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Portrait of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung

Conversations with Kim Il Sung

 This collection of primary source documents assembles a record of Kim Il Sung's conversations with foreign allies and other outsiders from 1949 through 1986, providing insights into DPRK foreign policy and domestic politics from North Korea's highest leader.

 

Portrait of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung

Popular Documents

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.

April 1950

Record of a Conversation of Cde. Stalin with Kim Il Sung and Pak Heon-yeong

Kim Il Sung and Stalin discuss the North Korean economy and Soviet-North Korean cooperation.

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.

May 30, 1950

Cable Nos. 408-410, Shtykov to Vyshinsky (for the Politburo)

Terenti Shtykov reports on Kim Il Sung's military planning for an invasion of South Korea and signals Soviet approval for the invasion.

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.