TANTALUM MINE AT TANNOK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R007000170001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 6, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 3, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved Fo~, i~ e , -~,pNQL~2-00457RQ-0h7i00017000
AF ATION REPORT CO NO. 25X1A
; i TR Y^r-a CONFIDENTIAL, fl TF DISTR. 3 r;:Arl? 51
SUBJECT Tantalum Mine at Tannok NO. Or" PAGES I
25X1A RETURN TO CIA
PLACE LIBRARY NO. OF ENCLS.
ACQUIRED _ (LISTED BELOW)
DATE OF
INFO,
Comment, This mineral was called `'ttiaz+i,sritxrt" in thG or1Jir;al
report?
This document is "c; ehy regraded to
CON __ ^ \' : ' L , . - -ordance with the
Ic:t^.r Cr i378 from the
D::'ector ,.e:':gence to the
Archivist of t1ie Un::ad States.
Next Review Date: 2008
Approved FFor R
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
During World .'&r II, the Japanese exploited the heavy sand? at the `Pannok*
mine, approximately seven miles, south of Kt iwn (i77=29, 38-'1 C j ? In
Soviet specialists inspected the mine and found tantalum**
there,, he mineral was described as blue in color, extremely hard, and
resistant to hammer blow,,, The Soviets stated that it was a necessary
ingredient for an undeecribed "special weapoxnP"
Soviet civilian specialists made frequent visits
to the site, The mine was divided into north and south districts early
in 1949, and many large caves vere dug. Work- was placed on a .24-hour
ached-ale, and a. yearly quota of two tons of tantalum was sets, There was
r.o yield of tantalum in the first six months - but in Jul.-, there
was a production of four tons, which greatly pleased the Soviets. The
material was placed in clean cotton sacks and packed in wooden bo:zes;
then was removed from the mine in. trucks and shipped from Yumhwa River
station by train to the USSR,
3, The Tannok Mine was a national enterprise of the Worth Korean goverment?
During October and workers from other trades were con-
scripted to work at the mine, and special bonu>es were offered employees
who overproduced their quotas, .North Korean superintendents at the mine?
however, were not enthusiastic,