CONDITIONS IN CH'ONGJIN, NORTH KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R006400100022-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 28, 2012
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: March 10, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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50X1-HUM
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Korea.
SUBJECT Conditions in Ch'ongjin, North Korea
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. Seca. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law.
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS PORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT;1S TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Reconstruction * General
1. Reconstruction in Ch'ongjin is limited-to tPie'repair of buildinge(with the
party symbols displayed on their fronts, some administrative buildings,
schools, and buildings occupied by troops. New construction is limited
to new dwellings and large cooperative stores. Many slums and shanties are
still prevalent, but devastated areas have for the most part been aleared.1
Each day new houses are being built,, and the placement and arrangement
of the buildings indicate that the work is being carried out according to
a definite plan ,2 A great deal of effort has apparently been employed in
reconstruction of dwellings in the centers of Sunam-long and Ch'ongnam^dong.
Many small houses have also been built in the Ch'onma-san and Ch'onsong-ni
quarters and work has been accomplished on the central market.
2-. Groups of Chinese workers are available for the reconstruction and rehabilitation
of buildings used by the government, schools and colleges. Seven Polish engineers,
wearing civilian clothes with no distinguishing insignia, are also in Ch'ong3in
preparing plans for the restoration of bridges and for the improvement of
electrical installations.3
3. The repair work which has been undertaken on administrative buildings and
warehouses is also significant. The many smokestacks surrounded by ruins
and the port conditions show how industry has been paralyzed and practically
annihilated by the war. In the Yongson-rayon area some smokestacks appear to
be active, but the extent of the activity has not been determined. Large
numbers of workers have oftel been seen converging in this area and the
furnaces glow day and night.
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10,March 1955
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Conditions of Ports
4. Western Harbor (western part) has been completely demolished. The ground is
covered with twisted machines, pipes and cylinders, and no attempt has been
made to clear away this scrap. Small fishing boats are being constructed
in a wooden shed at the entrance to the port, but only a few workers are
employed on this project. There has also been total destruction of the
installations in,Western Harbor (eastern part), and judging by the debris
still on the ground (tanks, cylinders, pipes, furnaces), there is reason to
_ believe there were large depots in this area. The following shipping has
been observed in the port of Western Harbor: 15 flat-bottomed boats, still
usable; 6 medium-sized steam barges, quite worn but still running; and 12
boats being repaired, well worn but still usable. Also observed was a heap
of small fishing nets made of net and bamboo, but this material'is not in
use at'present. There is very little activity in the port other than that
of employees engaged in sorting and gathering the scrap iron and repairing the
boats mentioned above. On the other hand, in Western Harbor (eastern part)
the construction of new fishing boats of the' lighter type is in full production
at the Ch'ongjin Shipbuilding plant at the forward wharf designated "0-Hang."
According to propaganda notices, this firm has already completed its
scheduled program for the year, because of "the new organizational methods
and the interest displayed by the workers in the present system." Four
medium-sized lighters have been launched recently and 10 are under construction.
A relatively large labor force is occupied with this work.5
5. The port of Central Harbor (eastern part) is used only by fishermen, who
have a total of 8 sail boats and 2 boats of the steam-driven lighter type.
There is. very little activity at this port other than the repair of a third
type of boat, 12-15 meters long, and the fishing itself. The dike was broken
at one point and has not been repaired, although several enormous blocks of
concrete lying nearby could be used to seal the breach. The lighthouse is
intact but not in operation. At Central Harbor (western part) a large shed
is being repaired. The framework has been set up but no interior fittings are
yet visibleA Other than a large crane on rails which appea^s intact, everything
in this area has been razed. One can still observe the fortifications
around the radio station tower, with their camouflaged entrances that blend
with the terrain. No permanent coast guard has been set up on this coast line
because of the lack of motor boats, and North Korean troops are not concerned
with surveillance. The only activity in Central Harbor (western part) is
that of the fishermen.
