Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 22 May 1957

SOVIET EMBASSY IN THE DPRK TOP SECRET

Nº 133 Copy Nº 2

31 May 1957

[partial image of a stamp:

[[TOP]] SECRET

Incoming Nº 5925-gs

11 June 1957]

[USSR MFA Stamp:

Far East Department

Secret

Incoming Nº 01490s

12 June 1957]

The Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A. M. PUZANOV

for the period 6 through 29 May 1957

Pyongyang

[…]

22 May 1957

I visited PRC Ambassador in the DPRK Qiao Xiaoguang at my own initiative.

I told him about my impressions of the trip with Cde. Kim Il Sung to the provinces of North Hamgyeong and South Hamgyeong. I dwelt on the successes achieved in three years in the restoration of the industrial enterprises in these provinces, and the labor enthusiasm of the workers produced by the decisions of the December and April KWP CC plenums. I noted that senior Korean comrades stress that the successes in restoring industrial production have been achieved thanks to the fraternal aid of the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, and the other countries of people's democracy. I especially dwelt on those words of gratitude which Korean leaders addressed to the Chinese people's volunteers for the aid which they have given.

Qiao noted that all these successes were achieved thanks to the heroic work of the Korean people. The restoration of industrial production was achieved mainly through the aid of the Soviet Union. Aid from China consisted of the delivery of raw material, some equipment, food, and consumer goods.

Expressing agreement with the Ambassador's words with respect to the role of the Korean people, I noted that in monetary terms the aid of the People's Republic of China was not much less than the aid initially furnished by the USSR.

Continuing, I told of some impressions regarding the shortcomings in the organization of industrial production and, in particular, the insufficient use of production areas, industrial equipment, and in the poor implementation of cost accounting. I cited some examples.

The Ambassador noted that the comments I expressed almost completely coincide with those opinions which members of the delegation of Chinese people's volunteers stated who had recently been at DPRK industrial enterprises and agricultural cooperatives. Xiao said that the delegation included 150 people, and was headed by Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Volunteer Army, Cde. Yang Yong. The delegation traveled throughout the country from 1 to 20 May of this year.

The issue of drawing up the first five-year plan for the development of the DPRK economy was touched on in the conversation. I told the Ambassador of the organizational aspect of the discussion of this issue. In reply to Qiao's question of whether I knew about the amount of capital investment in heavy and light industry, industry [SIC] and agriculture, and the relation between the first and second subdivisions, I replied that I did not yet know any specific figures and that it would be desirable to exchange opinions about this issue after our embassies receive such data.

Expressing agreement with my suggestions, the Ambassador said that in a conversation with him on 6 May 1957 Kim Il Sung had addressed a request to the PRC government to receive a DPRK delegation at the beginning of June which would study the experience of drawing up the first five-year plan in the PRC and [would] also discuss issues concerning the coordination of the development of the economies of the two countries. I passed on all this but still no reply followed.

I also expressed a desire to meet with the Ambassador and exchange opinions about the intra-Party situation in the KWP and also that is was very desirable to hear the Ambassador about the practical implementation of such a large measure as the movement to regulate the work style, which is being done by the PRC CC.

Cde. Qiao eagerly agreed to tell me about the movement to regulate the work style and in practice declined to reply to a question about a meeting to exchange opinions about intra-Party situation in the KWP, referring at this point to his insufficient unfamiliarity and to the fact that he mainly only makes use of materials published in the press and does not meet often with KWP CC senior leaders; if he does meet, it is only with Kim Chang-man.

I invited Qiao to go fishing on Sunday. He thanked me and agreed.

Qiao invited me to make a joint trip to Kaesong and to the headquarters of the Chinese people's volunteers. I thanked [him]. We decided to arrange a special time.

Attaches M. P. Kurbatsky and Wan Baoqing were present at the conversation and interpreted.

The conversation lasted two hours.

[…]

SOVIET AMBASSADOR IN THE DPRK

[signature]   (A. PUZANOV)

Five copies printed:

1 - Cde. Gromyko

2 - Cde. Fedorenko

3 - Cde. Kurdyukov

4 - Cde. Solodovnikov

5 - to file

Nº 353

31 May 1957