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Korean War Origins, 1945-1950 Clear All

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Photograph of Kim Il Sung in Moscow, March 1949

Korean War Origins, 1945-1950

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March 5, 1949	Notes of the Conversation between Comrade I.V. Stalin and a Governmental Delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea headed by Kim Il Sung Kim Il Sung and Stalin discuss the military and economy in North Korea, Soviet-North Korean relations, and North Korea's relations with other foreign countries.
September 3, 1949	Telegram, Tunkin to Vyshinsky Kim Il Sung, having recieved intelligence suggesting South Korea intended to seize the Ongjin Peninsula, requests Soviet permission to move further into South Korea.
September 11, 1949	Telegram from Gromyko to Tunkin at the Soviet Embassy in Pyongyang The Soviet Union sends a set of questions to Kim Il Sung on about the South Korean army and North Korea's war plans.
September 14, 1949	Telegram from Tunkin to the Soviet Foreign Ministry in Reply to 11 September Telegram North Korea plans to attack South Korea, but the Soviet Foreign Ministry is skeptical about North Korea's actual military capabilities and generally disproves of North Korea's plans.
September 24, 1949	Politburo Decision to Confirm the Following Directive to the Soviet Ambassador in Korea The Soviet Politburo argues that North Korea is not ready to launch a successful overthrow of the South Korean regime and suggests North Korea should concentrate its efforts on developing partisan groups in South Korea.
January 19, 1950	Telegram Shtykov to Vyshinsky on a Luncheon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK Shtykov reports a meeting with Kim Il Sung, along with Chinese and Korean delegates. Kim Il Sung expresses his view on the prospect of a liberation of the South Korean people that is to follow the Chinese success in liberation. Kim expresses his view that the South Koreans support his cause for reunification which the South Korean government does not seem to purse, and that he desires to ask Stalin for permission on an offensive action on South Korea.
January 30, 1950	Telegram from Stalin to Shtykov Stalin asks Shtykov to relay a message to Kim Il Sung about North Korea's proposed offensive against South Korea and Soviet Union's request for lead from North Korea.
April 25, 1950	Telegram from Ignatiev to Vyshinsky Report of Kim Il Sung and Pak Heon-yeong’s safe arrival into North Korea.
May 12, 1950	Ciphered Telegram, Shtykov to Vyshinsky Shtykov reports of a meeting with Kim Il Sung, in which Kim Il Sung tells Shtykov the questions he means to ask Mao Zedong in a following meeting in Beijing the next day.
March 11, 1949	Note, V. Molotov to Cde. Stalin The Soviet Commission on Korea prepared an official agreement between the USSR and DPRK, which gives the DPRK credit to purchase Soviet military equipment and materials.