TELEGRAM 066.793 from the Romanian Embassy in Pyongyang to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

TELEGRAM 066.793

To: the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (First and Second Directorates - Liaison)

From: the Romanian Embassy in Pyongyang

Date: July 17^th, 1978

Classification: Secret

With respect to the results of Emperor Bokassa’s visit to the DPRK (between April 23^rd and May 2^nd, 1978), in a recent conversation with Victor Nanu, the Chargé d’affaires of the Central African Empire to Pyongyang, P.S. Yssassi, said that the conversations and meetings with president Kim Il Sung, [as well as] the bilateral documents released set a solid foundation for a close collaboration between the two countries, especially on economic matters.

On the occasion of the aforementioned visit, it was agreed that the DPRK exports agricultural equipment to the Central African Empire, and imports coffee, high-quality timber and diamonds from the Central African Empire.

Moreover, the Koreans, at the Central African’s request, agreed to build a palace for Emperor Bokassa, in the style of Geumsusan Palace in Pyongyang. The Central Africans would provide the construction materials, the equipment etc. With a view to studying working conditions, and finishing the future palace’s project, a group of Korean specialists has been in Bangui since May 1978.

A Korean economic delegation, led by Kim Gyeong-yeon, the DPRK Minister of Finance, left for Bangui on July 9^th, in order to settle the  issue of the concrete forms of collaboration, the means and conditions for transporting the goods [traded between the two countries], as well as the issue of payments [for exports].

Signed

Victor Nanu