Political Report No. 8 of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Poland in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the Period of 1 December to 31 December 1953

Embassy No. 242/2/11/54

of the Polish Republic

in Korea it

REPORT No. 8

of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Poland

in the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea

for the period of 1 December to 31 December 1953

Political reportNo. 8

of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Poland

in the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea

for the period of 1 December to 31 December 1953.

I. Polish-Korean relations.

1. In connection with the upcoming arrival of our specialists with the goal of giving technical assistance to the reconstruction of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Embassy here, in accordance with an order from the Center, has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK to inform our Country whether our specialists will be able to take topographic photographs and make plans of the buildings in whose reconstruction Poland is to assist. Despite repeatedly asking to hurry up the answer to the above question, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far not given any explanations. The reason for this is probably a lack of answer from the ministries and organizations in the DPRK involved in this.

2. [Polish embassy asked for materials for student ensembles and from the DPRK Academy of Science.]

3. [Polish embassy asked for film cooperation.]

4. [Polish films have been shown.]

5. [Polish embassy is asking for propaganda materials.]

II. Internal situation in the DPRK.

1. VII Plenum of the central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party

From 18 to 19 December 1953, the VII Plenum of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party, the second one since the truce, convened. Two fundamental issues were discussed at the plenum:

a) The issue of increasing the work of the Democratic Front for the Unification of the Fatherland;

b) Conducting a reporting-electoral campaign in the leading organs of the party on all levels.

The speeches given at the Plenum were by: regarding the first point, V[ice]-chairman of the Central Committee of the KWP, Kim Il; regarding the second point, V[ice]-Chairman of the Central Committee of the KWP, Pak Jeong-ae [Pak Jong Ae]. The texts of the two speeches were not published anywhere.

The Plenum developed a plan of conducting a reporting-electoral action. According to the calendar of this action, it is to be conducted in the period of 20 January 1954 to 5 April 1954.

The VII Plenum of the CC KWP adopted resolutions which are important to the life of the party and which will lead to the further elevation of the ideological and political consciousness of party members, to the further strengthening of its ranks through criticism and self-criticism in the course of the reporting-electoral meeting being conducted.

For the details regarding the organizational resolutions of the VII Plenum of the CC KWP, see note No. 2421/79/53/TJN of 28 December 1953.

2. VI Session of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK.

After a nearly four-year interruption caused by the war, from 20 to 22 December 1953 the VI Session of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea convened in Pyongyang. The whole government of the DPRK, headed by Kim Il Sung, the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly and members of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party arrived for the deliberations of the VI Session of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

Heads of diplomatic Missions accredited to the DPRK were also invited to the opening of the Session.

The Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK, Kim Du-bong [Kim Tu Bong], performed the celebratory opening of the Session.

Participants in the Sessions honored the memory of the Great Leader of the Proletariat, Joseph Stalin, and of those who perished in the Fatherland war with silence.

The following issues were place on the agenda of the VI Session of the Supreme People’s Assembly:

1. About the work of the Government Delegations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which spent time in the Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China, as well as Poland, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary;

2. Adoption of the decisions of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly issued in the period between the V and VI Sessions of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea;

3. Confirmation of the partial changes in the composition of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK.

Kim Il Sung discussed the work of he DPRK government delegations. In his speech, Kim Il Sung analyzed in detail the agreements signed between the Government of the DPRK and the Governments of the Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, stressing what great assistance these countries promised to give to Korea in rebuilding its national economy destroyed by American invaders.

