SCCRCT
no. 7r.
oci
1
Current Intelligence Weekly Summary
DAU ll'l/ltJI
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS CONTINUED CONTROL
Maj. Gen. Pak Chong-hul, the generally acknowledged leader of the South Korean military Junta, has assumed the chairmanship of the standing committee of the ruling Supreme Council for National Reconstruction. The eight-man committee la expected to become the focal point of power In the new regime. Pak will have to deal with
the problems posed by factional cleavages in the junta, BPFRDVID FORappears to be composed of at least
groups. The public remains generally apathetic.
1 "lY'lifi
flRIZFS
SOUTH KOREA
dominant position of Maj. Gen. Pak Chong-hui, the generally acknowledged leader of the South Korean military .junta, is emphasized byune of theof the standing committee of the ruling Supreme Council for National Reconstructionn addition to the chairman, the standing committee is composed of the heads of the sevencovering the general areas of government administration and appears likely to become the focal point of power within the 3CNK.
There is considerable evidence, however, that Pali's authority Is circumscribed by factional divisions within the Junta. Recent voting patterns inroerober Supreme Council reveal three primary groupings, with most junior officers looking to Lt. Col. Kim Chong-pil for leadership. Kim is theand security boss for the regime but isember of the Supreme Council. As SCNR members are presently identified, Pak is supportedimnd SCNR chairman Lt. Oen. Chang To-yong by 5. Kim has reportedly been associated with Pak since the earliest stages of the coup, but recenthas raised some question as to his loyalty to Pak.
There have been indications that the regime willarsher policy toward highOf the former government. Pak recently publiclyumber of former ministers with Cotttounlst activities. une he Informod
that tho Junior officers were pushingass purge of senior generals. He implied that he could restrain them, but conceded that additional arrests of senior officers would be forthcoming.
A number of former seniorch as retired
Generalkvon,.designate to tbe Unitedwill be given diplomatic assignments to keep then out of the country. One exception, however, isLt. Gen. Song Yo-chan. who is studying In the United State* and has been named minister of defense to succeed Acting Minister Sin Ung-kyun. Song is credited with having avoided large-scale bloodshed when be was army chief of staff at the time of Rhee'a ouster last year. He is noted for his efforts to combat military corruption and. although he was personally loyal to Rhee. is believed largely to have stayed out of politics.
The public at largo remains
see growing
educated urban elements. To develop support, the Junta has announced the establishmentationwide national front movement designed to "Inspire the nation with fresh spirit, encourage new life, and antl-Communiat ass rally held in Seoul onune was scheduled to attract someersons. However, a crowd of only0ostly teen-age students and housemaids, acoordlng to press reports.
June 61
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