Journal of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK A. M. Puzanov for 27 May 1958

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USSR EMBASSY IN THE DPRK

Nº 112

30 May 1958

[faded stamp:

07238-gs

11 June 1958]

[MFA Far East

Department stamp:

Incoming Nº 01579

12 June 1958]

[handwriting: "To Cdes. [[two names illegible]]

Arrange with the Main Directorate of the

Civil Air Fleet about the crew for government aircraft]

JOURNAL

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

period 13 May through 29 May 1958

[handwriting:

to Cde. Samsonov

for implementation.

N. Torbenkov]

Pyongyang

[…]

27 May 1958

I visited Kim Il Sung together with Military Attaché A. A. D'yakonov.

The Military Attaché informed Kim Il Sung about his impressions of the life and everyday activity of the troops and their combat training in all the divisions of the 1^st and 2^nd Armies and the 2^nd Infantry Corps.

A question was raised in the conversation concerning the operational plan for the country's defense and the mobilization plan, the state of intelligence, concerning personnel, and questions were also touched on associated with the visit of a military delegation to Moscow.

The Military Attaché noted that the regrouping of forces in connection with the withdrawal of the Chinese people's volunteers went in a very organized fashion. KPA troops occupied the line previous established for them by order and correctly organized service in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of National Defense for the defense of the line of demarcation.

The troops which were moved to the forward defensive line are devoting much attention to preparing the defensive lines, especially in sectors previously occupied by the Chinese people's volunteers.

A. A. D'yakonov directed attention to the need to prepare defensive lines in depth (a second zone, first and second army zones), to organization, and to working out questions of coordination between divisions of the first echelon, the second echelon in reserve, and also between troop arms. He also noted that as a result of organizational measures unforeseen by the plan and the great assignment of the troops to economic work there is a delay in carrying out the measures envisaged by the combat training plan.

Kim Il Sung noted about this issue that the defensive line in depth actually needs to be strengthened but the majority of this work will have to be postponed to next year in connection with the troops' great workload at the present time. As regards the delay in carrying out the combat training plan the Directorate of Combat Training ought to devote more attention to these problems and carry out the intended plan in the remaining time. Kim Il Sung spoke highly of the operational plan of the country's defense drawn up with the active participation of Soviet military specialists which was discussed at a meeting of the Supreme Military Council a few days ago and approved by it.

Kim Il Sung spoke approvingly of the suggestions of the Soviet specialists about the organization of self-defense detachments throughout the entire country in provinces and districts to train officer personnel for wartime.

In response to the request of the Military Attaché to describe his views about coordination between the armies of the USSR, DPRK, and PRC in the air, ground, and sea, Kim Il Sung said that in time of war, and it will in all likelihood not be of a local nature, the main headquarters for us will be Moscow, which in our opinion will anticipate all these questions. If the General Staff of the Soviet Army finds it necessary to create naval and air bases on DPRK territory then the government of the DPRK will eagerly begin to carry out this work even as we speak. Kim Il Sung then noted that we have enough cement and if necessary then all the preparatory work ought to be done in peacetime. Kim Il Sung said, in view of the small size of the air force and navy we completely rely on the help of the Soviet Union. If the South Koreans act alone then the DPRK troops are capable of repelling their attack independently. But since this is unlikely at the present time then we hope for the aid of our great friends, the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. We have an agreement with the government of the PRC. They will help with ground troops in the event of war.

Kim Il Sung then said that in 1955 Peng Dehuai had a conversation with him about the issue of obtaining weapons and military equipment. We expressed our firm intention to get military equipment only in the Soviet Union. However, as a consequence of the distance of shipments from the USSR some weapons will have to be acquired from the PRC through contact [v poryadke kontaktirovaniya]. Kim Il Sung then again stressed that the Soviet Union has been and would be the supplier of military equipment for the DPRK.

With respect to equipping the army with modern military equipment Kim Il Sung said that we will maintain the Army at the same level in which it is at the present time except for the replacement of tanks with more modern ones. However, considering that modern military equipment requiring highly-skilled personnel will be employed in a future military conflict we are asking right now that our military be taught in the Soviet Union the skills to use modern military equipment. We have charged Kim Gwang-hyeop [Kim Kwang Hyop] with raising these issues in conversation with Marshal of the Soviet Union Malinovsky.

Concerning the production of several types of weapons and clothing for the Army, Kim Il Sung said that they can develop the production of gas masks in the country on condition they receive the technical documentation from the Soviet Union.

Kim Il Sung agreed that military intelligence at the present time is not up to par and reacted approvingly to suggestions from Soviet military specialists to conduct reconnaissance of the enemy's front line with aircraft, without violating the Armistice Agreement. With respect to returning human intelligence to the purview of the General Staff, Kim Il Sung promised to think about this issue and said that it is  possible that we will decide it favorably but it will operate under the control and supervision of a specially-created Directorate headed by a CC Presidium member.

The Military Attaché asked Kim Il Sung to speed up the decision of the issue of appointing chiefs to some vacant senior positions (commander of the Navy, chief of staff of the Air Force, chief of the intelligence directorate, and others).

Kim Il Sung said that this issue will be decided when officers studying in the Soviet Union return this year.

At the end of the conversation Kim Il Sung and Nam Il told about the visit of the KWP delegation in the Soviet Union and its reception by Cde. N. S. Khrushchev. Speaking of the substance of the conversation, Nam Il said that Cde. N. S. Khrushchev spoke very approvingly to the successes in DPRK industry and agriculture. He spoke highly about Cde. Kim Il Sung firmly and steadfastly pursuing a policy of unity and solidarity of Party ranks on the basis of Marxism-Leninism.

Nam Il and Kim Gwang-hyeop were present at the conversation, which lasted more than one and a half hours.

[…]