Cable No. 184, V. Ivanenko to Cde. G.I. Tunkin, containing 'The Political Attitudes of the Population of North and South Korea in Connection with the Negotiations in Kaesong'

 Secret

Copy Nº 1

USSR EMBASSY TO THE DPRK

Nº 184 11 September 1951

TO THE CHIEF OF THE 1ST FAR EAST DEPARTMENT OF THE USSR MFA

to Cde. G. I. TUNKIN

Attached I am attaching a memorandum to you, "The Political Attitudes of the Population of North and South Korea in Connection with the Negotiations in Kaesong", compiled by A. Shemyakin, attaché of the USSR Embassy to the DPRK.

COUNSELLOR OF THE USSR EMBASSY TO THE DPRK

[signature]

(V. IVANENKO)

[Stamp:] USSR MFA

1st Far East

Department

1+21

Incoming Nº 2750s

2 October 1951]

[Handwritten:] to Cde. Khalin

for annotation

2-ln

10.X.?51?]

[Distribution:]

1 - to the addressee

2 - to file

Secret Copy Nº 2

MEMORANDUM

THE POLITICAL ATTITUDES OF THE POPULATION OF NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS IN KAESONG

1. The Political Attitudes of the Population of the DPRK

1. At the start of the negotiations

On 23 June 1951 USSR Representative to the UN A. Ya. Malik made a proposal via radio about opening negotiations between the warring sides in Korea on the question of a ceasefire and the establishment of an armistice in Korea with a mutual withdrawal of forces from the 38th parallel.

The vital, fundamental interests of the Korean people are peace, freedom, and independence of the country and therefore all the Korean people who are striving for a peaceful solution to the Korean problem eagerly supported the Soviet proposal about a ceasefire in Korea and the establishment of an armistice on condition of a withdrawal of the forces of both warring sides from the 38th parallel.

On 30 June American General Ridgway, the Commanding General of the so-called "UN Armed Forces" in Korea, turned to Kim Il Sung, the Commander-in-Chief of the Korean People's Army, and General Peng Dehuai, the Commanding General of the Chinese volunteers, with a proposal to begin negotiations about a ceasefire and the conclusion of an armistice in Korea.

In their 1 July 1951 reply to Ridgway Kim Il Sung, the Commander-in-Chief of the Korean People's Army, and General Peng Dehuai, the Commanding General of the Chinese volunteers, agreed to open negotiations concerning a ceasefire in Korea and the conclusion of an armistice and, in turn, proposed that negotiations begin in the city of Kaesong (on the 38th parallel) from 10 to 15 July*.

* The newspaper [Choguk Chonson], 5 July 1951

On 10 July 1951 negotiations on a ceasefire in Korea and the conclusion of an armistice began in the city of Kaesong (on the 38th parallel) between representatives of the American General Ridgway and representatives of the Main Command of the Korean People's Army and the Chinese volunteers.

The Korean people have always strived and are striving for a peaceful solution to the Korean problem, the problem of creating a united, independent, democratic Korean state.

The Korean people want peace and therefore welcome the opening of the negotiations in Kaesong.

The first step toward a peaceful solution to the Korean problem is a ceasefire and the establishment of an armistice in Korea. But the basis, the basic condition for a peaceful settlement of the Korean problem and for the establishment of peace in the Far East, is the following necessary aspects:

1. The withdrawal of all foreign troops from Korea and a halt to the US armed intervention in Korea,

2. Granting the Korean people the right to determine their fate themselves.

This was the unanimous opinion of the Korean people.

It was expressed by the Korean press. The newspaper Minju Choson devoted its entire lead article, entitled "A First Step to a Peaceful Settlement of the Korean Issue", to this question in its 3 July 1951 issue.

The response of the population was as follows.

Some examples.

For example, worker Kim [Sok Phan] (from the headquarters of the Pyongyang Railroad)

said about this:

"I completely support the statement of Kim Il Sung.

During these negotiations we should solve all problems on the basis of the following principles:

A withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea and the solution of the Korean issue by the Korean people themselves".

The Korean people regarded the proposal of the American imperialists about a ceasefire and the establishment of an armistice in Korea as an admission by the American imperialists themselves of their military and political failures and the collapse of their attempts to seize North Korea and subjugate the Korean people by armed force. The Korean people were not intimidated by threats, were not subjugated by the interventionists, they continued and [still] continue to wage a heroic struggle for the honor, freedom, and independence of their native land, displaying steadfastness, courage, and heroism.

