MONTHLY REPORT - SEOUL BUREAU - SEPTEMBER 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300610004-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: October 2, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
SEOUL BUREAU
FBIS
MSK-5017
2 October 1985
STAT
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report - Seoul Bureau - September 1985
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. Korean monitor reviewing Pyongyang television coverage
of 15 August Liberation Day activities, noticed a sequence of shots of Kim Il-song
which may indicate a health problem. During live coverage of a mass gymnastics
display held at Kim Il-song stadium in honor of Liberation Day and visiting Soviet
Politburo member Geydar Aliyev, the telecast repeatedly cut from scenes of gymnasts
performing on the stadium floor to Kim and Soviet guests applauding. A series of
four cuts shows obvious concern by North Korean civilian and military personnel
~(AI- with Kim's lower leg and the back of his trousers, and possibly the chair he was
officers, and a visiting medical officer from Tokyo, have viewed the tape, and the
d tentative if unscientific local analysis is that a urine collection device of some
kind may have malfunctioned. A further tentative conclusion is that the Pyongyang
television technician who allowed this intriguing sequence to be broadcast may be
looking for work. The tape has been forwarded to Headquarters. Embassy officers
also passed a copy of the tape to South Korean analysts.
2. The major topic in Korea during September was the exchange of family
visitation and art troupe groups under the auspices of the DPRK and ROK Red Cross
societies. Preparations for the exchanges began early in the month, with visits
by advance teams from both sides, and culminated in the 20-23 September visits to
Seoul and Pyongyang. The preparations and the visits generated a considerable
amount of copy. Also, the aftermath of the visits has attracted the interest of
the Embassy and AG, since Pyongyang has reacted strongly to criticism by the South
concerning some aspects of the visits.
sitting on. The final cut in the sequence shows a man in uniform forcefully ad-
Justine Kim's trousers from behind, after the chair has been removed. Many Embassy
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3. In the wake of the abolition of the Bureau's midnight shift on
1 September, editors and monitors have held a series of meetings to evaluate
and smooth out revised operating procedures and the new monitorial work sched-
ule. The new system is now running smoothly and monitorial productivity has
shown a measurable increase. Evaluation continues, and Bureau procedures will
be refined as necessary. One benefit that has quickly become apparent is in-
creased flexibility in adjusting staffing in response to ad hoc developments.
It is now much easier to move monitors from one shift to another on short
notice in anticipation of events than it was when one monitor was always
locked into the midnight shift.
B. Communications
The Bureau experienced an unusual period of communications outages
during the first two weeks of September, affecting both the primary and backup
circuits. The primary Mode II circuit was out from 29 August until 10 September,
due to equipment failure within TCU. Parts had to be shipped from the U.S.,
delaying repairs for several days. The backup Mode V circuit, which normally
is very reliable, went out on 6 September due to flooding of cable bays at
the U.S. Army communications center in Yongsan. After fits and starts for
several days, the Mode V circuit was restored on 9 September. The Bureau
telexed urgent material to Okinawa Bureau for onward relay during the outages.
This apparently was the first occasion in the Bureau's history in which both the
primary and backup circuits were out simultaneously for an extended period.
A. Personnel
1. A new Embassy compensation plan for FSN employees, approved by the
Department of State retroactive to 26 May, has not yet been implemented. At
issue are employees in FSN grades 1-7, whose pay has been frozen since 1982 and
who receive no salary increase in the newly approved schedule. The Embassy
appealed the continuing freeze on salaries for these employees, to no avail. A
further appeal is being considered, but most Embassy officers do not think it
will be successful. PMCD has approved a new salary schedule for the Bureau, with
no increase for employees in grades FBN 1-7. We are now waiting for Embassy action
before implementing the new schedule.
2. Deputy Chiefl was in the U.S. from 13-24 September on
emergency visitation leave, following the death of his fa her Okinawa Bureau
editor arrived on the 16th to fill in durine absence and
during maternity leave by Senior Editor
3. Korean monitor transferred to USIS effective 15
September. A replacement has been se ecte and employment processing is underway.
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STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
B. Building & Grounds
Following coordination with Okinawa Bureau Engineer and
negotiations with GSO, renovation of the Bureau's operations area is scheduled
to begin on 5 October. One wall will be moved, and two others reconfigured
slightly to make better use of existing space. When the project is completed
the editorial and communications rooms will be larger and organized more effi-
ciently. The main radio room will be slightly smaller, but equipment racks in
the room will be reconfigured to compensate. A new Bureau floor plan will be
forwarded when the work is completed.
1. Two IG inspectors were in Seoul from 25-27 September as part of the
IG inspection of FBIS. They interviewed most U.S. staff employees and an appro-
priate sample of local employees.,
2. CRW training officer was in Seoul from 1-14 September
to provide training in the use of IBM Personal Computers. Selected employees
were trained in the basics of Multimate and Lotus programs. The Bureau is now
using the computers to assist in preparation of monthly production statistics
and personnel reports, and computer applications in other areas are being devel-
oped.
3. Chinese unit chief) (participated in the FBIS foreign
national orientation program in Washington from 13-17 September.
Chief, Seoul Bureau
Attachment:
Monthly Production Report
cc: Chief, Okinawa Bureau
Chief, Hong Kong Bureau
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 I
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