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November 26, 1973

Telegram from New York to Bucharest, SECRET, No. 052312

This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation

01/014867/28.4.1973

 

Concerning the U.N. debate around the Korean issue:

  

  1. Soviet officials from the U.N. secretariat note that the consensus is the result of an understanding between Kissinger and Zhou Enlai, and that it underlines an arrangement which reflects the special attention given by the Chinese government to avoid political confrontation with the U.S.

 

  1. According to the opinion of some U.S. press correspondents accredited at the U.N., Kissinger is said to have insisted in Peking for a compromise solution in the Korean matter. This insistence is said to have had at its root the explicit wish of the U.S. government to avoid, given present circumstances (the Middle East, the energy crisis, Watergate), any action at the U.N. which could affect in any way the position of U.S. troops in South Korea. The spokesperson for the U.S. mission has confirmed at a press meeting that the Korean issue was part of recent Sino-American negotiations. 

 

This is also being confirmed by Kissinger’s last moment decision to include South Korea in his tour.

 

Since the U.S. has found understanding in Peking for the issues of troop leadership and withdrawal, these correspondents consider it possible that the U.S. made concessions with respect to other issues of interest to the P.R. China and DPRK. A possible U.S. commitment to press the South Korean government so that the latter adopts a more flexible position in negotiations with DPRK is being mentioned; the possibility of a compromise arrangement on the issue of Cambodian representation in the U.N., making the object of following debates within the General Assembly, is also possible.    

 

Signed: Ion Datcu

The document describes a consensus at the UN regarding the Korean issue after an understanding was reached between Kissinger and Zhou Enlai. Thea author observes that some of the US media believes that the US came to a compromise solution with China because Nixon wanted to avoid having more political issues.

Author(s):


Document Information

Source

Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives, Matter 220/Year: 1973/Country: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – other states, CLASSIFICATION: SECRET, Department I Relations, Folder 1514, Vol. II, Regarding the Foreign Policy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea towards Other States, Period: 06.08 – 24.12.1973. Obtained and translated for NKIDP by Eliza Gheorghe.

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Original Uploaded Date

2012-05-17

Type

Telegram

Language

Record ID

114078

Original Classification

Secret

Donors

Leon Levy Foundation