In light of this [Hen Hun], the Chairman of the CC of the united trade unions of Korea, speaking on the pages of the newspaper Minju Choson, said the following:

"The armed American imperialist invaders dreamed of subjugating the Korean people and turning our Korea into a strategic military base to achieve their expansionist ends in the Far East through the mass killing of civilians and the barbaric destruction of our cities, villages, mills, factories, and enterprises.

Therefore they unleashed an expansionist war and in one year of war have inundated Korea with the blood of the Korean people and turned our country into ruins.

However the Korean people have won a great victory in a military and political sense in displaying unprecedented courage and heroism in the fight against the interventionists, waging battle in the ruins, ashes, and a sea of blood.

During this time the Korean people, the nucleus of which is the working class, firmly rallied its ranks together as never before. And aid to the Korean people increased from the peaceloving countries of the world at the same time.

And, on the other hand, just the reverse, the attempts of the interventionists to subjugate the Korean people in a lightning war failed. The interventionists were met with hatred not only from the peace loving peoples of the world but even from the people of their own country, and their isolation is increasing.

In such circumstances they were forced to come to the realization that their attempts to subjugate the Korean people by force of arms had completely failed and to the understanding that it is useless to continue the war in Korea.

The US government was forced to make an official proposal to open negotiations on the issue of ending hostilities and about an armistice in Korea".

Continuing further, he declared total support for the peace negotiations:

"The united trade unions of Korea, which represent the workers of Korea, think that the negotiations about ending hostilities and an armistice can bring great benefit to the prevention of a new war and creating peace throughout the entire world and therefore support these negotiations".

But he added that in undertaking peace negotiations it is necessary to be especially vigilant with regard to the American imperialists:

"However, in undertaking negotiations about ending hostilities and an armistice, we should increase our vigilance even more since the perfidious imperialists might prepare some new plot by making use of the moment of the negotiations"*

* The newspaper [Minju Chonson], 6 July 1951

The leading sections of the population also recognize the fact that in connection with the fact of peace negotiations themselves between the armed forces of the US and

representatives of the Korean People's Army and the Chinese volunteers the authority of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the international arena increases.

Printing house worker Li [Syn The] said:

"This time the prestige of Korea has increased even further.

The Americans should accept our proposals and we will persistently offer to solve some issues in these negotiations".

But the people have also seen difficulties in the path to solving the Korean issue.

A special difficulty in this path is the American imperialists, who are striving to seize and enslave all Korea, and who do not want a peaceful solution to the Korean issue.

Worker Kim [In Chan] (headquarters of the Pyongyang Railroad) said [the following]

about this:

"The issues of peaceful resolution of the Korean issue has been raised several times in the past. However, as a result of the fact that obstacles were created by the Americans, the solution of these issues was frustrated.

They will act the same way this time.

The popular masses regard the Americans with great mistrust and they do not believe them since they might be deceitful.

For example, city dweller [Dzoy Yen Ge] (Pyongyang city, Kenrimni Quarter) said:

"We do not know what perfidious ideas they have under the mask of 'peace'. If this is not so, then I think that the peace negotiations are a good thing".

A mistrustful attitude toward the Americans has spread both among the urban population and among the peasants. Peasant Choe [Dzyn Su] (Mirimni Village, Pyongyang city) said, "The Americans are offering to end hostilities but, judging from the experience of the work of the joint Soviet-American commission, it is difficult to believe in the success of these negotiations".

Pak [Ken He], Chief of the Criminal Department of the Supreme Court, said on 1 July 1951:

"The Soviet representative made a proposal to end the war in Korea so that the destruction of people does not continue and in order to bring peace.

But the war is not stopping since the American imperialists do not agree with this proposal".

Thus it needs to be noted that the Korean people do not believe the "peace" statements of the Americans and do not believe in the sincerity of their statements.

Representatives of various social strata of the population were united in their fervent desire and demand that the American troops leave Korea.

Pak [Gi Hwan], Secretary of the League of Protestants, declared:

"As a pastor, I have always defended peace. Since the American imperialists began the war first they should be the first to thrown down [their] arms and leave Korea. Only then will the Korean issue be solved".

