Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 28 February 1958

…28 February 1958

I visited Nam Il at his invitation.

Nam Il passed the Statement of the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the return to South Korea of the two American citizens, two FRG citizens, and also the residents of South Korea who wish to return to their homeland.

Nam Il asked that the following be passed on: the DPRK government asks the Soviet government to send to the US and FRG governments the DPRK MFA Statement about the return to South Korea of the passengers who were on the aircraft which flew into the DPRK on 16 February. Nam Il then informed [me] that this Statement will be broadcast on the radio at 1300 1 March Moscow time and will be published in the press on 2 March.

At Nam Il's request, having familiarized myself with the Statement, I made several comments to him about the comment and wording of the Statement. In particular, I recommended more categorically refuting the absurd inventions of the US government about the government or any DPRK organization having anything to do with the flight of the South Korean aircraft into North Korea. I also recommended inserting a number of comments about the text of the Declaration.

Nam Il completely agreed with the additions and changes inserted. Inasmuch as the text of the Statement had already been approved by the KWP CC Presidium Nam Il went to Kim Il Sung with the additions and changes inserted, who agreed with them.

After the additions and changes were inserted the text of the DPRK MFA Statement became better; however, it still needed serious revision. For example, there are many shrill expressions in the Statement without special need: "the Syngman Rhee clique". However, Nam Il did not make any changes. It was not possible to make all the necessary corrections in view of the late time and also because the text of the Statement had already been approved by the CC Presidium.