795A.5/6–1450: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
857. Re Deptel 576, June 13. Phrasing Embdes 456, May 4, 19501 stating that “South Korean army is superior today” to North Korean army and is better equipped was intended refer to estimated superiority training, leadership, morale, marksmanship and better small arms equipment, especially M–ls, army of South Korea to that of: North Korean army as distinguished from air force.
Embtel 683, May 11, contains good estimate strengths, equipment North Korea. North Korean air power, tanks and heavier artillery, but especially air power, give preponderance strength to North despite estimated inferiority North Korean ground forces compared to South Korean ground forces.
Capacity North Korean forces conduct successful operations against south hinges primarily on capacity north overcome southern infantry superiority by undisputed command of air plus heavier artillery with consequent adverse effect both actual military operations and morale South Korean forces. Embassy believes, and KMAG concurs, should South Korean forces be strengthened by some measure air defense and heavy artillery, superiority or at least reasonable equality would rest with south vis-à-vis North Koreans (USSR or Chinese forces not considered in this estimate).
Apart from strictly military estimate, consider necessary consider psychological effect ROK Government and civilians constantly facing knowledge northern capacity control air at will, including capacity uninterrupted bombing Seoul, as well as general knowledge northern artillery outranges southern artillery while northern army has tanks but none here.
Invite attention fact Brigadier General W. L. Roberts, chief KMAG, departing tomorrow by plane for Tokyo where he will board transport June 23 for San Francisco expecting arrive about July 3 en route new assignment Los Angeles. Suggest Roberts, who extremely conversant this problem, proceed Washington discuss, explain this problem.
- Not printed.↩