Representatives of various political parties and public organizations pointed in their statements to the need to increase vigilance with regard to the enemy.

For example, Pak [Nam Un], Minister of Education (a member of the Workers Party), regarded the American proposal to open armistice negotiations as a step having "the goal of winning time. Their aggressive ends remained unchanged. Although the negotiations about ending the war and an armistice are being held we should be making use of this time to further strengthen our armed forces".

The idea is advanced in statements by senior officials that it is necessary to be especially vigilant even after the conclusion of an armistice agreement and vigilant with respect to rising Japanese imperialism, since the US is now rearming Japan.

For example, Choe [Ryan], Deputy Chief of the Directorate of Propaganda of the Ministry of Culture, said:

"We cannot rest content even after the conclusion of an agreement to end the war, for the US is now rearming Japan".

But at the same time excessively optimistic attitudes have appeared among a certain part of office workers and merchants in connection with the news of the opening of negotiations. Those who hold such opinions, overestimating their own strength, viewed the American proposal about negotiations as their capitulation and thought that the war would end soon.

Merchant [Sin Chon Gir] (Samri Quarter, north region of Pyongyang city) said: "Today at the bazaar many people say that the war is ending".

Officer worker [Hen Ho Bom] (western Pyongyang) spoke this way: "The Americans proposed halting military operations first because of their weakness.

From ancient times the weak are the first to propose ending a war and raise [their] hands. Our demands in these negotiations ought to have the goal of forcing the weak to capitulate".

The Workers Party has done much political educational work among the population. Rallies have been held on the issue of the peace negotiations in units of the People's

Army, at mills, factories, mines, on the railroad, at enterprises, and in the countryside to further raise the vigilance of the people with regard to possible provocations from the American imperialists.

The main ideas of the statements of senior government and Party officials were these:

1) Negotiations about ending hostilities and concluding an armistice should become the basis for the establishment of peace in Korea, for a peaceful settlement of the Korean issue, and to stop the threat of a new world war;

2) The withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea is an essential condition for a peaceful settlement of the Korean issue;

3) When entering into negotiations the Korean people should triple their vigilance, and rally more closely around the popular democratic government and the leader, Kim Il Sung.

The broad agitation and explanatory work which has been conducted has promoted an increase in political consciousness and increased the vigilance of the popular masses.

For example, worker Kim [Hen Sik] (35 years old) said the following:

"I listened to Malik's speech on 26 June while reading the newspaper.

It became clearer to me why the American imperialists are killing Korean people and turning our homes into ashes. I gritted my teeth from anger.

I will exert all my efforts in the struggle to expel and defeat the enemies, I will fight to exceed my work quotas".

Expressing the opinion of the soldiers of the People's Army, [An Syn Hak], a soldier of Korean People's Army Military Unit Nº 895, said the following:

"The American imperialists do not have the ability to win on the Korean front. Therefore they have now made such a proposal in order to win time and get out of a situation which has become difficult for them. They need to be strongly pressed at such a moment so that they do not rear their heads any more".

Ridgway's proposal is nothing other than an attempt for the US to pose as a peacemaker and restore its prestige".

In the working class, in the poorest and middle strata of the peasantry and also in the Korean People's Army the primary attitude and desire was to fight for the freedom and independence of the native land, fight the enemy, and "grit [their] teeth", until victory.

In the petty bourgeois strata and among intellectuals and merchants, at the same time as a desire for a final solution of the Korean issue there was a desire for the fastest possible end to the war.

The general demand was the demand for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea as the main condition for a peaceful settlement of the Korean issue.

The political attitudes of the population reflect the fierce class struggle going on in the country.

Elements of domestic reaction and agents of American and South Korean intelligence continued to pursue subversive work against the popular democratic system.

At the same time as espionage and subversive activity is being conducted reactionary elements are trying to spread various provocative and false rumors about the supposed "weakness" of the USSR, the "inability" of the USSR to resist the American armed forces, rumors about the "strength" and "might" of the US, of the allegedly numerous supporters of Syngman Rhee, etc. and thereby try to spread decadent sentiments and sow lack of faith in their own strength among the masses.

