Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 31 July 1960

USSR EMBASSY [USSR MFA Far   [USSR MFA General

IN THE DPRK East Department stamp: Secretariat stamp:

Nº 135 SECRET Incoming Nº 01712s SECRET Incoming Nº

9 August 1960 12-18 August 1960] 09153gs

12 August 1960]

TOP SECRET

Copy Nº 1

JOURNAL

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

29 June through 8 August 1960

Pyongyang

[…]

31 July 1960

I met with Minister of Internal Affairs Pang Hak-se at the Chin-san Reservoir by prior arrangement.

I told Pang Hak-se about the favorable decision of the CPSU CC and Soviet Government concerning the KWP CC request described by Kim Il Sung during his stay in Moscow from 13 to 18 June of this year.

Pang Hak-se expressed gratitude for the information and said that this new enormous aid of the Soviet Government would be of much help to the DPRK in the further development of its economy, an increase in the population's standard of living, and would be received with great gratitude by the entire Korean people.

Pang Hak-se said that situation in the country was normal and there had been no serious incidents. Recently a battle had taken place in the sea around the line of demarcation between a South Korean patrol vessel and a DPRK patrol ship which was escorting fishermen. An attack was made by the South Koreans; their ship was somewhat larger and more powerful. As a result the DPRK ship sank and there were casualties. The fisherman managed to leave and did not suffer.

Up to 10 fisherman died at sea as a result of the recent typhoon.

Then Pang Hak-se against said that the trip of Kim Il Sung to Moscow, and his meeting and conversations with Cde. N. S. Khrushchev, were very timely and extremely necessary for a correct orientation in the situation. After the return from China in May of this year where there were meetings with Mao Zedong, Kim Il Sung had formed an impression about the honest and caring attitude of the Chinese leaders toward him and the DPRK on the whole. After returning from the guest house at Moranbon a reception was held for the Chinese ambassador and his counsellors which there had not been previously. At the CC Presidium and in conversations with senior officials Kim Il Sung repeatedly said that Mao Zedong and the other Chinese leaders had a very good attitude toward the DPRK, that they were displaying concern, and were ready to help on any issue; now there is no lack of agreement or unresolved issues between the DPRK and the PRC right now. In Moscow Kim Il Sung found out how dishonestly and hypocritically Mao Zedong had behaved with respect to him and the DPRK. After familiarization with the facts of Mao Zedong's and the Chinese attitude toward him and the DPRK in Moscow Kim Il Sung sharply changed his attitude toward the Chinese and on return from Moscow at a meeting of senior KWP CC officials and ministers he frankly said that it was necessary to exhibit vigilance since the Chinese were capable of any provocations.

The conversation touches on issues of who of the Presidium members takes pro-Chinese positions. Pang Hak-se said that the most pro-Chinese positions are taken by Rim Hae, and Kim Chang-man, Presidium member and Deputy KWP CC Chairman, is also pro-Chinese but, said Pang Hak-se, he is wise and clever enough not to openly oppose Kim Il Sung's position. CC Presidium members Pak Geum-Cheol and Kim Il have a very good attitude toward the Soviet Union, and also Ri Hyo-sun, who has more contact with Pak Geum-Cheol. In reply to a question about Ha Ang-cheon's, Jeong Il-yong's, and Ri Jeong-ok's attitude Pang Hak-se said that Ha Ang-cheon does not take a pro-Chinese position, and Jeong Il-yong and Ri Jeong-ok are economic managers. With respect to Kim Il Sung's attitudes toward Nam Il, Pang Hak-se said the following: Kim Il Sung respects Nam Il as before and has a good attitude toward him, but feels that there is pressure on him with respect to Nam Il; they slander [him] and want Kim Il Sung to change his attitude toward him. For the time being, it is hard to say how this will end.

I thanked Pang Hak-se for the information.

[…]

SOVIET AMBASSADOR IN THE DPRK [signature] /A. PUZANOV/

Five copies printed v[i]

1 - Cde. A. A. Gromyko

2 - Cde. Yu. V. Andropov

3 - Cde. I. I. Tugarinov

4 - USSR MFA UVPI

5 - to file

Nº 395 - 9 August 1960