Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, SECRET, Urgent, No. 067.088

TELEGRAM

Sender: Pyongyang

CLASSIFICATION: SECRET

Urgent

Date: 11.04.1976/-01:00

No.: 067.088

To: Comrade Deputy Minister, Constantin Oancea

Comrade Ion Ciubotaru, Head of the First Direction – Relations

On April 8th, Comrade Ambassador Dumitru Popa organized a dinner for Comrade Kim Yeong-nam [Kim Yong Nam], the Deputy Member of the Political Committee, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Head of the International Section of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and for other activists within the aforementioned section.

On this occasion, Kim Yeong-nam, referring to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, said that recently the South Korean puppet [government], instigated by the reactionary forces in the United States of America and in Japan, are continuously intensifying the provocative and aggressive acts against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, therefore generating a rise in the tension in the region, and increasing the danger of a military conflict bursting out. “Such reckless acts—said the North Korean interlocutor—are meant to prepare a new war against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.”

On a critical tone, Kim Yeong-nam said that some political and military personalities in various countries believe that the United States would not intervene in case a new war breaks out in Korea. Such statements are founded on the fact that lately, the United States talk more and more about a policy of ‘rapprochement’ and of ‘peace.’ But such assumptions are groundless and they stem from not knowing exactly the reality in the region, the manner in which the American imperialists act. When analyzing the situation in the Korean Peninsula, one must always take into account the big interests that the United States and Japan have in the region. Against this background, pointed out Kim Yeong-nam, the Tanaka government in Japan, supported by reactionary militarist elements in Japan, promoted an unfriendly, even enemy-like approach towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Prime Minister Takeo Miki, said our interlocutor, brought, to a certain extent, some new elements in Japan’s approach towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, showing a more understanding attitude, and evidencing some flexibility. But such positive elements are little sensed, they are unconvincing. The support given by Prime Minister Takeo Miki is not sufficiently solid and therefore he is adopting an unstable, oscillating position. Militarist circles, reactionary elements in Japan continue their hostile propaganda towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, stating that in case of the breakout of a war, if American troops are withdrawn from South Korea, Japan is ready to intervene in Korea with its naval and air armed forces. Japan continues to transfer naval forces from Okinawa to American bases in South Korea, with the consent of the Park Chung Hee clique. American-Japanese-South Korean joint military drills are intensifying. At their turn, the South Korean puppets assert that their armed forces are capable of facing off the North Koreans in a military confrontation on their own, which is why they are preparing [so much].

The struggle of the popular masses in South Korea for the democratization of society, for the peaceful and independent unification of the homeland is intensifying every day, integrating various social layers and adopting ever more well organized forms, so that they adopt documents like the “Declaration for Democracy and Salvation of the Nation” (March 1st, 1976).

Peace-loving peoples in the entire world support the struggle of the Korean people. In Europe and in other parts of the world, solidarity committees are formed, which support the just cause of the Korean people, condemning the anti-popular regime of the South Korean puppets. Numerous youth, women’s, community, religious organizations in Japan, in other countries, criticize the position of those respective countries towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea through organized efforts—rallies, conferences, etc.—to show their support for the struggle of the Korean people.

Signed: Charge d’Affaires V. Nanu