Report fromk Barity Miklós, 'Visit of the Korean ambassador'

Record

Subject: Visit of the Korean ambassador

On August 10 I received the DPRK's ambassador Pak Gyeong-sun [Pak Kyong-sun] at his request. The ambassador handed over the decree proposal in relation to the UN General Assembly topic of "Providing favorable conditions for accelerating the peaceful and independent unification of Korea", and also handed over the July 31 statement of the DPRK's government. (The two documents are attached to the International Organizations Main Division's copies.)

At the same time he expressed his gratitude for Hungary's joining Algeria's initiative as well. He asked for continued assistance in their fight for the peaceful unification of their country.

The ambassador wished that their proposal be added to the General Assembly's agenda, especially because all socialist and many non-socialist countries backed it. There are also countries (Finland, Turkey) whose standpoints are not known yet. He also mentioned that they have information that the Japanese government is also considering whether to support the proposal or not, but he added that he is not saying this because Japan’s point of view bears any kind of importance to them.

Following this, he said that as their national opera's guest performance was shown in Poland and various African countries too, they received orders for proposing a Hungarian guest performance as well. Yesterday they received an answer from the Ministry of Culture stating that their guest performance would not be possible. Regarding this issue I told the ambassador that as a well-known fact, such large-scale guest performances require very careful, meticulous, and relatively long preparations. The date proposed is quite close, so our organizations would not be able to prepare for it by that time. The preparations for similar performances often require years or even longer periods, so we usually account for them in our long-term plans. Only by following these plans can careful and particular activities involving such organization, and implementation start. Budapest is already holding a series of events called Cultural Weeks at the proposed date, where many foreign groups are performing. However, the plans for these guest performances had been fixed much earlier.

I asked for the ambassador's understanding and asked him to inform his home organizations in charge about the reasons mentioned above. He replied that he fully understands our objective difficulties, and he will relay them precisely to Pyongyang.

Regarding the sessions of the Economic Cooperation Committee between the two countries, I told the ambassador that we are ready to start the session on September 12 or 13, as our embassy in Pyongyang has already made known.

Finally, the ambassador stated that before their national celebrations, he wishes to meet the Hungarian leaders and inform them about the developments regarding the Korean situation. Especially because after the July 4 joint statement, there are still acts of terror in South Korea.

Budapest, 1972 August 12.