Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 23 December 1957

USSR EMBASSY IN THE DPRK         TOP SECRET

Nº 309 Copy Nº 3

[23] December 1957

[handwritten entry: to file. N. Torb[[enkov]]

[faded stamp:

…070s

7 January 1958]

JOURNAL

of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A. M. PUZANOV

for the period 21 through 23 December 1957

[handwritten: to Cde. Torbenkov, N. Ye.

to the CC]

to file. N. T. 2]

Pyongyang

…23 December 1957

I visited Kim Il Sung. I informed him that in Moscow they regarded the KWP CC and DPRK government invitation for a Soviet Party-government delegation to visit Korea with gratitude. It is intended to come to agreement about the date of the visit separately.

Kim Il Sung thanked [me] for the information about the decision for a Soviet Party-government delegation to visit Korea.

I also told Kim Il Sung what practical measures need to be taken in the opinion of our comrades to set up VCh communications between Moscow and Pyongyang (in accordance with USSR MFA instructions).

Kim Il Sung said that he will charge [someone] in the DPRK Ministry of Communications with preparing this issue and reporting to the Embassy about the decision adopted.

In the conversation the issue of a request of a group of deputies in the USSR Supreme Soviet was touched on and specifically in a speech by Minister Cde. A. A. Gromyko and in a speech by Cde. N. S. Khrushchev.

Kim Il Sung said that he could familiarize himself with A. A. Gromyko's speech and a short description of N. S. Khrushchev's speech. The text of Cde. N. S. Khrushchev's speech will be published in our press as soon as we get the complete text of his speech.

Kim Il Sung shared impressions about the work of the conferences of leaders of agricultural cooperatives which are being held in the provinces at the present time. He said that much practical work had been done in agricultural cooperatives during the preparations for these conferences and that we are certain that these conferences will produce good results. Essentially the conferences being held can be called seminars since an exchange of experience takes place in a businesslike and quiet atmosphere, resources to increase the production of agricultural products are identified, and shortcomings and mistakes in work are criticized. We think that next year we will be able to gather a gross grain harvest considerably higher than we are expecting in the plan. These conferences are also a big learning experience for us senior officials. A majority of Presidium members and senior ministry and department officials are taking part in the work of the conferences. Forty to 60 senior officials and specialists are working in each province.

In January we will do similar work to sum up the 1957 results for industry for each enterprise. In addition, we will hold conferences for some of the most important industrial sectors. CC Presidium members will be sent to army units at the end of January and in the first ten days of February. We are tying this to the fact that 8 February will be the 10^th anniversary of the formation of the KPA. But, besides this, we have also decided to strengthen Party political work here in connection with the decision of the October CPSU CC Plenum. Right now we are dispatching a large group of KWP CC officials (50-60 men) to become familiar with and inspect the state of Party political work in military units. When the comrades return we will sum up the results so that we can use these materials when Presidium members go to KPA units.

I arranged with Kim Il Sung about the reception of a delegation of the Academy of Medical Sciences working here to help draw up a 10-year plan for scientific work in medicine.

I thanked Kim Il Sung for the information and at the end of the conversation I informed him that I am going to Moscow on routine leave. Counsellor V. I. Pelishenko will remain as chargé d'affaires.

Kim Il Sung asked [me] to pass greetings and wishes for good health to Cde. N. S. Khrushchev.

USSR AMBASSADOR IN THE DPRK

[signature] (A. PUZANOV)

Five copies printed

1 - Gromyko

2 - Fedorenko

3 - Kurdyukov

4 - Solodovnik

5 - to file

Nº 772

25 December 1957

Typed by Rodionova