May 13, 1978
TELEGRAM 027.498 from the Romanian Embassy in Cairo to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
This document was made possible with support from ROK Ministry of Unification
TELEGRAM 027.498
To: the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Comrade C. Oancea - Fourth Directorate)
From: the Romanian Embassy in Cairo
Subject: the remarks of the DPRK Ambassador regarding the situation in the Middle East and Egyptian-North Korean relations
Date: May 13th, 1978
Classification: Secret
In a conversation with the DPRK Ambassador to Cairo, he made the following remarks with respect to the situation in the Middle East and Egyptian-North Korean relations:
- President Sadat’s peace initiative is regarded by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a positive, courageous and realistic act.
President Sadat decided to move to direct negotiations because the resolution of the crisis in the region according with the help of previous methods reached a standstill.
It is not true that Sadat is trying to strike a separate peace with Israel, those who assert such things are gravely mistaken. Sadat is taking actions with a view to a global peace, but he is and will be doing his best so that Egypt keeps initiative and control over the peace process.
- There are very good, friendly bilateral relations between the DPRK and Egypt. Economic relations are developing well and there is a strong and deep military collaboration between the two countries.
North Korea helped the Egyptian Air Force not only with instructors but also with pilots, even in the October 1973 War.
However, North Korea is displeased with the fact that Egypt is developing its relations with South Korea, not only economically but also politically. In this respect, there have been visit exchanges at the level of the People’s Assembly, [for instance] a group of Egyptian MPs visited South Korea.
North Korea is not raising this issue with Egyptian decision-makers, but it takes action to develop and diversify bilateral relations between the DPRK and Egypt to prove the solidarity [existing between the two countries] and the serious nature of these relations.
Signed
Petru Burlacu
The DPRK Ambassador to Cairo explains Egypt President Sadat's intentions and expresses dissatisfaction with the development of ROK-Egypt relations.
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