Discussing the assistance of the Soviet Union, which has assigned an amount of 1 billion rubles out of its budget for the rebuilding of the DPRK’s national economy, Kim Il Sung presented the plan for using the above amount, as agreed by the DPRK Government and the USSR Government. The following factories are to be rebuilt using these funds:

1. Kim Chaek Metallurgical Works;

2. Steelworks in Seongjin;

3. Chemical conglomerate in Heungnam;

4. Cement works in Seunghori;

5. Colored metals works in Nampo;

6. Hydro-electric power plant in Supung;

7. Textile factory in Pyongyang.

Apart from these, the following new enterprises will be constructed:

1. Meat-processing conglomerate;

2. Textile factory;

3. Fish cannery;

4. Hydrochloric acid factory;

5. Paint and varnish factory;

6. Tractor-repair works;

7. Central radio station.

In building and rebuilding the above-mentioned factories, the Soviet Union has committed to supply equipment, building materials and to guarantee technical assistance by specialists who will direct the construction. At the same time, the Soviet Union is to pass on to the Koreans technical documents for the production processes in these factories, patents, licenses, as well as training the technical cadres for these factories.

The Soviet Union will also deliver to the Koreans a variety of equipment and construction materials for these factories, which will be rebuilt with the DPRK’s own forces, as well as the articles and materials indispensable to the development and reconstruction of agriculture and industry and the raising of the standard of living of the population. As part of this assistance, the Soviet Union will deliver agricultural machines and tools, synthetic fertilizers, breeding cattle, horses, fishing boats, buses, textiles and other necessities, as well as equipment for hospitals and schools. It will also equip the central scientific-technical library, which is to have between ten and twenty thousand volumes.

All this enormous assistance from the Soviet Union will be provided to Korea during the next 2 years, with two thirds of it in the course of 1954, and the rest in 1955.

The Soviet Union has also cut in half the debt which the DPRK incurred in the pre-war period and stemming from the agreement on economic-cultural assistance, which Korea signed with the Soviet Union in 1949.

Next, Premier Kim Il Sung discussed the assistance from the People’s Republic of China. By an agreement signed by the Korean Government Delegation with the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, China has agreed to annul all debts stemming from the assistance given to the DPRK in the period of 25 June 1950 to 31 December 1953. At the same time, the People’s Republic of China has assigned the sum of 8 trillion yuan for help to the DPRK, with 3 trillion yuan to be given to the DPRK during 1954 and the remaining 5 trillion yuan in the course of the next three years.

As part of this aid, Korea will receive hard bituminous coal, cotton textiles, wool, food, construction materials, means of transportation, metal products, machinery, agricultural tools, fishing boats, paper and office supplies and necessities.

In 1954 China will deliver 100 thou[sand] t. of food, 30 thou[sand] t. of soy, dozens of shipping boats, textiles, coal and several other products. China will continue to deliver technical assistance and will send worker brigades to rebuild the railroads; they will deliver steam locomotives (48 such steam locomotives were sent in the mo[nth] of December of this year) and passenger and freight rail cars. Apart from this, cadres of Korean specialists will train in the People’s Republic of China.

After discussing the help from the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, Premier Kim Il Sung summarized the agreements reached with the countries of people’s democracy.

He first mentioned Czechoslovakia, then Poland, Hungary, the GDR, Romania, Bulgaria, Mongolia and Albania.

In discussing Czechoslovakia’s aid to the DPRK, Kim Il Sung mentioned the factories that Czechoslovakia will build and rebuild. They are: car and car-part factories, a tool factory, the rebuilding of a cement plant and the rebuilding of three hydro-electric power plants. To implement their aid, the government of the Republic of Czechoslovakia has sent its specialists, who have conducted preparatory work, to Korea.

Apart from the above, Czechoslovakia will deliver construction materials and necessities to Korea.

Poland: On the basis of a signed agreement, the People’s Republic of Poland will build shops that will repair steam locomotives, shops that will renovate railway cars, rebuild and restructure three coal mines, deliver technical aid for the reconstruction of the country and send a variety of diverse materials and articles.

Hungary: Will give aid in building a chemical (benzene) factory, will build a weights and measures factory and a machine-tool factory, and, in the course of 1954, they will deliver various electrical machines and communications equipment and factory equipment. To implement this assistance, on 26.XII. of this year, a 6-person delegation of Hungarian specialists arrived in Korea.

