Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 15 March 1958

…15 March 1958

I visited Nam Il at his invitation.

Nam Il informed me about a conference of DPRK ambassadors in the countries of people's democracy held in the MFA and about the instructions which were given the ambassadors at this conference. Nam Il said, with respect to the socialist countries our position remains unchanged - to further strengthen fraternal ties and cooperation. As regards the other, non-socialist, countries then we are setting a task of establishing closer ties and contacts with some of them. This first of all refers to:

the United Arab Republic, Indonesia, and Ceylon;

India and Burma;

Japan.

Nam Il declared we concluded trade agreements with Egypt and Syria last year. We will continue to pursue work in the direction of preparing the conditions for establishing diplomatic relations if not this year, then next year. We have also concluded a trade agreement with Indonesia. The Communist Party and trade unions of Indonesia are helping us establish closer ties between the DPRK and Indonesia. True, the situation in Indonesia is complex and tense, but we think that conditions are favorable for ties. There are no trade relations yet with Ceylon but there are some contacts and we are counting on a positive attitude from the leading circles of Ceylon toward our steps to establish closer relations with Ceylon.

Nam Il then said, as regards India and Burma it seems to us that they will not agree to establish diplomatic relations with us at the present time. Therefore we are setting the task of expanding economic and cultural ties with them. It is very important that India, and also Burma, actively support us on the issue of the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea and on the issue of the reunification of Korea.

Nam Il noted that of course Japan will not establish diplomatic relations with them for a long time. We are setting a task of persistently developing economic and cultural ties with them. A delegation of the industrial and commercial establishment will arrive in the DPRK in the near future.

I asked Nam Il how they regard attempts by Japan to obtain permission to catch fish in DPRK territorial waters?

Nam Il replied that we are consciously delaying a solution of this problem. The Japanese have a well-equipped fishing fleet and therefore we will suffer serious damage if they are allowed to come to us to catch fish. We will solve this problem when our fishing fleet is technically comparable to the Japanese.

Nam Il then said that are setting a task for DPRK representatives in various international organizations to establish closer relations with representatives of other non-socialist countries and with representatives of South Korea, insofar as possible, and to seek the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea as a necessary prerequisite for a successful solution of the issue of the reunification of Korea.

In conclusion Nam Il said that that the MFA had given instructions to Ambassador Ri Sin-pal in Moscow to visit Minister Cde. A. A. Gromyko and inform him about the conference of ambassadors which was held and about the instructions given to these ambassadors concerning stepping up DPRK foreign policy activity. [He] was charged with asking the USSR MFA to help carry out this work.

Nam Il also asked me to pass a request to the USSR MFA leadership about helping their Ambassador Ri Sin-pal in Moscow in carrying out this work, in establishing closer ties with the ambassadors of the aforementioned countries, and sounding out [the possibility] of establishing closer economic ties through the Soviet ambassadors in the United Arab Republic, Indonesia, Ceylon, India, and Burma, and with the United Arab Republic, Indonesia, and Ceylon also about the possible establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and these countries in the near future.

Nam Il also said that in matters of making DPRK foreign policy more active they hope to get help from the ambassadors of the countries of people's democracy through information about the economic and political situation in the DPRK in order to demolish the incorrect and tendentious insinuations of the bourgeois press against the DPRK.

I noted in this connection that I did not understand at all why Kim Il Sung or someone else charged by the CC Presidium has not yet informed the ambassadors about the results of the Party conference.

Nam Il said that they exchanged opinions about this issue in the Presidium and came to the conclusion that inasmuch as the reports about the first and second issues were published in the press, and the resolution about the five-year plan was also published there was hardly a need to inform the ambassadors especially.

I noted for my part that the decision about the second issue has not yet been published and the decision about the organizational issue will not be published in the press, as Kim Il Sung informed me at one time. In addition, it seems to me that it is important to tell the ambassadors about the atmosphere which was at the CC Party conference.

xxx

I participated in a rally at the railroad station concerning the Chinese people's volunteers' departure ceremony. Kim Il gave a speech. The Chinese people's volunteers were presented with banners from public organizations and gifts. Then a reception was held for the command staff and a lunch for the soldiers. The departure ceremony was held in a cordial and warm atmosphere.

USSR AMBASSADOR IN THE DPRK

[signature] (A. PUZANOV)

Five copies printed

1 - Cde. A. A. Gromyko

2 - Cde. Yu. A. Andropov

3 - Cde. M. V. Zimyanin

4 - Cde. I. I. Tugarinov

5 - to file

Drafted by Puzanov

Typed by Akulicheva

Nº 184 16 March 1958