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The Two Koreas and the Vietnam War

 This collection of primary source documents traces how both North Korea and South Korea responded to, participated in, and were influenced by the Vietnam War.

Popular Documents

May 27, 1966

Excerpts from Leonid Brezhnev's May 1966 Speech on Talks with Kim Il Sung

Excerpts from Leonid Brezhnev's speech at the CC CPSU Plenum on the morning of May 27, 1966, in which he discusses his visit to North Korea and meetings with Kim Il-Sung, as well as Soviet and North Korea relations with North Vietnam, China, and Japan.

February 16, 1968

Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, TOP SECRET, No. 76.044, Regular

The Embassy of Romania in the DPRK reports on Vietnam's frustration with North Korea following the seizure of the USS Pueblo.

September 30, 1966

Signing of a Protocol Agreement for North Korea to Send a Number of Pilots to Fight the American Imperialists during the War of Destruction against North Vietnam

Agreement for the dispatch of a North Korean Air Force contingent to fight in North Vietnam. The agreement stipulates that the North Koreans would provide pilots for one North Korean Air Force regiment consisting of two companies (ten aircraft each) of MiG-17s and one company of MiG-21s, while Vietnam would provide the aircraft and all necessary technical equipment, maintenance, and logistics support for the North Korean flyers.

August 20, 1965

Record of Conversation between Premier Kim and the Chinese Friendship Delegation

Kim Il Sung and the Chinese Friendship Delegation discuss agriculture issues in China and North Korea, the war in Vietnam, and confrontation with the United States.

February 19, 1968

Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, TOP SECRET, No. 76.047, Regular

The Embassy of Romania in the DPRK conveys the views of Le Thet Hung following the seizure of the USS Pueblo.