GDR: In 1954-1956, it will build a factory of diesel engines, a factory of electrical equipment and a printing press. Apart from this, in 1954 the GDR will send factory equipment, necessities and a range of other materials for a total of tens of millions of rubles.

Romania: From 1953 to 1956, the government of the Romanian People’s Republic will give Korea assistance amounting to 65 million rubles. For this amount, a cement works, a pharmaceutical factory will be built, and equipment for brick factories will be delivered. Romania will also send 10 passenger railcars, 10 fishing boats of 150 HP each, 30 tank trucks and a variety of materials and necessities.

Bulgaria: Will give Korea assistance for a total of 20 million rubles. This sum will include silk textiles, window glass, equipment for brick factories and wood product factories.

The Mongolian People’s Republic and Albania will also continue to help.

All these data, which were included in Kim Il Sung’s speech at the VI Session of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK, point to the great aid and solidarity of the countries of the peace camp in rebuilding Korea, which has been destroyed by imperialistic aggressors. Thus, the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has fully backed the government’s peaceful policies, expressing the whole Korean nation’s appreciation for the brotherly assistance being given to it.

After Kim Il Sung’s speech and a discussion which developed on the above issue, the VI Session of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK fully approved and endorsed the agreements signed by the government delegations.

It also unanimously endorsed all the resolutions issued by the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK in the period between the V and VI Sessions of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

Also approved were the proposed changes in the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and Kim Du-bong remains the Chairman of the Presidium and only V[ice]-Chairmen were changed.

As can be seen from the personnel changes in the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, in the Supreme People’s Assembly and in some government ministries implemented as a result of the VI Session, these changes are not fundamental. It is only a matter of implementing the correct distribution of cadres in accordance with the country’s new needs in the period of post-war stability and reconstruction.

For detailed data regarding the resolutions of the VI Session of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK, see note No. 2421/80/53TJN of 28.XII.1953.

3. DPRK industry.

In the month of December, in all the branches of industry of the DPRK the working class fought with exceptionally strengthened effort to fulfill the determined production plans ahead of schedule. According to the press, many production enterprises adopted new production norms in accordance with the technological conditions of work in those enterprises.

The workers of a metallurgical plant in Cheongjin, who are working in accordance with the new production norms, executed 160% of their annual plan of producing steel pipes. The metallurgical plant in Rajin executed 163% of their annual production plan, and in Heungnam the chemical conglomerate, a section of which has working again, 130% of the production of carbide was fulfilled.

The industrial enterprises of a consumer nature have also had great production achievements, and in accordance with the guidelines of the VI Plenum of the CC KWP they are increasing their production of necessities every day. According to the newspaper MinjuChoson of 29 December 1953, the Pyongyang factory of soy products executed 135% of their production plan compared to September 1953, and the factory of applied chemistry (production of soap and cosmetics) in Sinuiju executed 125% of their production plan compared to the period that preceded the signing of the truce in Korea.

In the previous reporting period, despite the inconvenient atmospheric conditions, work was being performed non-stop in connection with the rebuilding of industry. The main stress, as can be seen, was directed at the quickest possible reconstruction and build-up of the industry of construction materials, whose shortages can be felt in the DPRK very acutely. Thanks to the effort of the working class of the DPRK and the large help from the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, nearly every day new, rebuilt industrial buildings are being handed over for operation.

In December, three great brickyards in Hamheung, Hwansu [sic], and Cheongjin were rebuilt and began to work; altogether, their annual production of these brickyards will add up to 23 mil[lion] bricks. In 1954, it is expected that 2 large brickyards will be constructed in the region of Pyongyang, of which each one is to produce 100 mil[lion] bricks annually.

Right now, the overall production of bricks in the DPRK amounts to 100 mil[lion] pieces a year. To meet the needs related to the reconstruction of the national economy of the DPRK, brickyards are to be expanded, and their total productive power should be 500 mil[lion] pieces annually.

