Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 2 May 1957

SOVIET EMBASSY IN THE DPRK TOP SECRET

Nº 106 Copy Nº 1

[faded USSR MFA Stamp:

…5824gs

3 June 1957]

[USSR MFA Stamp:

Far East Department

Secret

Incoming Nº 01440s

4-5 June 1957]

The Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A. M. PUZANOV

for the period 29 April through 4 May 1957

Pyongyang

[…]

2 May 1957

I held a comradely lunch at the dacha. Kim Il Sung, Choe Yong-geon [Choe Yong Gon], Pak Jeong-ae [Pak Jong Ae], Kim Il, and Nam Il were present. On our side were Pelishenko, Shesterikov, Kryukov, and Andreyev. The lunch occurred in a warm, comradely atmosphere. In conversation Kim Il Sung and the other Korean comrades repeatedly spoke very warmly about the great attention to the DPRK from the leaders of the CPSU CC and Soviet government and the enormous aid given by the Soviet Union in the recovery and development of the republic's economy. In one of the conversations, as if in passing, Kim Il Sung said: when s Czechoslovak government delegation headed by Cde. Siroky was here we did not ask them for any aid, although we needed it, and expressed some of our requests to the Czechoslovak ambassador before arrival through our minister Nam Il. True, the atmosphere during the delegation's visit and the talks was very warm and friendly, however we did not address any requests to Cde. Siroky. Why? The Korean people are proud and do not like to make frequent requests, said Kim Il Sung, but when Nam Il passed our requests to the ambassador, the latter expressed doubt about the ability to meet [them] inasmuch as, he said, the Czechoslovak Republic itself has certain difficulties. Therefore we did not start to address any requests a second time.

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