavy.l
Half of them are extremely worn down and breakdowns are frequent. Buses bearing
Skoda trademarks are used primarily to carry school children going to middle
school in the Eastern Harbor region, and secondly to carry the ciyilian popllation.
Tile civilians often have to wait long for service. About eight of(the buses are
meant to complement the transportation network; however, they arei?still unable to
replace the scheduled railway passenger service because of the lack of equipment
and the poor condition of the roads.:; There are about 23 jeeps in operation, all
Soviet models. About five delivery trucks are in operation, all in very poor
condition and e.t the disposal of the North Korean administration only. Four
automobiles are in circulation in the city and apparently furnish taxi and ambulance
service. Through the collective transport organization in Ch?ongjin, rice, charcoal,
lumber, timbers, planks, etc. are moved by a column of many two-wheeled carts
equipped with;pneumatic or iron tires. These vehicles are drawn by oxen, which
are continuously used and render invaluable services.
STATE Ev x
AIR x FBI AEC
(NOTE: Woshinafon distribution indkisaad by "X Fioid distribution by "#
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/28: CIA-RDP80SO154OR006400100020-4
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/28: CIA-RDP80SO154OR006400100020-4
3. A new wooden station and depot building serves as the main railroad station in
Ch'ongjin. Here workers sort various materials from a pile of scrap iron which
consists of locomotives, twisted rails, cars and wheels, made useless by
bombardment. A very large shed across from the main building is used as a repair
shop and workers repair and overhaul locomotives and cars on a 24-hour basis.
All personnel wear blue uniforms. The station and surrounding areas are
constantly guarded by troops of the North-Korean army. Soldiers on duty generally
wear an arm band eir left arm and the guard is composed of several sentries
at fixed stationso or three trains carry passengers, but the only ones 50X1-H U M
observed were trains carrying coal, huge trunks and logs for firewood, lumber
for houses, and ties for repair and strengthening of railroad lines or small
bridges. Trains go very slowly, not exceeding 30 kilometers per hour. Because
of the depleted condition of the area, China and the USSR furnish rails and steel (sic)
or wood ties. North Korea must import huge quantities of coal in order to handle
steam engine traffic and to avoid a transport crisis with its unforeseeable
consequences for the country's economy. The repair of railroad lines has already
been of considerable benefit to the country and the people.
P
Comments. 50X1-HUM
1. In view of the fact that) ( four North Korean "'u/\ 1 -1 '"'V'
battalions in Ch'ongjin and because of the size of the city, it would
seem that more trucks would be in operation. 50X1-HUM
here are no taxis in Ch'ongjin but bus service
throughout the city is good.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/28: CIA-RDP80SO154OR006400100020-4