In the Pyongyang industrial district, which was a large center of the textile industry before the war, a rebuilt textile factory in Pyongyang began production on 27 December.

According to the guidelines of the VI Plenum of the CC KWP, major geological work is being conducted in the territory of the DPRK with the goal of locating new deposits of raw materials. The geological exploration is paying particular attention to finding new deposits of bituminous coal, of which there is very little in Korea.

In South Hamgyeong Province, as a result of geological exploration, new deposits of iron ore were found. The Soviet Union is giving a lot of assistance to the DPRK in these explorations.

For a long time now, an action has been conducted in the whole territory of the DPRK of collecting scrap metal, which at this moment when many ore mines and factories have not yet been rebuilt, is a major source of raw material for production. The DPRK’s government is attaching a lot of importance to this action. This is expressed in the launching, to direct this action, of a special council of raw materials stemming from waste and scrap metal, which is attached to the Cabinet of Ministers of the DPRK. It must be admitted that the action of collecting scrap metal, like other previous ones, has taken on a truly mass character. The example can be given that last month the inhabitants of Pyongyang collected over 8,408 t. of scrap metal and 627 t. of other raw materials.

4. Agriculture.

In connection with the implementation of the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers about taking steps with the goal of stabilizing the life of the inhabitants of Gangwon Province, in this reporting period, the Peasant Bank of this province began to divide among the peasants the credits designated for the reconstruction of the agricultural economy. The current credits are devoted mostly to the purchase of tractive force, hogs and poultry. At the same time, the Ministry has delivered 1,768 breeding hogs, 300 draught oxen and 1,900 calves, with the goal of distributing them to the peasants at state prices.

The above leads to the conclusion that, following the distribution of credits, the government is creating possibilities of purchasing the stock animals and agricultural tools which are indispensable to operating a farm.

In accordance with the implementation of the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the DPRK concerning creating centers of tractive force, the Ministry of Agriculture began to found them. According to the designed plan, centers of tractive force will be founded in the following provinces: in Hwanghae Province – 15 centers, South Pyeongan – 10, Gangwon – 6, North Pyeongan – 8 and South Hamgyeong – 6 centers. In every center of tractive force, there will be 150 to 2,500 horses. The task of these centers will be to give assistance in the form of tractive force to associations for soil cultivation and to poor peasants, who own no tractive force.

According to press reports, the work of founding the centers of tractive force is very advanced and it is to be completed before the beginning of the period of the spring farm work.

The speedy repairing of the damage in the rural economy of the DPRK caused by the war and its further development on a basis of the democratic transformation of the Korean countryside is a subject of deep concern to the party and government of the DPRK.  A further piece of evidence of this concern and help being demonstrated by the state to the peasants is the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of 18 December 1953 about the annulment of peasants’ debts vis-à-vis the state in the form of unpaid in-kind taxes and unpaid-off loans of grain and seed, which have been received from the state, and the lifting of compulsory meat deliveries.

With the goal of the quick development of agriculture and animal husbandry, raising its production capacity and raising the standard of living of the basic peasant masses, the Cabinet of Ministers decided:

A) Beginning on 20 December 1953, debts stemming from unpaid in-kind taxes for the period of 1950-1952 for using irrigation devices, machine-tractor centers and unpaid loans in seeds, synthetic fertilizers and food obtained from the state, are being cancelled;

b) As of 1 January 1954, compulsory meat deliveries to the state are being lifted.

The resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of 18 December 1953 includes major relief for the peasants, which will no doubt contribute to a quicker rebuilding of agriculture in the DPRK.

5. Transportation

One continues to observe the quick tempo of rebuilding and developing the DPRK’s transportation system. Rail transportation, which has so far played the most serious role in this country, has had the greatest achievements in reconstruction.

