MONTHLY REPORT--SEOUL BUREAU--DECEMBER 1982

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000100140001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 4, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

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4 January 1983
MSK-3001
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report--Seoul Bureau--December 1982
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. The Korean unit. processed numerous items from ROK and DPRK
media sources on the ROK Government's release from custody of dissident
Kim Tae-chung, the major opposition leader. Kim's.release for "humani-
tarian reasons" preceded his departure for the United States. Late in
the month the government announced the release of 47 other dissidents,
including those charged with being involved with the 1980 Kwangju
disturbances. These two events would seem to indicate an easing of
the authoritarian rule of President Chon Tu-hwan's.government.
2. The seventh congress of the DPRK's Agricultural Union was
held during the month. The bureau processed a number of items from
coverage of the affair, including a 3-hour opening address by the
union's chairman and various resolutions adopted at the conclusion of
the congress.
3. The Chinese unit was kept busy with increased processing
of reports from provincial and regional meetings of people's councils
and political consultative conferences. It also sharpened its under-
standing of the new tasks of press scrutiny and selection begun in
November.
4. As a means of expanding bureau monitors' knowledge of
the role of FBIS and their contribution to it, delivered STAT
a lecture on use of FBIS materials by analysts. He stressed how many
seemingly insignificant items are used in supplying indications of
policies and possible actions by communist governments. will STAT
repeat the lecture for those who were unable to attend the initial one.
B. Lateral Services
1. Bureau personnel were in close contact with the office of
the Military Armistice Commission Secretariat for a week before a
scheduled MAC meeting in Panmunjom on 21 December. At the request of
the Secretariat, the bureau kept it informed of indications from DPRK
media on reasons for calling the meeting by the north's side, since
the north had not revealed a reason for its action. It later proved
to be that the subject of the meeting was fairly routine.
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1. On 18 December the bureau's remote antenna site communications
were cut over to Phase II of the Army's Operation Fastback, a project to
upgrade the quality of microwave circuits used in parts of its communica-
tions network and to replace some telephone circuits with microwave. 1Z
Incorporating the bureau's circuits to and from the remote site in
Operation Fastback hopefully will insure a higher quality signal with
less downtime.
2. The deputy chief and bureau technicians visited the remote
site during the month to inspect work related to Operation Fastback.
Technicians also brought on line one circuit which the military had
inadvertently cut when switching over to Fastback. The technicians
used the occasion to install a noise reduction filter on one of the
Collins receivers at the site. The filter was fabricated by Okinawa
Bureau as a means of reducing noise on casts monitored by the bureau
from the Voice of the Revolutionary Party for Reunification transmitter.
A. Personnel
death late in the month of the small son of teletype supervisor
son passed away after a lengthy illness.
2. Bureau personnel during the month attended a gala wedding
reception in honor of Chinese monitor
The reception, featuring a 14-course meal and many toasts, was greatly
enjoyed by all present.
1. There was a good turn-out of bureau personnel at the annual
Christmas party given by the ambassador for embassy employees. The
party was held at the Embassy Club on South Post, Yongsan.
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
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2. Bureau editors gave an office party for bureau FSN's shortly
before Christmas. Refreshments, personally prepared by the editors,
were enjoyed by all.
STAT
Chief, Seoul Bureau
Chief, Hong Kong Bureau
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P ~ e M1
SEOUL BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR December, 1982
1. TOTALS FROM ALL_SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 415,570
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 103,540
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 1,022
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE:
(minutes or issues per week)
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
(publishable words per month)
CHINA (PRC)
Beijing in
Korean to Korea
Changchun Jilin Provincial Service in
Mandarin
Harbin Heilongjiang Provincial Service in
Mandarin
Hohhot Nei Monggol Regional Service in
Mandarin
Jinan Shandong Provincial Service in
Mandarin
Shenyang Liaoning Provincial Service in
Mandarin
Tianjin City Service in
Mandarin
Harbin HEILONGJIANG RIBAO in
Chinese
Jinan DAZHONG RIBAO in
Chinese
Shenyang LIAONING RIBAO in
Chinese
Taiyuan SHANXI RIBAO in
Chinese
Tianjin TIANJIN RIBAO in
Chinese
CLANDESTINE
(Clandestine) Voice of the Revolutionary
Party for Reunification in
Korean to South Korea
13,440 6,810 83
min min issues
1,150
9,020
8,430
27,970
10,250
11 , 700
9,170
21,600
1,100
100
1,700
3,650
2,750
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KOREA (NORTH)
Pyongyang Domestic Service in
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Korean 91,370
Pyongyang KCNA in
English
145,840
KOREA (SOUTH)
Seoul Domestic Service in
Korean 2,350
Seoul
YONHAP in
English
20,850
Seoul
CHOSON ILBO in
Korean
4,350
Seoul
CHUNGANG ILBO in
Korean
3,500
Seoul
HAI4GUK ILBO in
Korean
3,700
Seoul
KYONGHYANG SINMUN in
Korean
1,900
Seoul SEOUL SINMUN in
Korean
2,250
Seoul THE KOREA HERALD in
English
Seoul THE KOREA TIMES in
English
Seoul TONG-A ILBO in
Korean
UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
Moscow in
Korean to Korea
1,960
12,640
8,220
8,050
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