SOVIET EMBASSY IN THE DPRK TOP SECRET

Nº 196 Copy Nº 1

31 August 1957

[handwritten: 010343-gs

[[11]] September [[5]]7]

[stamp:

Incoming 02416-s;

11/12 September 1957]

The Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A. M. PUZANOV

for the period 16 through 30 August 1957

Pyongyang

SECRET

[…]

27 August 1957

I visited Nam Il at his invitation. Nam Il said that he would like to report a desirable time for the arrival in the DPRK of the Soviet specialists needed to help prepare and implement the monetary reform. We propose implementing the exchange of old banknotes for news at the beginning of 1959. We also want to consult in this regard about a possible exchange in a ratio of 1:10, and also about the advisability of abolishing the ration coupon systems for a number of products and industrial goods at the same time as the exchange. We do not have experience of implementing such large reforms and therefore we are asking that one or two people be sent immediately to determine the amount of the impending work, the quantity, and the qualifications of the Soviet specialists needed to help in preparing and implementing the monetary reform and abolishing the ration coupon system.

I told Nam Il that the request will be sent to Moscow immediately.

[…]

SOVIET AMBASSADOR IN THE DPRK

[signature] (A. PUZANOV)

Five copies printed:

1 - Cde. Gromyko

2 - Cde. Fedorenko

3 - Cde. Kurdyukov

4 - Cde. Solodovnikov

5 - to file

Nº 527

31 August 1957