| Korea Liaison Office | |
|---|---|
| Active | June 1, 1949 – July 1951 |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Military intelligence unit |
| Role | Clandestine operations Special reconnaissance Guerrilla warfare |
| Size | Estimated 1,000 to 6,000 |
| Part of | United States Far East Command |
| Engagements | |
The Korea Liaison Office (KLO) was an American military intelligence unit composed primarily of South Koreans. It operated between June 1, 1949 and July 1951.
The agency was founded and operated by the United States Army, but most of its agents were South Korean. Many of its early agents came from the right-wing group the White Shirts Society. The KLO conducted a wide array of intelligence gathering and clandestine operations, including training and sending spies to North Korea. After the outbreak of the Korean War, it began conducting more guerrilla operations.
It was absorbed into the Far East Command Liaison Group (FEC/LG), cover name 'the 442nd Counterintelligence Corps detachment'[1]
On 26 July 1951, the Far East Command Liaison Group (FEC/LG) was dissolved, and much of the KLO's personnel and assets moved to the 8240th Army Unit under new Far East Command Liaison Detachment, Korea (FEC/LD (K)).[2]