Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, SECRET, Urgent, No. 060.079

TELEGRAM

Sender: Pyongyang

CLASSIFICATION: SECRET

Urgent

Date: 25.02.1974

No.: 060.079

To: First Direction – Relations; Second Direction – Relations

In a discussion with Aurelian Lazar about the February 15th North-South incident, which resulted in the sinking of a South Korean fishing boat and the capture of a second one by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, B.K. Pimenov, Minister-Counselor within the USSR Embassy, pointed out that the Soviet Embassy believed that North Korea committed a serious error by undertaking this action.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea thus offered the authorities in Seoul an important political chapter [content] which the [South Koreans] can use to diminish forthcoming spring student demonstrations and even directing them on an anti-North path.

B.K. Pimenov said that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea would find it difficult from thereon to re-establish its authority amongst its South Korean sympathizers. In these conditions, not even the forthcoming reunion of the North-South committee, scheduled for February 27th, can contribute to reaching an understanding, [being very likely that] the discussions be transformed into a fiery argument.

Signed: Dumitru Popa