Journal of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 31 October 1960

USSR TOP SECRET

MFA stamp:   Copy Nº 1

SOVIET EMBASSY

IN THE DPRK

0914-gs

19 January 1961

31 December 1960

Nº 169

JOURNAL

of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK Cde. A. M. PUZANOV

from 19 October through 7 November 1960

[…]

31 October 1960

Kim Il Sung received me at my request at 2015.

Kim Il Sung apologized that he was receiving me so late since he was very busy during the day but knowing that I was making a report in Haeju tomorrow he decided to receive me in the evening" [Translator's note: SIC, end quote; no open quote in the text].

I replied to Kim Il Sung that we know of his workload and for us the time of the reception, day or evening, is not important. I expressed gratitude that he had found an opportunity today to receive me. At the beginning of the conversation, referring to the wish stated by Kim Il Sung more than once to express my personal observations and ideas to him unofficially and in a Party manner (at this time Kim Il Sung nodded his head approvingly) I said that I had decided to express my ideas about the need for Cde. Kim Il Sung to head the KWP CC delegation himself. I said that on Saturday, 29 October, Cde. Kim Chang-man had informed me about the composition of the KWP delegation to the Conference of fraternal Parties and the reason which do not allow you, Cde. Kim Il Sung, to head the KWP delegation. Then, referring to the importance of the Conference, I expressed my opinion that it would be desirable for Cde. Kim Il Sung to head the KWP delegation to the Conference of fraternal Parties.

Having listened to me closely, Kim Il Sung expressed gratitude for the personal opinion and wish expressed. His statement essentially came down to the following:

- Right now the state of my health is quite satisfactory. Last year at this time I was sick but right now I'm working. The illness is improving thanks to the treatment of Chinese doctors. But the doctors warmed that it is necessary to avoid aggravation and the cold which will be in Moscow in November and the strong tension in work might cause an aggravation of the illness. Therefore the members of the Presidium insistently said I should not go. In particular, Cde. Pak Jeong-ae has gone on a business trip and therefore could not be at the Presidium meeting when the issue of the composition of the delegation was being decided. But before leaving she left her opinion in writing that I should not go. Yes, and the issues between us were all settled during my trip to Moscow. During the meeting with Cde. N. S. Khrushchev I told him my opinion about all the contentious issues. The position of our Party is well-known. The KWP CC delegations [SIC] headed by Cde. Ri He-sun [sic] which returned from Moscow which participated in the work of the editorial commission reported that the preparatory work for the Conference is being finished. The contentious issues are being decided. The KWP delegation will report the opinion of the KWP in the approved composition and work no worse than I.

The state of my health obliges me to listen to the opinion of the Presidium and indeed the condition in the country does not allow to be away from the country twice in one year. Besides participation in the work of the Conference I have important work here inside the country. The approved composition of the delegation will be able to replace me.

At the end of the conversation Kim ll Sung again expressed gratitude and said that he understands that I expressed my personal opinion to him in a Party manner, as a close friend and comrade; he said that he will tell the CC Presidium members about the conversation which took place "but the Presidium obviously will not change its decision, and indeed I do not desire this".

The conversation took place in a normal, friendly atmosphere. Kim Il Sung listened closely and spoke quietly. But it was evident from the entire course of the conversation that he has firmly decided himself not to go to Moscow for the Conference. It seems to me that Kim Il Sung himself felt that a reference to a possible aggravation of the illness is not very convincing, and therefore he cited another "argument" about the condition in the country. However, Kim Il Sung said nothing at all about the "condition in the country" which does not allow him "to be away from the country twice in one year". In addition, the substance of the KWP position about contentious issues was not stated in the conversation. Kim Il Sung only noted in general expressions that during the meeting with Cde. N. S. Khrushchev in June of this year "I expressed my opinion about all the contentious issues. The position of our Party is well-known. The delegation will report the opinion of the Korean Worker's Party at the Conference".

Pak Yong-guk, Chief of the KWP CC International Department, was present at the conversation. The conversation was conducted in Russian and partially in Korean. The translation into Russian was made by Choe Won-sik, chief of a sector of the CC International Department.

The conversation lasted more than an hour.

[…]

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

Five copies sent vp

1 - Cde. A. A. Gromyko

2 - Cde. Yu. V. Andropov

3 - Cde. V. I. Tugarinov

4 - UVPI MID SSSR

5 - to file

Nº 556 31 December 1960