Telegram from Gromyko to Tunkin at the Soviet Embassy in Pyongyang

You must meet with Kim Il Sung as soon as possible and try to illuminate from him the following additional questions:

1. How do they evaluate the South Korean army, [its] numbers, arms and fighting capacity?

2. The condition of the partisan movement in the south of Korea and what real help they think they will receive from the partisans.

3. How do the society and people regard the fact that northerners will be the first to begin an attack? What kind of real aid can be given by the population of the south to the army of the north?

4. Are there American troops in the south of Korea? What kind of measures, in the opinion of Kim Il Sung, can the Americans take in case of an attack by the northerners?

5. How do the northerners evaluate their possibilities, i.e. the condition of the army, its supplies and fighting capacity?

6. Give your evaluation of the situation and of how real and advisable is the proposal of our friends.

Clarifications are demanded in connection with the questions they raised in conversations on August 12 and September 3, 1949.

Immediately telegraph the results of the conversation.