An example:

Protestant pastor Kim [Su Ip] (Pyongyang city) spoke this way:

"I also support Malik's speech. Among other opinions there is the opinion that the Soviet Union is striving for peace because it is difficult for them to resist the armed forces and material resources which the American imperialists will create by concluding a separate peace treaty with Japan and rearming Japan. Finally, a third world war will break out as a result of rearming Japan".

Domestic reactionaries, supporting Malik's speech in words, are in reality waging a campaign of slander against the USSR.

The enemy agent network is spreading false rumors that "the Korean people are supposedly an unlucky people", that "many Koreans have died in the war and that many more will die", etc.

But the Korean people are confident in their strength, believe in the strength of the peoples of the Soviet Union and all the peace loving peoples of the world, and in spite of

all the enemy intrigues, are courageously continuing to wage a heroic struggle for the freedom and independence of their native land.

2. During the Negotiations

A certain insincerity of the Americans on the issue of ending the war and establishing an armistice in Korea has been observed from the very beginning of the Kaesong negotiations and their desire to drag out and wreck the negotiations (the issue of foreign correspondents, the issue of the neutral zone, etc.) has been revealed.

During the negotiations American aircraft continued and even increase the barbaric bombing and shelling of the peaceful villages and cities of the country.

The unfounded and brazen demands presented by the Americans during the negotiations (about a military demarcation line, etc) and the open provocations have greatly hindered the negotiations in Kaesong and in the final account led to an impasse. Their further direction is not yet clear.

The expansionist ambitions of the American imperialists with respect to Korea were exposed during the Kaesong negotiations.

All the sectors of the population were incensed and expressed their angry protest against the provocative actions of the Americans.

Reflecting public opinion, the Party and democratic press have widely published responses and statements by representatives of various social strata and representatives of the public.

Here are some examples of the statements:

Worker [Chan Su Nam] declared:

"The perfidious American imperialists, seeing our constant efforts to establish peace, think that all is happening as though from our weakness. And at the same time, when armistice negotiations were going on in Kaesong, they attacked the Kaesong neutral zone and even bombed the area where our representatives were located in order to kill our representatives. At the meetings they stubbornly kept to their position on the issue of establishing a military demarcation line with which we could never agree".

In conclusion worker [Chan Su Nam] declared, "I hate the American invaders who are behaving very insincerely"*.

* Rodong Sinmun, 26 August 1951

Peasant Pak [Yen Su] ([Wasani] village, [Limwon] Rural District, [Dedon] District, South P'yongan Province) declared:

"We fervently want peace but in wanting peace we cannot tolerate American aggression in our Korea. The Korean people want a genuine peace which provides freedom and happiness. But the American imperialists consider themselves to be 'victors' and are openly pursuing expansionist ends during the negotiations".

And further, continuing, Pak [Yen Su] declared that if the American imperialists are not exhibiting sincerity during the negotiations then they will have to bear all the responsibility for ending the armistice negotiations and all the consequences resulting from this"*.

* Op. cit.

Cde. [No Ir Sen], an instructor at Primary School Nº 6 of Pyongyang city, said:

"The American invaders have become the hated enemies of all honest people who love freedom and peace.

The have lost all the reason which ordinary people have. They are cynics who openly commit barbaric crimes and provocations without any conscience in order to wreck the peace negotiations being conducted in Korea.

The American invaders are barbarians who have lost the last bit of conscience"*.

* The newspaper Rodong Sinmun, 26 August 1951

The Workers Party has done much political explanatory work in the masses, among the population exposing the expansionist plans of the American imperialists.

This has further promoted an increase in the political consciousness of the popular masses and the closer consolidation of the ranks of the Korean fighters.

The activity of the workers in the struggle is growing and their unity is increasing.

It has become clearer to the broadest sectors of the DPRK population that the American imperialists are bringing slavery and death to the Korea people in light of the recent events of the period of the Kaesong negotiations. Recognition is growing of the fact that the salvation of the motherland from rule by the American armed interventionists and their agents, the South Korean bands, is the greatest cause and common duty of all the Korean people.

The movement for the creation of "A League to Struggle for the Salvation of the Motherland Against American Imperialists and National Traitors" ([Hanmi Thoyok Kuguk Tonmen]) has strengthened in the country. The League sets as its goal a struggle to defeat the American invaders who have invaded Korea's land; for the defeat of their lackeys, the South Korean bands; and for the unity, freedom, and complete independence of their native land.

