REPORT, EMBASSY OF HUNGARY IN NORTH KOREA TO THE HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
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Diplomats of the Soviet Bloc discuss relations between the two Koreas, and what would be necessary for reunification. Sino-Korean relations, and Chinese military aid to the DPRK are also discussed."Report, Embassy of Hungary in North Korea to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry" November 22, 1973, History and Public Policy Program Digital Archive, MOL, XIX-J-1-j Korea, 1973, 69. doboz, 81-20, 00804/7/1973. Obtained and translated for NKIDP by Balazs Szalontai. http://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/111467 - Share
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Le Dong, the DRV ambassador in Pyongyang, recently had a conversation with the GDR ambassador in Pyongyang. Considering the importance of the conversation, on November 10, at a joint shooting party, Comrade Everhartz informed [the diplomats of] the “seven” [members of the Soviet bloc] in detail.
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The situation created by [the joint statement made by North and South Korea] last July 4 caused problems in the Korean People's Army [emphasis in the original]. Many high-ranking [military] leaders disagreed, and still disagree, with the [policy] line of peaceful unification; they see no way out other than a new military action. One year later, these leaders feel that they were proven right when the dialogue [between North and South Korea] reached a crisis. In order to fully enforce the party's policy, immediately after the September plenum, 22,000 officers were called to a military aktif [special meeting] that discussed [these issues] for several days. Kim Il Sung's main aim was to underline the correctness of the policy hitherto pursued and to call attention to the changes, i.e., to the fact that the country faced a new situation and was at a crossroads: either it would be unified or there would be two Koreas. Kim Il Sung made a speech at the aktif and took a stand in favor of the line of peaceful national unification.
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Although contact was established between North and South, this occurred just when Sino-Korean military cooperation [emphasis in the original] became more intense. According to information available to the Vietnamese, many secret high-ranking Chinese military delegations visited the DPRK, and the Chinese made substantial military promises during these discussions. China promised to provide the DPRK with types of military equipment that were hitherto unavailable to it. There was also some talk that the DPRK might also receive tactical nuclear weapons in the future. The Chinese side already provided [the DPRK] with the means to establish a defensive missile system.
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János Taraba
acting ambassador