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/28: CIA-RDP80SO154OR006400100022-2
6. At the little port of Eastern Harbor (fishing harbor) the fishermen live in
poor huts or barracks and have only little flat-bottomed boats propelled
with one oar, of which there are 48. When the fishermen return with
their catch, a controller notes the contents of the boat and arranges for
unloading it. Except for a small quantity for the personal needs of the
fishermen, all the catch is taken by the cooperative. The nets are in
good condition but there are none in reserve. The installations for
drying the fish and the nets are haphazard and in poor condition. The
fishermen do not fish regularly.6 In the port there is a small workshop
which contains a lathe in good condition, but the other tools are quite
rudimentary. Work on fortifications has been started in the rock facing
north and south, but is not underway at present. Despite numerous
observations conducted at irregular hours during both day and night,
no coast guard has been observed in this area.
Cooperatives
7. More than ?50 percent of the families engaged in fishing along the coasts
are organized in cooperatives or mutual aid groups, although last year
only 24 percent were organized.7 The fish along the coast are excellent
and appear to be prolific wherever found. Several groups of fishermen
are occupied in drying a flat fish which is later packed in rice straw.
There are indications that this is a fish used in manufacturing ink (Ink
Fish). The bundles of packed fish are loaded into freight cars at the
Ch'ongjin railroad station by employees of the cooperatives, but it
has been impossible to ascertain the destination of the shipments.
8. The success of cooperatives in agriculture is a guarantee that soon all
farmers will take part in it.7 Although it is still in the experimental
stage, the peasant recognizes its superiority and has confidence in this
method which will better his standard of living. The solution to the
problem of the poor peasant depends on the education given in the districts,
the trained groups which develop from them, and on the purchase of
agricultural products by the state. The necessity of having groups
thoroughly trained in Marxism and Leninism, having a thorough knowledge of
agriculture, and who are faithful to socialism, explains the presence of
Russian advisory groups. There is a lack of farm implements among the
North Korean troops and the compulsory workers. Only antiquated and
coarse implements are available (shovels, pickaxes, picks, scrapers, etc.).
The necessity for improvising leads to interesting methods of working
which permit the eventual accomplishment of the work, though it is
performed slowly and irrationally.
9. It is apparent that the cooperative method of rice harvesting with its
greater production yield and higher revenue stimulates interest among
the peasants.7 Cooperative farms are already in the process of being
established, and the cooperative efforts of the peasants in ditch and
dam irrigation has already brought encouraging results.
50X1-HUM
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Collective and Obligatory Work
near the Sunam-dong quarter, an organization of 50X1-HUM
obligatory workers consisting of boys and girls of high school age was
observed. Their work consisted of clearing the terrain, agd they evidently
received orders directly from-a Russian technical adviser.
U. School children are used to carry bricks. Primary school girls had to
carry some bricks each day from those lying along their route to school,
and within a week an imposing stack had been collected at no expense
whatsoever. A large number of men, women and young girls have been engaged
in digging foundations for new construction and for canals, while other groups
have been transporting construction materials. In addition, more than one
hundred persons are working along the principal highway leading to Eastern
Harbor (fishing harbor), in the radio station tower area, preparing paving
stones, crushing other stones, and hauling them in two-wheeled carts. A
short distance away other groups are demolishing walls and retrieving the
bricks. Altogether there are about 300 persons engaged in these projects.
This work is organized under military supervision, and soldiers carrying
side arms act as guards. One supervisor gives the order for rest periods
to all the groups working in the area.
Seishin Airfield
12. Seishin Airfield has one packed-earth runway, about 800-1000 meters long
and 15-20 meters wide. Two small buildings serve as a waiting room and
as an administration office for Chinese personnel attached to the airfield.
A fuel dump (cans and drums) and a temporary radio station are located
about 400 meters west of the buildings. The radio station consists of a
small cabin and of radio equipment mounted on a vehicle (similar to a mobile
transmitter). About 70 meters east of the buildings an enormous metal hangar
is under construction. Its framework has been completely replaced, and
though the roof has not yet been mounted, some of its components have already
been brought to the area. This hangar may be completed by spring. Six tank
trucks are stored in the hangar.
