Journal of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 15 August 1960

USSR EMBASSY [USSR MFA Far   TOP SECRET

IN THE DPRK East Department stamp:   Copy Nº 3

Nº 139 SECRET Incoming Nº 01968

25 August 1960 12-18 August 1960]

JOURNAL

of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK A. M. PUZANOV for the period

10 through 23 August 1960

Pyongyang

[…]

15 August 1960

A military parade and demonstration of workers, which went precisely and in an organized manner was held in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 15^th anniversary [of the liberation of Korea].

The demonstration reflected the struggle of the Korean people for their freedom and independence, the liberation of Korea by the Soviet Army, the successes in socialist development, the friendship of the Korean people with the peoples of the Soviet Union, and also with the peoples of the socialist countries, and the struggle for peace in the entire world and the peaceful reunification of the country. The demonstration showed the unity of the workers of the DPRK around the KWP and DPRK government. There were considerably fewer portraits of Kim Il Sung this time than in previous demonstrations. The fact that they carried a sculpture of Kim Il Sung, which was surrounded by representatives of various strata of the population, on a covered vehicle right after the slogan "We will rally still closer around the KWP CC" calls attention to itself. Demonstrators carried portraits of Cde. N. S. Khrushchev (two or three) and the leaders of the other socialist countries and fraternal Parties of these countries (one each).

One might note as a shortcoming that the aid of socialist countries in the recovery and development of the DPRK economy was not reflected.

It stands out that everyone who took part in the demonstration was well-dressed in suits and skirts of various colors, which is different from previous demonstrations. While passing along the streets and past the government reviewing stand the representatives of the collectives of enterprises and organizations danced and played with songs and athletic performances. The schoolchildren passed in a well-organized manner. Detachments of the Pyongyang people's guard, up to 3,000 people, pass at the end of the demonstration.

At the invitation of the leadership I was on the government reviewing stand.

xxx

During the day athletic performances were held at the central stadium in which up to 20,000 people took part. Before the performance of the athletes emissaries of all the provinces of the country, whose leaders delivered reports to Kim Il Sung, passed by. A delegation of young Koreans who had arrived in Chongjin from Tokyo on Soviet ships and from Chongjin to Pyongyang on bicycles, who delivered reports and three banners to Kim Il Sung, passed by.

The performances of the athletes were substantive and interesting.

At Kim Il Sung's invitation I was in the government box with my wife.

Before the beginning of the performance I asked Minister Pak Seong-cheol whether the translation of "the creation of a federation" Kim Il Sung's report they circulated in Russian since during Kim Il Sung's meeting with Cde. N. S. Khrushchev and also during my meeting with Kim Il Sung on 24 July at which he, the Minister, was present the subject was a Confederation. And indeed, by implication, the goal that Cde. Kim Il Sung expressed in the report is more suited by a Confederation than a federation, as was done in the Russian translation.

Pak Seong-cheol thanked me for drawing his attention to the correctness of the translation and said that, in his opinion, Confederation is actually more suitable, but that this issue will be explained and reported further (they reported to consider it a Confederation).

xxx

In the evening a large government reception was held at the newly-built Okryugwan Restaurant on the shore of the Taedong [River] (which accommodates 1,000) at which Kim Il Sung gave a speech. Briefly noting the achievements of the past 15 years Kim Il Sung expressed congratulations on the holiday and expressed gratitude to the heroic working class, members of agricultural cooperatives, education and science workers, specialists, artistic figures, warriors of the people's army, soldiers of security detachments, and workers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and also officials of Party and government bodies and public organizations. He also expressed passionate support to the entire South Korean people who were fighting heroically against the colonial domination of the American imperialists. He passed greetings and expressed support to his fellow countrymen in Japan celebrating Liberation Day abroad who are fighting for the national and democratic rights of their countrymen in Japan.

Kim Il Sung then said the following:

"The successes achieved by our people in the construction of a new society after liberation are unthinkable apart from the aid of the peoples of the countries of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union.

The great Soviet Union liberated our country from the colonial yoke of the Japanese imperialists and constantly gives us material aid and moral support. The Chinese people gave us help with the blood of their sons and daughters and continue to help in our development. The peoples of all the fraternal countries are giving us genuine aid.

Allow me to take advantage of this occasion to express heartfelt gratitude to the peoples of the fraternal countries headed by the Soviet Union. In particular, allow me to express deep gratitude to the specialists of the fraternal countries who, in sharing the sorrows and joys with our people, are helping us in socialist development.

As you know, several days ago a report was published about the upcoming visit to our country of Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The visit of Cde. N. S. Khrushchev to our country will promote the further strengthening of the friendly relations between the Korean and Soviet peoples and further inspire our people in their struggle to build socialism. This visit will also make a valuable contribution to the cause of strengthening the peace in Korea and in the Far East. The entire Korean people will fervently greet the dear guest from the great neighbor country".

In conclusion Kim Il Sung proposed a toast to the happiness and prosperity of the Korean people, to the peaceful reunification of the country, to the flourishing and development of the motherland, "to the unbreakable unity of the countries of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union, to peace in the entire world, and also to the health of the comrades and friends present".

After some time at the suggestion of the leadership I gave a short speech and toast. There was also a short statement by Chinese Ambassador Qiao Xiaoguang on behalf of the diplomatic corps.

About 9 P. M. there was a fireworks salute on the Taedong River for about 25-30 minutes.

When we were standing on the restaurant's veranda and observing the fireworks, I noted: "Cde. Choe Yong-geon, you were a military man for a long time, but obviously you do not object if the guns in the whole world fire not live shells, but fireworks". Choe Yong-geon replied: "Yes, of course, if a lasting peace were established in the whole world", and then even more seriously said, "The Central Committee of the CPSU, the Soviet government, and Cde. N. S. Khrushchev personally are pointing out the right path: peaceful coexistence of countries with different economic systems, general and complete disarmament, along which the world could avoid wars. All of us should consistently and persistently follow this path".

[…]

SOVIET AMBASSADOR IN THE DPRK [signature] (A. PUZANOV)

Five copies printed. at.

1^st - Cde. A. A. Gromyko

2^nd - Cde. Yu. V. Andropov

3^rd - Cde. I. I. Tugarinov

4^th - USSR MFA UVPI

5^th - to file

Nº 414 24 August 1960