What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a secret memorandum from July sixth, nineteen-fifty, detailing early U.S. intelligence on Chinese Communist assistance to North Korea, sourced from The Black Vault at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document, cataloged as CI zero zero three seven one, was declassified under an unknown authority and released to the public domain through The Black Vault's archival efforts. It offers a glimpse into U.S. intelligence gathering during the initial stages of the Korean War. The document, titled "Chinese Communist Assistance to North Korea," is a memorandum to the Chief of Staff. It states: "The Chinese Communists have in Manchuria approximately [one line redacted under exemption B1] regular troops (Refer to RAP). Additionally there has been given from various sources a strength of militia of five hundred seventy-four thousand. In North China the Chinese Communists have about one hundred seventy-six thousand regular troops including one tank [one line redacted under exemption B1]. The Chinese Communists are believed capable of redeploying a considerable mass for the assistance of the North Koreans. Penetration between North Korea and Manchuria could be via the Dairen-Port Arthur area, thence by rail to the Korean border, and by direct shipments into North Korea would be channeled by bridges over the Yalu River. It would temporarily frustrate Chinese [one line redacted under exemption B1]. The Chinese Communists' capability for movement must not overlook their ability to move great distances on foot in a very short time. Communist troops have been known to move forty miles a day on a forced march. They have maintained this rate of march for several days. Since June twenty-fifth, no positive information has been received as to the movement of regular Chinese Communist forces in the direction of [one line redacted under exemption B1]. A report from Shanghai received via Hong Kong stated that the movement of troops from the Shanghai area had reached a scale sufficient to halt practically all commercial use of the railroad northward from Pukow (opposite Nanking). Rumors in the Hong Kong press have indicated a troop movement of troops from South China northward on the railroad to Hankow. Troops for West China are rumored to be moving down the Yangtze in the direction of Shanghai. All of these reports have been received since the beginning of concentration (confirmed) of troops in the Canton area. The Central Government Council of the People's Republic of China passed a Proclamation calling the United States intervention in Korea and President Truman in Taiwan 'acts of aggression' against the 'Democratic peoples of Asia and the People's Republic of China.' The resolution added that the 'Chinese Government and the people of China will continue the liberation of China, including Taiwan, and defeat the American imperialist aggressors.' This document indicates that the Chinese Communists will or will not intervene in…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-005Declassified

Filed NOV 9 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA Chinese Communist Assistance To North Korea

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 9, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. S. com. This document, cataloged as CI zero zero three seven one, was declassified under an unknown authority and released to the public domain through The Black Vault's archival efforts. S. intelligence gathering during the initial stages of the Korean War.

Date: NOV 9 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Episode notes

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a secret memorandum from July sixth, nineteen-fifty, detailing early U.S. intelligence on Chinese Communist assistance to North Korea, sourced from The Black Vault at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document, cataloged as CI zero zero three seven one, was…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA Chinese Communist Assistance To North Korea about?: This is Declassified. S. com. This document, cataloged as CI zero zero three seven one, was declassified under an unknown authority and released to the public domain through The Black Vault's archival efforts. S. intelligence gathering during the initial stages of the Korean War.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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