In this reporting period, railway lines have been rebuilt in Hwanghae Province, which lies in the border area, where freight and passenger transportation has been restored on the following lines: Hwangju-Songnim, Haeju-[Jenna] and Haeju-Ongjin.

The DPRK’s government has made major efforts toward rebuilding the restoration bases for locomotives and cars, which were damaged during the war. Information obtained from the Minister of Communications indicates that at the moment, rail yards for locomotives in Wonsan, which before the war were among the largest enterprises of this type in the DPRK and the rail yards for engines and cars in Pyongyang, have been partly rebuilt. Both rail yards fill minimum needs in the area of the restoration of the rolling stock.

Numerical data speak of the unquestionable restoration of the DPRK’s railways, as they illustrate the growth of freight and passenger transportation. Following the signing of the truce in November 1953, trains have transported, by comparison to July 1953: in August 115% more, in September 132.7% more, in October 175.5% more and in November 192.3%. In November 1953, the transportation of passengers grew to 142.8% by comparison to August of that year.

These serious achievements in the reconstruction of rail transportation are the result of, among other factors, the large assistance given to Korea by the People’s Republic of China, which, as can be deduced from the words of the Minister of Communications, has taken on assistance in the reconstruction of rail bridges.

According to the agreements reached between the Government of the DPRK and the Governments of the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, in December 1953 passenger air transportation was opened on the Pyongyang-Chita-Pyongang line. The Korean society of air communications is servicing this line, while the Soviet Union has provided planes together with support for them.

According to the information we have, in January 1954, air service is to be started on the Pyongyang-Hamheung-Cheongjin-Soviet Border route.

In the area of restoring air communications, the DPRK government has encountered large obstacles stemming from major damage to airports and navigation equipment and shortage of passenger planes. The Soviet Union has given huge help to the DPRK to rebuild this sphere by delivering planes, helping to rebuild airports and training airport staff.

6. Education

In this reporting period, the Ministry of Education, with the assistance of People’s Committees, conducted a broad action of organizing schools for adults. The focus of this action was directed at the countryside in view of the winter season of work in agriculture, during which the rural population is able to devote more time to learning. As a result of this action, on 1.XII. of this year four-month night schools for adults were organized in which learning is to take place in the period of the winter months. The program of the schools foresees covering elementary-school material in a period of three years. According to incomplete data, right now over 300 night schools, where ca. 25,000 people are learning, have been opened in the territory of the DPRK. Secondary-school teachers and university students are taking an active part in the action of teaching adults, taking advantage of the winter break in the work of schools and institutions of higher learning.

The teaching of adults will contribute to raising the professional qualifications of full-time workers and peasants, who in this way will be able to take advantage of the gains of modern learning and technology to a greater degree. Next to the above-mentioned action of the education of adults, the Ministry of Industry is conducting a broad network of short-term trade courses, which are mostly organized at larger production enterprises. Lower-level supervisory staff, such as foremen and highly skilled workers, are being trained in these trade courses.

Much attention is also being devoted to the issue of training experts in higher-level supervisory positions in all branches of industry and in construction because, as the post-war national economy develops, the shortage of skilled specialists in higher-level supervisory positions is being felt more and more. In order to eliminate this state of affairs at least partly, in October of this year an institute of industrial construction, which was separated from the Kim Chaek institute, was created, and apart from this in December of this year an institute of construction was created at the State Construction Commission in Pyongyang.

Even with all these forms of professional training and the creation of new institutions of higher learning, the shortage of specialists will be felt in Korea for a very long time still. Because of this, the government of the DPRK has taken advantage of sending a certain number of technicians and workers for training in Czechoslovakia, where they will acquaint themselves with technological processes by working in industrial enterprises in the same kind of production as the factories which the Czech specialists are to design and reconstruct in the DPRK. According to the information we have, the People’s Republic of Hungary is also supposed to take a certain number of Korean workers for training.

