March 11, 1975
Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, No. 059.076
This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation
TELEGRAM
Sender: Pyongyang
No.: 059.076
Date: 11.03.1975
Time: 08:00
To the First and Second Directions - Relations
Following the intensification of the revolutionary struggle in Indochina, together with the attitude lacking in firmness on the part of the US and unwillingness to intervene for maintaining the present authorities in Phnom Penh and Saigon, as well as for renewed talks for withdrawing the last aviation units from Thailand, South Korea is showing signs of increased concern.
Authorities in Seoul consider the US position passive and damaging for the political atmosphere in South Korea. There is an increase in the number of declarations pointing that a future dismantling of the U.N. troops’ headquarters in South Korea will not influence the presence of US troops in the Korean Peninsula.
In various ways, guarantees are being required from the Americans that “in the present situation a withdrawal of foreign troops from South Korea is not in question and impossible”.
South Koreans are intensely “assisting” South Vietnamese refugees, by providing them with food, medicine and transportation means for their evacuation from dangerous areas.
At the same time, with the intensification of anti-communist propaganda and the increase to a maximum of the “Northern danger,” measures are being taken in South Korea for preventing any type of disorder. Thus, new restrictions, backed by last year’s decrees for exceptional situations, have been again set in place over the last days. An increase in the number of arrests, together with an intensified censorship of the opposition’s political activity is being registered.
We note an increased activity of the union of progressive forces under the leadership of neo-democratic and unity parties, a coalition that we deem capable of successfully conducting activities against the current President Park Chung Hee.
Nevertheless we note that presently in South Korea not even the opposition fosters anti-American feelings, which helps the authorities in Seoul and the US, which until now does not allow for the possibility to renounce the positions they occupied in the country.
Signed: Dumitru Popa
North Koreans report that the South Koreans are concerned with the imminent fall of South Vietnam. At the same time, Seoul is moving to ensure the continued presence of US troops on the Korean Peninsula even after the U.N. troops’ headquarters in South Korea. While Pyongyang can observe increased popular dissent against Park Chung Hee, the North Koreas worry that not even the anti-government opposition foster anti-American sentiments
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