NORTH KOREAN OPIUM PRODUCTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R007700670009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 5, 2010
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 8, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/05: CIA-RDP82-00457R007700670009-2
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
LiLUFAX 19 INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Korea
SUBJECT North Korean Opium Production
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
vP TTiN 66t5SD MAUS WITHIN THN ?EA111NG OP T118 UPIOAAC4O ACT !to
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UV ITS SC3i"TST.4 I" ART WANNER TO AH ONAOTODOIZED PHI:ISOSI IS PAO
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IIATE? D1STR. $ altlt~T ,
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
to The Uorth Korean government granted legal permission for the cultivation of
opium in Kilchu (129-20, 40-58)v Myongchon (129-28, 41-12), Samsu (128-02,.
)41-18), and Ka an 128-1?, 141-45) after taking over opium fields there formerly
used by the Permission was usually granted to experienced cultivators
of opium and especially the "hvrachonmin",* whom the Iforth Korean government was
trying to eliminate as a class of people.
2. The application was made through the local police station, and permission granted
by the Internal Affairs Department or the Agriculture and Forestry Department
of the local people's committee. Documents necessary for the application were
a "hwachonmin" record, photograph, and record as an experienced cultivator. The
permit issued was good for one year,
3. The opium seed was provided by the Special Products Section of the Agriculture
Department of the local people's committee, and fertilizer was rationed according
to the area. The seeds were planted about 20 ''ay each year and cared for until
June. In July, when the floilve, - buds were out,, the liquid was taken from the
buds with knives. The milky white liquid became brown after 10 days and dried
to a black L;a3a ender the suno
4. Approximately 330 ounces of opium were produced from one tanpoi.{* of land- During
July and. Au. u~:t, government officials always inspected the fields to check the
amount of liquid produced each day. Tv Septether, when the cultivation was
finished., 70 percent of the opium was collected by the government, with the police
in attendance. The remaining 30 percent was bought by the Opium Purchasing Of-
fice of the North Korean government,
5. The money paid the opium cultivators was not sufficient for them to live on all
year, so the cultivators found methods to hide opium buds until the end of the
season, and until after the police had checked their houses four or five times
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/05: CIA-RDP82-00457R007700670009-2
CLASSIFICATION C0NF2: z
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/05: CIA-RDP82-00457R007700670009-2
ChMIL INTEL GENC, AGENCY
hunting for ille.,al buds. After the police inspections, the cultivators
made their own opium and tools it to nearby towns to sell. Wally inn and
boarding house operators acteca as a middle man for the sales, receiving a'
c:-oamission (size unstated) for their services, Illegal opiur'vas'mot only
snuggled between towns in Korea: but over the border into :.ianchuria o
Gn Illegal cultivation of opium was also carried on, although it is a difficult
.process, because of the long period of time that it must he hidden from the
police" Cultivators would go into the most inaccessible places in mountains
and remain for the entire period. about 20 percent of the bell-to-do inhab-
itants of the opium producing areas used opium.
7. Opium was carried illenally in shoes, under hats, and in clothing. Local
opium dealers would take their products to Chongjin, where the large-scale
smugglers would take it for transfer into _.anchur-la. The large-scale smug-
glers preferred severe border controls, sincetho less experienced smugglers
would be captured, leaving; more territory for the more experienced smugglers
to work in.
"Imitation opiumt4 was made by diluting good quality flour, generally an American
product$ with cold water. ::hen the flour hardened the cake was }washed with cold
water until it became pure white, and then about one third raw opium was added
to make the "imitation opium.''
orsment a The "hwachonmin" ( f Ott ) were a class of people who
cultivate c land they obtained by burnin ; down forests and moving each year
to a different part of the country. A great many of these lived in 'orth
i!anMmng 'rovince before the war.
25X1;
six Comment, One tanpo equals .245'acres. 25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/05: CIA-RDP82-00457R007700670009-2