7. The health service.

Since the signing of the truce in Korea, the DPRK government has devoted much attention to the issue of raising the standard of health of the population. The reconstruction of hospitals and clinics is being conducted very quickly. According to information from the Ministry of Health, in the period of 27 July to the end of December of this year, the number of hospitals has reached 160% and beds 110% compared to the pre-war period. These achievements were possible for reasons including the major medical assistance given to the DPRK during the war and now by the Soviet Union and the countries of people’s democracy. Currently, the hospitals of the countries of people’s democracy are placed in the main industrial centers and have shifted to take care of the civilian population. Thanks to the work of these hospitals, the DPRK has eight high-class hospitals serving the civilian population with a total of 1,600 beds, and, according to the plan for developing the health service, in 1954 the number of beds in the hospitals of the countries of people’s democracy is to rise to 3,200. Apart from this, the hospitals of the countries of people’s democracy receive the ill in clinics. The number of patients being cared for in the clinics is over 700 persons per day in each one of these hospitals.

One can feel a serious shortage of specialists such as [indecipherable word], neurosurgeons, dentists, laryngologists, gynecologists and obstetricians in the DPRK. With this in mind, while training cadres in the Korean institutions of higher learning, the Ministry of Health has established the profiles of the hospitals of the countries of people’s democracy in such a way that the above-mentioned specialists are to be present in them. The hospitals of the countries of people’s democracy, according to the plans of the Ministry of Health of the DPRK, are not only to fulfill the task of bringing medical help, but mostly to conduct the training of Korean medical cadres, which has been stressed very much lately. Some of these hospitals, including the hospital of the PCK [Polski Czerwony Krzy?—Polish Red Cross] in Korea, are to comprise a clinical base for the Korean medical institutes.

Apart from the reconstruction of hospitals, very energetic work is being conducted to rebuild sanatoria and semi-sanatoria, as very essential elements of the final phase of clinical medicine. According to incomplete data, from the signing of the truce to the end of the current year, 3 sanatoria were rebuilt in GangwonProvince, 2 sanatoria in North Hamgyeong Province and 1 semi-sanatorium in JagangProvince.

In view of the very bad condition of the health of the population, and especially the working class, the DPRK government, despite great difficulties, has guaranteed by law universal free-of-charge medicine. In this way, for the first time in the history of the Korean nation, universal free health care has been implemented.

On the occasion of the V anniversary of the founding of the Pyongyang Institute of Medical Sciences, on 26-27 December 1953 a scientific conference for employees of the health service took place in Pyongyang. Taking part in the conference were: Minister of Health Ri Byeong-nam [Ri Pyong Nam], professors of institutes of medical sciences, representatives of the health service of the Korean People’s Army and numerous doctors. The goal of the conference was to relay the experiences of practical medical work during the war and the scientific achievements of Korean medicine to the scientists. One of the main themes of the conference was the issue of fighting tuberculosis and distomosis.

8. Culture.

On 16.XII. of this year a 3-person delegation of the Korean Academy of Science departed for Moscow, having been invited by the USSR Academy of Sciences. The composition of the delegation is: Secretary of the Korean Academy of Science Jang Ju-ik [Jang Ju Ik], member of the Academy of Science Ri Seung-gi [Ri Sung Gi], head of the Institute of Technology of the Korean Academy of Science Kim Hui-sik [Kim Hui Sik].

The task of the delegation is to become acquainted with the work of the scientific institutes of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The length of the stay of the delegation of the Korean Academy of Science in the territory of the Soviet Union is expected to last 2 months.

According to the plan of development for DPRK Radio, on 10.XII. of this year a radio station was built in Gaeseong with assistance from the Soviet Union. This station’s activity is expected to broadcast programs for Southern Korea.

In the past reporting period, a number of new cultural installations were opened. On 29 December 1953 the newly constructed building of the State Theater was opened in Pyongyang. The theater is calculated for 800 spectators.