II. Political Attitudes of the Population of South Korea in Connection with the Kaesong Negotiations

The population of South Korea, yearning for an enduring peace to be secured and an end to calamities and suffering, supported the proposal to open negotiations concerning an end to hostilities and the conclusion of an armistice.

The broad popular masses favor the withdrawal from Korea of American troops and the troops of the other interventionists.

The popular masses want the Korean people to decide their fate themselves.

The traitorous clique of Syngman Rhee which was put in power in South Korea by the American imperialists immediately sharply opposed the opening of armistice negotiations. This clique is striving not to establish peace in Korea but to further inflame the war.

But the opinion of a bunch of South Korean traitors differs sharply from the opinion of the entire Korean people.

In his 25 June radio speech devoted to the first anniversary of the start of the war in Korea Syngman Rhee, the traitor of the Korean people and the puppet South Korean "President", declared:

"I oppose any agreements which are not directed at the unification of all the Korean people".

On 27 June a session of the puppet South Korean national assembly was held which heard a report from [Di Te Hen], Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Commission, [entitled] "The International and Domestic Situation in Connection with the Question of Ending the War".

After the report 11 deputies of the "National Assembly" spoke. One of the speakers, [Hwan The Din], declared that, "Ending the war means a defeat for the Republic of Korea" and suggested opposing the proposal to end the war; he proposed sending an "Appeal Against Ending the War" to the UN and the governments of the US government and the other countries who had sent their forces to the Korean front.

This proposal was adopted by the session. The practical implementation of this proposal was entrusted by the session to the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Commission.

On 1 July the South Korean authorities held a rally against ending the war in the city of Busan.

In order to expand such a movement throughout the entire country the chief of the information directorate of the South Korean government gave all provincial governors instructions to develop a mass movement and organize protest rallies against ending the war.

On 30 June, after General Ridgway made his proposal about conducting negotiations, the Syngman Rhee clique proposed the following conditions as so-called "conditions to end the war":

1) the withdrawal of Chinese Communist troops from Korea,

2) the disarmament of the North Korean troops,

3) a halt to aid to North Korea, etc.

These so-called "conditions to end the war" were clearly calculated at wrecking the peace negotiations.

The Syngman Rhee clique also held the same position of wrecking the peace negotiations in August, opposing the establishment of peace in Korea.

Li [An Muk], the new envoy of the Syngman Rhee clique to Britain, declared at a press conference on 10 August that a fierce war is developing in Korea and there can be no talk of peace. He directed a request to the government of Britain not to try to establish a false peace in Korea but rather to first study the real state of affairs in Korea. He declared in the process that the government of the Republic of Korea (that is, the Syngman Rhee clique - Sh. A.) thinks that a halt to military operations at a certain line in Korea will restore political obstacles to the establishment of peace in Korea*.

* Radio London, 11 August, United Press radio monitoring

On 3 September Syngman Rhee made the following statement at a press conference in the city of Busan:

"I completely support the position of the Commander-in-Chief of the UN Forces which he has taken in the Kaesong negotiations"*.

* Radio London, 3 September, UP, radio monitoring of 4 September 1951.

This is one more confirmation that the Syngman Rhee clique is against the armistice negotiations and against the establishment of peace in Korea, and it is for fomenting war.

III. CONCLUSIONS

Summing up the above, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. The expansionist plans of the American imperialists with respect to Korea and the Korean people were once again exposed during the Kaesong negotiations (July and August 1951).

2. The movement among the popular masses of Korea against the American expansionists and their agents has strengthened.

The movement for the creation in Korea of "A League to Struggle for the Salvation of the Motherland Against American Imperialists and National Traitors" is a direct political expression of this process. The "League" sets as its goal a struggle against the American interventionists and their agents for the unity, freedom, and complete independence of their native land.

The memorandum was drawn up by

Attaché of the Soviet Embassy in the DPRK

[signature] (A. SHEMYAKIN)

Official responsible for the memorandum

Counsellor of the Soviet Embassy in the DPRK

[signature] (V. IVANENKO)

3 copies. go.

1 - to Cde. Gromyko

2 - to the 1st DVO

3 - to file

[Faded archival stamp, filled in by hand:]

F. 0102

[Op.] 7, d. 54. p. 30

1 August 1994