Cable, Ruo Jiaoyu and Li Qiang to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, 'Vice Premier Ri Ju-yeon's Discussion of War Materials'

From: [North] Korea

Extra Urgent

(65) Received by [Ministry of Foreign] Trade No. 291

Vice Premier Ri Ju-yeon Discusses the Issue of War Materials

[To] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Trade

Copy: The Premier [Zhou Enlai]

(Top Secret)

On the 10th [of December 1965] Ri Ju-yeon [Ri Ju Yon] discussed the issue of war materials prior to signing the trade protocol. He said: the Politburo of the Korean Workers’ Party and Premier Kim Il Sung have seen the draft put forth by the Chinese side and both feel very grateful. The Korean side has no dissenting views on this document. [He] said Premier Kim instructed that the entirety of the grain and the oil would be accepted in order to meet the requirements for war preparations, but that it is not good to freely accept foreign currency, because one cannot say that this is a requirement for war preparations. We expressed that [North] Korea’s support for the revolution in the South [Korea] is needed. In addition to this being made clear while the Premier [Zhou Enlai] met with Vice Premier Ri in Beijing, the Premier made it clear again during my visit here this time. Li [Qiang] said that lending money is possible, but that it must be repaid and that we need to report to the Premier. During the banquet [we] again touched on the desire for 200,000 tons of grain [to be delivered] during the first year and 150,000 tons each year thereafter. It was also explained that 100,000 tons of grain ought to arrive during the first half of next year. Vice Premier Ryu Seong-ui [Ryu Song Ui] was designated to discuss the specifics of the types and dates of delivery of oil with us. [We] are hereby reporting on these matters.

The delegation will return to China by train on the 18th [of December 1965].

Ruo Jiaoyu

Li Qiang

15 December 1965

Copied to: The Premier, [Deng] Xiaoping, Comrade Peng Zhen, Chen Yi, Li Fuchun, Li Xiannian, Vice Premier Bo Yibo, Comrade Qiulin, Foreign Affairs Office, Financial and Foreign Trade Office (2), State Planning Commission, Economic Commission, Foreign Economic and Trade Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Materials Department, the People’s Bank of China, the Central Liaison Department, the Central Investigation Department…