Also in the provinces, intensive work is being conducted to reconstruct buildings of public use. According to the press, in December of this year, a movie theater for 1,000 spectators was put into use in the city of Baeksan and a movie theater for 600 spectators in the city of Bakcheon.

The tempo of rebuilding cultural installations is very quick. To support this claim, data from the Provinces of North and South Pyeongan can be used, showing that in the period between the signing of the truce to the end of the year, 25 halls for movie theaters were rebuilt and 5 new cinemas were built. Furthermore, in these provinces, 1,000 common rooms in factories and village houses of culture were put to use.

III. The hospital of the PCK [Polski Czerwony Krzy?—Polish Red Cross in Korea.

1. In December of this year, in accordance with directives from Poland, the first medical group ended its 7-month period of work in the PCK hospital in Korea.

Prior to the departure of our group to Poland, the DPRK government decided to decorate them for their services in the work of bringing medical help to the Korean nation during the war and after the signing of the truce with high state decorations, about which this Embassy has informed the Central office.

In accordance with the original plan, the Order of the National Flag II Class was to be awarded to 6 comrades, including the whole leadership of the group; the Order of the National Flag III Class to 20 comrades and the others were to receive the medal for services at work.

A resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Council of the DPRK, the following Korean decorations were given to members of our medical group:

a) Order of the National Flag II Class to the Director of the Hospital Dr. Wiechno Wojciech;

b) Order of the National Flag II Class to 17 doctors;

c) medal for services at work to 33 paramedics, nurses and technical employees of the hospital.

The ceremonious farewell to the medical group, combined with the awarding of the state decorations, took place in both places of work of our hospital. Present at the ceremonies was the current Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the PRL [People’s Republic of Poland] in the DPRK Cerekwicki. (For details, see notes No. 2421/74, 75, 78/53/Tjn./)

2. The new medical group arrived in Pyongyang on 12 and 20 December 1953. The comrades were welcomed at the Korean-Chinese border by the head of the DPRK consulate in [Antung] and the Attache of the Embassy of the PRL in the DPRK Jop Stanis?aw. At Pyongyang train station, the arrivals were welcomed by the V[ice]-Minister of Health of the DPRK, the deputy to the Head of Diplomatic Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here and employees of the Embassy.

Form Pyongyang, the groups took the train to the location of he hospital.

On 21.XII. of this year, the Director of the Hospital of the PCK in Korea, Dr. Fajkiel, paid a visit to the Minister of Health of the DPRK Ri Byeong-nam. On the Embassy side, present during the visit was Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy Cerekwicki. During the conversation with the Minister of Health, questions were discussed of assistance from our doctors in the professional training of the Korean personnel of the hospital, scientific cooperation with the Hamheung Medical Institute, the composition of our medical group and general organizational issues concerning the working conditions in the PCK hospital in Korea. (For details, see note No. 2421/76/53/Tjn.).

3. [Hospital staffer lost passport]

4. The new medical group, much like the previous one, does not receive sufficient political press, and they also receive no medical periodicals at all, which significantly makes the group’s work difficult both in the sphere of raising their professional qualifications and in relaying the achievements of Polish medicine to the Korean comrades. It needs to be stressed here that from 1 January 1954 the group’s doctors have begun systematic training of the hospital’s Korean personnel.

The leadership of the previous group and the Embassy, in its reports on the situation of the PCK hospital, have brought up this issue several times.

The medical group does not possess a sufficient number of cultural installations or a radio. Also insufficient are the supplies of the library in the areas of science, politics and fiction.

There is also a shortage of materials for party training.

Because of the above, the Embassy sees the need to turn to the proper powers in Poland with the goal of eliminating the existing shortages in the equipment of the PCK hospital in Korea, especially in the sphere of regularly bringing daily, political and professional publications.

IV. Internal Embassy matters.

[…]

[signature]

E. Cerekwicki

Charge d’Affaires a.i.

of the Embassy of the PRL in the DPRK

8 copies made.

[…]