Journal of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 8 February 1960

USSR EMBASSY IN THE DPRK [faded USSR SECRET Copy Nº 3

MFA stamp:

Nº 20 0421s

17 February 1960 24 February 1960]

[handwritten:

"to Cdes. [[I. I. Varnov]] and Samsonov, G. Ye.

25 February 1960 [[illegible signature]]"]

JOURNAL

of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK A. M. Puzanov for the period

1 February through 15 February 1960

Pyongyang

[…]

8 February 1960

I had a conversation with Kim Chang-man, Deputy Chairman of the KWP CC, at the airfield where he was to meet with the KWP delegation returning from Moscow which had taken part in the conference of the Warsaw Pact member countries' Political Consultative Committee.

At the beginning of the conversation Kim Chang-man expressed gratitude in the name of those KWP CC members present at the airfield for copies of "Litsom k litsu s Amerikoy [Face to Face With America]" which had been sent, noting that these book is of great interest.

I said that by prior agreement with Pak Jeong-ae, I had sent the chairmen of provincial Party committees copies of "Zhit' v mire i druzhbe [To Live in Peace and Friendship] and asked whether there would be any objection if the chairmen of provincial Party and people's committees were also sent copies of the book "Litsom k litsu s Amerikoy" available at the Embassy.

Kim Chang-man said that he welcomes this offer.

[U] then said that Korean newspapers are using a great amount of material sent by Sovinformbyuro. We attach great importance to improving the quality of the materials being sent. Inasmuch as the year has recently ended, does not Kim Chang-man think it advisable for Embassy officials and the Sovinformbyuro representative to meet with the chief of the KWP CC Agitation Department in order to sum up some results and hear wishes for the current year.

Kim Chang-man replied that he considers is desirable and advisable to hold such a meeting and is ready to take part in it himself. He added that he will report more about it later.

I said that the 10^th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Aid between the USSR and the PRC is being widely noted in the USSR.

Kim Chang-man said that Renmin Ribao [People's Daily] had published a large article devoted to this date.

I then said that we would hold a luncheon for this occasion at the Embassy on 15 February. I passed luncheon invitations for Kim Il Sung and all Presidium members and said that we, like of course the PRC Ambassador, would like to see all CC Presidium members at the luncheon at the Embassy if this is possible. But I added that we would fully understand if some Presidium members could not be [there] for a number of reasons.

Kim Chang-man thanked [me] and said that this question will be decided in a suitable manner.

Kim Chang-man then said that two issues will be considered at the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly session opening on 25 February: about the DPRK state budget for 1960 and about public health Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Ri Ju-yeon would give a report on the second issue.

Kim Chang-man also said that at the present time some KWP CC Presidium members are on business trips - Pak Jeong-ae in the province of North Pyongan, Pak Geum-cheol in the province of North Hamgyeong, and Choe Yong-geon in the province of South Hwanghae. He said that Cde. Kim Il Sung's health has improved and he had gone on a business trip to the province of South Pyeong-an.

The conversation was interpreted by Embassy interpreter D. A. Priyemsky.

Kim Il expressed satisfaction at the trip to Moscow. He said that there was an interesting conversation with Cde. N. S. Khrushchev. He thanked the Embassy for the assistance given and the concern exhibited.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Heo Bong-hak said that Minister Kim Gwang-hyeop feels well (he is being treated near Moscow). Tuberculosis was not confirmed.

[…]

USSR AMBASSADOR IN THE DPRK

[signature] (A. PUZANOV)

Five copies printed vp

1 - Cde. A. A. Gromyko

2 - Cde. Yu. V. Andropov

3 - DVO, USSR MFA

4 - Cde. I. I. Tugarinov

5 - to file

Nº 166 17 February 1960