CIA Confirms Korean POWs Were Subjects of MK-ULTRA Mind Control Experiments

The recently declassified CIA documents reveal that Korean prisoners of war (POWs) in U.S. custody during the 1950s were subjected to early MK-ULTRA experiments, marking a significant confirmation of these covert operations. These findings, detailed in a collection released by the National Security Archive between December 2024 and April 2025, shed new light on one of the most infamous programs in CIA history. The documents confirm that as early as October 1950, 25 unnamed North Korean POWs were used as test subjects for “advanced” interrogation techniques aimed at achieving “mind control” to manipulate individuals against their will.

The experiments, initially referred to as Project Bluebird, sought to explore methods of psychological and behavioral manipulation. The goal was to develop techniques that would allow the CIA to influence individuals to act according to U.S. interests, even against their own survival instincts. While MK-ULTRA is widely known for its use of LSD and other invasive tactics, these documents detail less-publicized efforts, including polygraph tests, hypnosis, and plans to inject sedatives using experimental devices like the “hypospray.” These methods were part of a broader effort to understand how to “combat communism” and “sell democracy,” as outlined in internal memos.

The declassified records also reveal the logistical aspects of Project Bluebird, including a proposed budget of $65,515 for salaries, equipment, and transportation. The project involved teams of psychiatrists, hypnotists, and polygraph technicians, with plans to conduct experiments both in Japan and Korea. Although the exact locations remain redacted, the documents confirm that these activities took place offshore, involving Korean POWs held by U.S. forces.

The release of these documents underscores the ethical concerns surrounding MK-ULTRA and its predecessors, raising questions about the extent of human experimentation conducted under covert programs. As noted in John Marks’ 1979 book *The Search for the “Manchurian Candidate,”* these efforts were part of a broader Cold War-era initiative to gain an edge over adversaries through psychological manipulation. The newly declassified materials provide further evidence of the CIA’s ambitious and often unethical pursuit of mind control, leaving a lasting impact on public trust in intelligence operations.