Korean War Case Files

Case File for the Korean War

As a matter of policy, all firsthand live sightings remain classified while being analyzed or investigated. Once a sighting is resolved, the initial report and all associated documents are reviewed for declassification, and as appropriate, released. This is an unclassified listing of documents contained in DPMO's Generic Classified Information File.

The contents of the generic file are subject to change as new reports are received and integrated, and old reports are resolved, declassified, and normally released to the Library of Congress or National Archives. Whenever documents are added or deleted from the generic file, this unclassified list will be updated. Documents being withheld are undergoing a declassification review which started in June 2008.

Index Number Date of Report Topic Classification Info
020402 220601ZAPR02 U.S. Servicemember in North Korea Ongoing
020804 070655ZAUG02 U.S. Defectors in North Korea Foreign Govt Info
021005 040531ZOCT02 U.S. POWs in North Korea Foreign Govt Info
031101 180136ZNOV03 American POW in North Korea Foreign Govt Info
040601 220023ZJUN04 American POW in North Korea Foreign Govt Info
040901 130017ZSEP04 UN POW in North Korea Foreign Govt Info
041201 192230ZDEC04 American POWs in North Korea Foreign Govt Info
061001 130613ZOCT06 American defectors in North Korea Foreign Govt Info

* As a matter of policy, all firsthand live sightings are classified while they undergo the investigative process. Once the report is resolved, the documents are reviewed for declassification and released.

Declassified Reports

Index Number Date of Report Topic Location of Report
040401 271714ZAPR04 POWs in North Korea Federal Bureau of Investigation, Records Management Division, Washington, DC 20535
040501 201550ZMAY04 Caucasian Prisoner sighted Federal Bureau of Investigation, Records Management Division, Washington, DC 20535
000602 080947ZJUN00 Possible American POW in NK Office of Information Programs and Services A/GIS/IPS/RL Department of State, Wash DC 20522