795A.00/5–1150: Telegram
The Chargé in Korea (Drumright) to the Secretary of State
675. At hurriedly called conference with foreign correspondents yesterday at 3 p. m., Defense Minister released following statement:
“Arrival of two divisions of Chinese Communist troops in Northern Korea since last August has raised the fully-armed, effective fighting force there to 183,100, the Korean Defense Ministry announced today in making public a carefully calculated estimate of the northern areas military strength.
“With constabulary not counted in the army, youth groups and other quasi-military organizations, the Northern Korea fighting force is estimated at well above 300,000.
“Six divisions of the ‘People’s Army’ and three ‘ Bo An Dae ’ brigades number 118,000 men, to which are added approximately 37,000 mixed troops, including the women whom the northern regime recently began to conscript.
“One tank brigade in the North consists of 10,000 men. Naval manpower consists of 15,000 and the air force has 2,500. The air force is being increased by intensive conscription and training.
“Northern mechanized cavalry has 155 medium tanks and 18 small tanks, a total of 173, as well as 30 armored cars and 300 motorcycles.
[Page 84]“In artillery the northern army has 609 76 mm and 122 mm guns, 1,162 82 mm and 122 [120] mm mortars, 54 anti-aircraft guns, 627 anti-tank guns, and 9,728 light and heavy machine guns.
“The northern navy has 32 large and small patrol boats.
“The northern air force has 195 aircraft, comprising a division.”
Comment follows.1
Sent Department 675; repeated CINCFE.
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