
Inter-Korean Competition, 1961-1970
This collection of documents tracks inter-Korean relations from the time of the Park Chung Hee coup in 1961 through the opening of the inter-Korean dialogue in 1970. For collections focused on other chapters in the inter-Korean relationship, see Inter-Korean Relations after the War, 1954-1961; Inter-Korean Dialogue, 1971-1972; Demise of Detente in Korea, 1973-1975; and Inter-Korean Dialogue, 1977-1980. (Image: Park Chung-hee via Wikimedia Commons)
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March 29, 1962
Note about a Conversation between Comrade Stark and Comrade Torbenkov, Counselor at the USSR Embassy in the DPRK
Stark and Torbenkow discussed North Korean plans for reunification with South Korea. They considered the Korean Department of Foreign Affairs arguement for a confederation with the South to be dangerous. The Korean press supported this plan.
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April 10, 1962
Embassy of the People's Republic of Poland in Pyongyang, 'Report regarding the Current DPRK Policy concerning the Reunification of the Country'
Socialist bloc diplomats and North Korean officials discuss the danger posed by South Korea and the Americans, and the possibility of new war on the peninsula.
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May 16, 1963
Memorandum of a Conversation between the Czech Ambassador to the DPRK, Comrade Moravec, with the Soviet Ambassador, Comrade Moskovskii, and the GDR Ambassador, Comrade Becker, on 23.IV.1963.
The Ambassadors of Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, and East Germany discuss North Korea's foreign relations, the reunification of Korea, and economic conditions in the DPRK.
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November 23, 1963
Cable from the Chinese Embassy in North Korea
The Chinese Embassy in North Korea reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on North Korea's request for international support regarding a memorandum on Korean unification at the United Nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs then suggests how Chinese news agencies can express support.
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November 23, 1963
Cable from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, 'Request for Instructions on Supporting Korea’s Memorandum, “Ways to Resolve the Question of Korean Unification”'
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposes two options to the Central Committee for demonstrating its support for North Korea's position that the Korean issue should not be discussed at the United Nations General Assembly. The Ministry recommends that the People's Daily publishes supportive editorials but also suggests that other organizations could express their support for North Korea to newspapers instead.
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November 11, 1965
Record of the Third Conversation between Zhou Enlai and North Korean Vice Prime Minister Ri Ju-yeon
Zhou Enlai, Ri Ju-yeon, and Pak Seong-cheol discuss Japanese militarism, U.S. imperialism, the issue of Korean citizenship for Koreans in Japan, the Chinese 5-year plan, and military preparations.
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September 07, 1966
Report on a Meeting between Enver Hoxha and DPRK Ambassador Baek Sunje
The transcript of the conversation notes North Korea's concerns about South Korea's increasing military size and the continued existence of the UN Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea. Hoxha gives his support for the DPRK position.
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August 18, 1967
Information about Some New Aspects on Korean Workers' Party Positions concerning Issues of Domestic and Foreign Policy
The Acting East German Ambassador to North Korea discusses Kim Il Sung's leadership and cult of personality, Korean reunification, and North Korea's foreign relations with China and Japan.