CONDITIONS IN THE P'YONGYANG AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003800450003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 26, 2006
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 23, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/01/31 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800450003-8
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
25X1
CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U. So OFFICIALS ONLY
25X1
SUBJECT Conditions in the Pyongyang Area
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR. 23 March 1951E
NO. OF PAGES 2
1. In July 1953 there were approximately 709000-80,000 people residing in and
around P'yongyang.l Most of these lived outside the city. There were no street-
cars in the city. The roads were barely passable, but were under repair. The
number of houses which were habitable was negligible; within the city limits
people lived in bomb shelters and caves. Public markets were also in the bomb
shelters and caves. The concrete buildings in the city were demolished and only
skeletons remained. Not more than 20 to 30 percent of these buildings were
repairable.2
2. Because the water system was damaged, the populace used water from rivers and
wells. Rice was plentiful because of a bumper crop, but there was a shortage
of vegetables, meat, fish, and milk, because of disrupted transportation faci-
lities. Much of the food of the Chinese Communist forces found its way into
Korean markets through barter for local goods. Primary local products were beer,
sake, candy, cakes, matches, and low quality leather and tobacco. Sugar to manna
facture cakes and candy was imported.
3. Almost all new clothing came from China or European satellite countries. The
most common footwear was tennis shoes imported from China; clothing and cloth
came from the European countries. A small but negligible percentage of cloth
was spun locally. Most clothing supplies for the North Korean army came from
China, but overcoats were supplied by the Soviet Union.
i+. The rate of disease and epidemics was very low, considering the conditions under
which the people existed.
The salaries of public workers were, barely enough to cover living requirements.
The people rarely had cash in their possession, drawing their food and clothing
from rations. However, inflation had not taken place because of stringent
government control.
CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/01/31 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800454003-8
 Approved For Release 2006/01/31 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800450003-8
CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLYI
1. OCamment.. The June 1950 population of Pyongyang was approximately
500,400.
2? ICOMment. Plans for rebuilding P'.ycngyang included building the
P'yongrang Central Railroad Station in the area of the old West P'yongarang
Station, building a tunnel under the Taedong River near the bridge, and
building by Czechoslovakia of an automobile plant capable of manufacturing
..t
"Inn cars a
mo
3. Cqugent. This low rate of disease and e idemics w
ly
s
b
p
a
pro
ab
because
of the antibiotic inoculations and vaccinations that were administered to
the people by the government as a follow-up to their propaganda accusing the
United Nations Command of bacteriological warfare.
Comment. An assistant chief of the Procurator Bureau was said to
en shot in public after being found guilty of embezzlement and
wasting national resources.
COI E'IDMT1AL/CON'IROI, - U. S. OPVICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/01/31 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003800450003-8