Letter to Erich Honecker from Kim Il Sung

Department of
Berlin, 3 August 1973
International Affairs
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80 –

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46 copies, each 7 pages
Copy 28, 7 pages
Information
for the Politburo of the Central Committee
Subj.: Correspondence from Kim Il Sung, Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers Party, to Comrade Erich Honecker, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party


[s]


Markowski
Distribution:
Copies 1 - 28: Politburo
Copies 29 - 46: Department of International Relations
Berlin
To Comrade Erich Honecker
First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany


Dear Comrade Erich Honecker!

Highly gratified that friendly and cooperative relations between the Parties, governments, and peoples of our two countries are developing well, I hereby convey our sincerest fraternal greetings to you, and through you to your Party and government and the people of the German Democratic Republic.

I would like to express to you, the Central Committee of your Party, and your government deep gratitude that your country is taking an active role internationally in supporting the great issue of unifying our people's fatherland and that it supports the letter to the parliaments and governments of all of the countries in the world that was adopted at the second meeting of the 5th legislative period of our nation's Supreme People's Assembly, and has undertaken measures of solidarity.

Permit me to take this opportunity to tell you, and through you to tell the Central Committee of your Party and your government, about the situation that has most recently arisen in our country and about our recently prepared Five Point Course for independent peaceful unification.

Today the division of Korea causes our people—a people that developed as one nation during a long history—great unhappiness and suffering day after day and also creates obstacles for achieving and maintaining peace in Asia and the world.

The US, which has compelled the territory to be divided and our nation to be cut in half for 28 years now, currently employs two-sided tactics and wants in this manner to let Koreans fight one another, to perpetuate the division of Korea, and to create two Koreas. In lockstep with these US machinations, the rulers in South Korea prattle on about a "confrontation" between South and North, employ every resource to increase South Korea's military might, and obstinately hold fast to intrigues for perpetuating the division of the country. Recently they went so far as to conspire to make two Korea's their policy and to announce this policy of division publicly.

Through all of this the dialogue between North and South has not developed as it should have, with no regard for our consistent efforts for independent peaceful unification, and the bright prospect that emerged for our people for unification of the fatherland when the Joint Communique between South and North was published a year ago has darkened again.

At a time in which there are unusual movements meant to bring about the permanent division of Korea, on 23 June of this year we again set forth the following policy line for independent peaceful unification, based on a sincere desire to overcome the difficulties that have occurred and to satisfy the national yearning for peaceful unification of the fatherland as soon as possible.

First, we have proposed eliminating the military confrontation between South and North and reducing tensions. Eliminating the military confrontation between North and South and reducing tensions are the most urgent and critical issues for dispelling misunderstanding and mistrust between North and South, for deepening mutual understanding and trust, for creating an atmosphere of great national coalition for improving relations between South and North, and for accomplishing peaceful unification of the country.

If the hidden knife is not discarded, it will not be possible to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and satisfactorily resolve the issue of cooperation and exchange between North and South. This is why we have repeatedly proposed to South Korean authorities that the build-up of military forces and arms be halted, all foreign troops be withdrawn, troops and arms be reduced, the importation of weapons from abroad be halted, and a peace treaty be signed as the first steps for achieving peaceful unification of the country.

Secondly, we have proposed that North and South cooperate and conduct exchanges in all areas of the various arenas of politics, military affairs, foreign policy, the economy, and culture. We believe that accomplishing comprehensive cooperation and exchanges between North and South is very important to repair national bonds that have been torn asunder, to improve relations between South and North, and to bring about the conditions for unification.

Once again, we stress that South Korean rulers must not rely on foreign forces, but must transition to developing the nation's natural resources with us and thus develop the economy in the best interest of our nation and make national cooperation in all areas a reality.

Third, we have proposed ensuring that the population, in all classes and walks of life of North and South, be able to participate in overall national patriotic work for unifying the fatherland.

Since, given the will of the entire population of South and North Korea, unification of the fatherland is an issue that must be resolved, we believe that the dialog between North and South must not be restricted to representatives of North and South, but must be conducted in an overall national framework.

We have therefore proposed calling a great national conference composed of representatives of the people from all classes and walks of life and all political parties and social organizations of the North and South, and discussing and resolving there the issue of unifying our nation according to the will and demands of our people.

Fourth, we have again proposed forming a confederation of South and North and calling it the Federative Republic of Goryeo. We believe that forming a confederation between South and North, while maintaining the two systems currently existing in the North and South for a certain period based on the convocation of a great national conference and achieving a great national coalition is the most logical way to accomplish the unification of the country.

If a confederation between South and North is formed using the name Goryeo, we have proposed calling it the Federative Republic of Goryeo, under which name our country will become known in the world as a single nation.

Fifth, we have proposed that North and South pursue foreign relations jointly in order to prevent the division from becoming cemented in place and thus dividing our nation into two Koreas for all time. As one nation, which developed as a single entity with one culture and one language over a long history, our nation must not be cut in two. We believe that North and South must have common stances in the area of international relations, as well, in order to prevent the country from being divided forever.

In terms of establishing diplomatic relations with other countries, we also decisively oppose all machinations for creating two Koreas. We strongly maintain that North and South cannot separately join the UN and believe that if joining the UN is a goal, at the minimum this must not occur until the confederation is formed under the name of the Federative Republic of Goryeo, at which time the UN can be joined as one nation. But if, distinct from the issue of joining the UN, issues regarding Korea are included in the UN's agenda and are to be discussed, we believe that a representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea must take part and participate as an interested party.

We believe that all of our proposals reflect the urgent desire of all Korean people to prevent the division of the country, to fundamentally improve and develop relations between South and North, to accomplish in the most rapid manner possible the unification of our fatherland, and furthermore reflect current demands for independence and peace and are therefore extremely reasonable and realistic proposals that can be accepted by anyone.

It has now become completely clear who wants peace and unification in Korea and who is really planning for war and division.

I am convinced that your Party, your government, and your people are very interested in the situation that has developed in our nation, and that you will actively undertake various measures to support this new policy of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for independent and peaceful unification of the country on a democratic basis, without outside intervention.

I am convinced that the close relations of friendship and cooperation that exist between the Parties, governments, and peoples of our two nations will continue to improve and develop, as in the past, so also in the future, based on the principles of Marxism/Leninism and proletarian internationalism, and send you my sincere wishes for great success in your professional endeavors and for good health for you personally.


With comradely greetings

Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers Party
Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, 7 July 1973