The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-08
Russians In Korea

Il NJ w
horses at once in North Korea.
This is a picture fitted together, piece by
niece. from reading North Korean neWspap-
ers and talking to many Japanese and no
rean tecnnicians used by the Russians in
their attempts to reorganize North Korea's
economy.
There are indications that the Soviet army
entered Korea with two basic but mutually
contradictory - economic policies In us KNAPP
sack.
Policy one. the basic Soviet economic plan,
apparently called for building Korea into a
fairly strong, economic subsidiary state.
Policy two. the emergency Soviet plan. call
ed for stripping North Korea of essential food,
machinery and raw materials to help soften
the postwar economic crisis in the Soviet
Union and to bolster the Russian five-year
recovery plan.
In this rivalry between long-range planning
(Korea's future) and short : range planning
Russia's right = now needs), the immediate
needs won.
This was why: Russia found itself in a
critical position at the end Of World War IL;
crops were short; the home food situation
was desperate Gin many places, the Soviet
people faced starvation and Soviet authori-
ties feared disorders.
The postwar Five-Year Plan also was in
a desperate plight creeping along because
of shortages of electric machinery, lumber,
cemen and a host Of other equipment and
materials.
There was widespread postwar dissatisfac-
ton because Of economic shortages and the
contrast between ffe in the homeland and
life in the occupied countries Of erman
Czechoslovakia and Austria. as reported by
the returning Soviet occupation soldiers.
The Soviet army and navy were cIamoring
for raw materials to build up defenses. The
D,,eei,, ,Ippirictrot nrc r attpn0nfjnO tn CAR
ny out Soviet long-range planning in Korea.
This basic Soviet economic plan - build
ing Korea into a fairly strong economic sub
sidiary state seemingly was based on the
following logic.
The Russian army would set up in Korea
a strong, highly centralized communist gov
eminent which would cooperate with Soviet
policy.
This communist = dominated government
would have complete control over Korea's in
dustrial and agricultural economy.
This would give the Soviet control Of Ko-
rea's economy.
Russia's advantag es from this arrangement
would DE two-fold:
Korea would become a supply link in the
Soviet economy, as 1t had been previously
in the japanese Empire.
The Korean yen would be linked to the
Russian ruble, establishing a rut1e bloc"
where the Japanese had built their yen
bloc"
This is similar in concept to the Japanese
East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere"
The strong communistic control over North
Korea's economy was to be achieved by the
naturalization of major industry, transporta-
ton and banking, and by rigid government
control of commerce, small business, agricul-
ture and labor.
But this was not all. In order that the Rus
sian policy be successful, North Korean indus
try and a0ric1I1fure must bp reh1i1t into q
reasonably strong economy, and the average
North Korean must have almost enough to
eat, almost enough to wear and a place to
live.
Without revamping the sluggish North Ko-
rean economy - Slowed down by shortages
of raw materials, fertilizer, technicians. cap
ital ard transportation would be of little
continuing aid to the Soviet economy; and
the pro-communist government in North Ko-
rea would face such popular disaffection that
it would find it difficult to stay in power ex-
cept with Soviet backing.
Certainly, under such circumstances the So
Wet would hardly hope for a pro-communist
J government when North and South Korea are
, united and Soviet troops withdrawn.
therefore, at the same time Soviet officers
were stripping North Korea of much of the
, machinery. spare parts and materials needed
to make North Korea's economy run, other
Russian officers began attempts to rebuild
} "- ho1ed 5 AiouStIy, transportation AND
banking. These are typical examples:
A Soviet army railway unit was sent in
to manage the North Korean railways
SOVIET technlcians were sent in to manage
Iduction. 0
Japanese technicians were kept on, some
2 on an extremely privileged basis, others as
virtual prisoners.
Industrial schools were set up. Universities
were ordered to emphasize scientific and en-
cheering studies. On-the-iob training was set
] up in major factories.
: factorles were cannibalized on a wide scale
to make other key factories run.
Workers were organized into communist .
dominated unions to prevent strikes.
Campaigns were begun to stir up the en-.
{ thus.asm of labor. 'Shock workers. were or.
sanized: awards and wide publicity were given