Directives Concerning the Issue of Preventing the Enemy from Landing on the Rear Flanks of the Chinese People’s Volunteers and Other Matters

(December 11 and 27, 1952)

Zhou and Zhu[1]: Read and return to Peng[2]; Nie to handle.

I approve this disposition.[3] Step up inspections and ensure the tasks are accomplished.

Mao Zedong

December 11

[1] Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Zhu refers to Zhu De.

[2] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, then Vice Chairman of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission and Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.

[3] This refers to the specific disposition concerning the issue of preventing the enemy from landing on the rear flanks of the Chinese People’s Volunteers and other matters, as proposed in Nie Rongzhen’s report to Peng Dehuai, with copies to Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Zhou Enlai, and Lin Biao, dated December 10, 1952. The report stated that, in accordance with Mao Zedong’s assessment and resolve regarding the future development of the war situation in Korea, a meeting was convened on the afternoon of the 9th with responsible persons from relevant departments to jointly study and discuss the prevention of enemy landings on the rear flanks of our forces in Korea and various combat readiness tasks, the construction and improvement of railways in Korea, the mobilization of new recruits domestically, and the fortification of the Liaodong and Shandong peninsulas, and a specific disposition was formulated.

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Complete Works of Mao Zedong, Volume 32

For the railways, strive to complete the Kucheng–Kuchang–Tokchon line by the end of April, and construct a motor road and a large number of warehouses in the high mountains between Kuchang and Tokchon, with initial transport operations to commence. An additional wide highway must be maintained between Kucheng and Kuchang. Strive to construct an additional wide highway between Huichon and Tokchon. Strive to widen the two existing highways. Strive to greatly improve the line between the Yalu River and Kuchang.

III

Proceed accordingly.[1]

Mao Zedong

December 27

[1] This directive by Mao Zedong was written next to the following passage in Nie Rongzhen’s report: “Regarding the construction and improvement of railways in Korea, after studying the matter with Teng Daiyuan and Lü Zhengcao, it is proposed to first construct the Kucheng–Kuchang section (87 kilometers) and the Kuchang–Tokchon section (37.5 kilometers), while simultaneously improving the existing line from Ji’an to Kuchang.”

[2] Nie Rongzhen’s report stated: Regarding the opinions submitted by the Ministry of Railways on the construction of railways in Korea, the following handling is proposed: (1) Approve the construction of the Kuchang–Tokchon line and improve the Suncheon–Kaechon line. (2) The engineering troops shall be directly determined through consultation between the Ministry of Railways and the Central Financial and Economic Commission, to be drawn from agricultural divisions or other engineering...