KOREANS SEARCH UNDERGROWTH; DEAD VIET CONG BURIED; VIET CONG PRISONER; HUTS SET ON FIRE; CAPTURED ARMS EXAMINED.




Initials RGH/VS/AS/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SOUTH KOREA'S "FIERCE TIGER" DIVISION ON SUNDAY (MARCH 5) ENDED AN OPERATION IN WHICH IT OPENED UP ONE OF SOUTH VIETNAM'S MAJOR ROUTES -- HIGHWAY ONE -- WHICH HAD BEEN CONTROLLED BY THE VIETCONG FOR TWO YEARS. THE KOREANS ALSO WON BACK THE SUPPORT OF 20,000 VIETNAMESE.

THE SOUTH KOREANS SAID THEY SEIZED ABOUT 273 SQUARE MILES (ABOUT 720 SQ. KMS) OF FARMLAND, KILLED 211 VIET CONG, CAPTURED 402 AND DETAINED 673 SUSPECTS.

THEY SAID THEY CUT OFF THE VIET CONG'S SUPPLY OF ABOUT 100,000 TONS OF SALT PRODUCED EACH YEAR IN THE CU MONG BAY AREA AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE RAISED AT INLAND FARMS.

THE SOUTH KOREANS OPENED UP HIGHWAY ONE, FROM QUI NHON TO SONG CAU, ABOUT 260 MILES (41 KMS) NORTHEAST OF SAIGON.

ALSO DURING THE 60-DAY OPERATION, THEY INTRODUCED A MARKET WHERE PEOPLE FROM BOTH THE VIET CONG AND GOVERNMENT- CONTROLLED AREAS COULD TRADE PEACEFULLY UNDER KOREAN PROTECTION.

A KOREAN SPOKESMAN SAID: "A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CIVIC ACTION PROGRAMME RESULTED IN OTHER VILLAGES AND HAMLETS REQUESTING THAT ELEMENTS OF THE TIGER DIVISION BE INTRODUCED INTO THEIR AREA."
THE SPOKESMAN SAID KOREAN CASUALTIES WERE LIGHT AND ADDED THAT 146 VIET CONG WEAPONS WERE CAPTURED.