Inter-Korean Relations after the War, 1954-1961
This collection presents documents on inter-Korean relations from the end of the Korean War through the Park Chung Hee military coup. For collections focused on other chapters in the inter-Korean relationship, see Inter-Korean Competition, 1961-1970; Inter-Korean Dialogue, 1971-1972; Demise of Detente in Korea, 1973-1975; and Inter-Korean Dialogue, 1977-1980. (Image: Syngman Rhee in 1956.)
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September 29, 1954
Report from the Romanian Embassy in Pyongyang to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Activity of the Embassy, September 29, 1954, written by comrade Victor Florescu, Second Secretary of the Romanian Embassy in Pyongyang
A report from the Romanian Embassy in North Korea to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs details the current states of affairs in North Korea in autumn 1954, mostly discussing the question of Korean unification, as well as prisoner exchange, North Korean economic conditions, inter-Korean relations, and North Korea's relations with China and Japan.
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December 20, 1954
Memo from I. Byakov to the Charge d'Affaires of the Soviet Embassy in the DPRK
Byakov and Petrov discuss inter-Korean relations immediately after the Korean War regarding resettlement, relocation of citizens near the demilitarized zones, and declaration of Pyongyang and Kaesong as high-security cities.
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1955
Report from the Romanian Embassy to Pyongyang to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Political, Economic, and Social Situation in North Korea and on the Activity of the Embassy, undated [1955]
The Romanian Embassy in Pyongyang reports on political developments, post-war reconstruction, foreign aid, and culture in North Korea in1955.
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January 17, 1955
Memo about the Situation in the DPRK
A memorandum dated 17 January 1955 about the overall ground situation of North Korea. Topics range from agriculture and industrialization, power output and Kim Il-Sung's Three-Year-Plan to foreign aid from the Communist Bloc, the domestic political situation of North Korea, and inter-Korean relations after the 1950-1953 war. The memorandum concludes with suggestions on Soviet policy in the region.
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January 31, 1955
The Nature of Our Revolution at the Current Stage and the Primary Tasks of Our Party in the Cause of Socialist Development in North Korea
A Korean Worker's Party document which discusses the incomplete nature of the revolution in which the peninsula remains divided and South Korea under American influence. The document also points out the responsibilities of the Party to complete socialist development in North Korea during the transitional period.
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April 06, 1955
The Nature of Our Revolution at the Current Stage and the Primary Tasks of Our Party in the Cause of Socialist Development in North Korea
Suzdalev comments on the problems with a KWP CC document, "The Nature of Our Revolution at the Current Stage and the Primary Tasks of Our Party in the Cause of Socialist Development in North Korea".
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June 14, 1955
Record of a Conversation with Kim Yong-jin, Chief of the KWP Department of Public Organizations
Surkov discusses his conversation with Kim Yong-jin regarding the recent activities of the United Democratic Fatherland Front of Korea (YeDOF) and the measures taken by the Korean Worker's Party to strengthen YeDOF.
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November 25, 1955
Report from the Romanian Embassy in Pyongyang to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Political and Economic Situation in South Korea, November 25th 1955, 4236/1955
A report to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes the growing sense of tension and division regarding Syngman Rhee's leadership while Rhee carries out "agrarian reform" by using rice needed by the workers to pay off debt and increases the size of the South Korean army.
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June 11, 1956
Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, 1956, No. 22 (Overall Issue No. 48)
This issue addresses Sino-Cambodian trade and ways that the UN Command forces then sought to block the peaceful reunification of Korea. It also discusses the 1956 election and enrollment in night schools and colleges. Other sections cover a holiday for amateur writers and preparations for a research institute dedicated to the study of minority languages.
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June 20, 1956
Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, 1956, No. 23 (Overall Issue No. 49)
This issue addresses the temporary withdrawal of Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission inspection teams from designated North and South Korean ports. It also discusses the Sino-American ambassadorial talks, results from the national economic plan for 1955, and environmental and industrial concerns. One section addresses the problem of reducing illiteracy among opera and drama artists.