13. The perimeter and the approach to the airfield are guarded by North Korean,
troops who have recently constructed small shelters of mud and brick. The
airfield itself is guarded by a force of well-camouflaged Chinese troops
equivalent to one company. These Chinese guards conceal themselves in small
shelters dug into the soil, which appear to follow the natural configuration
of the ground, and emerge occasionally when a plane lands or departs. The
only aerial activity observed has been the arrival of a Neutral Nations
Inspection Team plane and mail delivery.9 The clearing of the runty y in winter
is done by more than 100 North Korean men and women under the supervision
of a member of the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF). The work is accomplished
with shovels and. wooden scrapers; no machines are employed.
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Prison (Eastern Harbor-Fishing Harbor)
14. More than 350 Korean prisoners live inside a rectangular-shaped prison in the
Eastern Harbor area. It is permanently guarded by North Korean troops, and
a sentry tower has been built on each corner. Inside the courtyard the
prisoners do masonry work and prepare firewood, while outside, under guards
armed with submachine guns, they dress lumber for construction work.
Occasionally these groups are transported in trucks to town to perform
various kinds of common labor, such as carpentry for dwellings. Poles for
telephone and electric lines, and grates and cast-iron doors for furnaces
are made in the prison; the latter might explain the recent installation of
smokestacks in the courtyard.
15. Despite close observation no details have been obtained concerning these
prisoners, other than the fact that they wear noticeably-worn army clothes
and attend numerous gatherings held regularly inside the prison. It is
not known whether they are North Korean soldiers doing forced labor or
under strict discipline, or whether they are South Korean prisoners. Three
or four women wearing uniforms with yellow epaulets have been seen regularly
in the area. They are allowed to come and go freely, and are probably assigned
to the kitchen and food storage department.
Comment. The collection of bricks from destroyed houses appears 50X1-HUM
to be included in the general duties of the population toward rehabilitation.
Comment. In view of the devastation produced by the war it is
evident that reconstruction of dwellings has been extensive.
Comment. FBIS on 8 November 1954 states that Pyongyang radio
reports Polish engineers, including one city planning expert, one
architect, one geological engineer, and one transportation engineer
arrived in Pyongyang on 5 November to assist in the rehabilitation of
Ch'ongjin.
reconstruction of the KIM CEAEK Iron WORKS is scheduled to
be completed in February 1955. FftS-of 10 November 1954 Pyongyang
Radio states that the works has been producing coke, and that from
April 1955 the furnace will be operating.
according to another American agency.
subsidiary of the former Japan Iron Works and Mitsubishi Iron Works,
Comment. According to amap, this is the Yongeon-Myon-Japan Iron
Works. The continual glow of the furnaces might indicate that work is
n a 24-hour basis.
Comment. This might be the KIM CHAEK IRON WORKS, formerly a
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the reopening of international air line service
Ch'ongjin to work at the Ch'ongjin shipyard instructing North Korean
workers in building fishing craft.
on 1 June 1954, 55 Chinese Communist technicians arrived in
Comment.
Comments More than likely the fishermen are obliged to do
off-seasons fishermen in the Ch'ongjin area rarely obtain jobs in
other fields but spend the time repairing nets and boats and drinking
with other fishermen; that these fishermen are often criticised for`
their drinking habits, and that it is said the would not be so poor
if they would save their money.
Comment. These remarks appear to be in keeping with Communist
propaganda previously issued to the effect that cooperatives are
making tremendous strides and are enjoying overwhelming success.
Comment. Since a.number of small dwellings and administrative
r~-ter
buildings were constructed in this area, it is possible that the
project might be an agricultural school. Irrigation work is probably
included in the obligatory labor.
for reconstruction, and other cargoes were to be transported,
established on 18 May 195+ when the National Civil Air Line began
operating between Pyongyang and Ch'ongjin. Officials, materials
between Korean and Russian air line transportation companies was
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