WEEKLY SUMMARY

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06364321
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: July 5, 2016
• Case Number: F-2015-00887
• Publication Date: January 26, 1968

Approved for Release: 2015/12/22 006364321
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
WEEKLY SUMMARY
41 �
26 January 1968
No. 0004/68
(b)(3)
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ZET
NORTH KOREA PROVOKES NEW CONFRONTATION
North Korea's audacious ac-
tions in attempting to assassinate
South Korean President Pak Chong-
hui and in seizing the USS Pueblo
and its crew were apparently in-
dividual, uncoordinated actions.
Both, however, probably were aimed
primarily at generating diver-
sionary pressures on the US at a
time when Communist forces in
South Vietnam are poised to launch
a major country-wide offensive.
In undertaking these risky
adventures, the North Koreans
were carrying out Premier Kim
Il-song's prescription for combat-
ing American power on a world-
wide scale. Over the past year,
he has repeatedly described Viet-
nam as the focal point of the
world struggle and has urged all
Communist regimes to take "more
positive actions" to aid Hanoi by
forcing the US to "disperse" its
strength.
On 19 January, the day the
North Korean raiding party crossed
the Demilitarized Zone on its way
to Seoul, Pyongyang radio broad-
cast Kim's call for 'blows" against
the US "in all parts of the world"
in order to "split its forces to
the maximum degree." Kim in-
sisted, "We must tie the US up
wherever it puts its feet, so that
it cannot move around freely:"
Although the heavily armed
North Korean raiding party failed .
to execute its assigned mission
of blowing up the presidential
T'age
SF
mansion, it managed to penetrate
to within 800 meters of Blue House
before being driven off by South
Korean police. The fact that
the Korean leaders ordered such
a highly provocative venture
indicates they were prepared
for a sharp confrontation on
the 38th Parallel, including at
least limited and localized mili-
tary action. It seems likely,
however, that Pyongyang was count-
ing heavily on the US to restrain
the South Koreans and to prevent
a military escalation in Korea
that would require a major diver-
sion of US military resources
from Vietnam.
The Pueblo incident, in North
Korea's view, appears to have been
a windfall opportunity to sharpen
the diversionary confrontation in
Korea, to stimulate US -.South
Korean differences, and to put
greater pressures on US policy in
Asia. The seizure of the Pueblo
probably was not part of an elab-
orate scenario prepared in ad-
vance.
North Korea has adopted a
defiant stand in the initial talks
at Panmunjom and appears determined
to prolong the confrontation for
some time. The senior North Korean
representative at the Military
Armistice Commission meeting on
24 January flatly rejected the US
demand for the immediate return of
the ship and its crew. He re-
mained silent on Pyongyang's
intentions regarding the disposi-
tion of the Pueblo.
ET
WEEKLY SUMMARY 26 Jan 68
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SE
ET
'Noe'
Despite this provocative stand,
the North Koreans probably are not
prepared to press events to the point
of an uncontrollable conflict. Pyong-
yang, moreover, is seeking to avoid
responsibility for the Seoul raid by
portraying it as part of the South
Korean people's "heroic struggle"
against the Pak regime.
These two incidents will sharply
increase pressure on the South Korean
Government to mount strong retali-
atory action. The seizure of the
Pueblo, following on the heels of
the Seoul raid, has deepened public
concern over North Korean intentions
and over the security situation in
the South. The success of the North
Korean team in penetrating Seoul has
generated loud criticism of the gov-
ernment. President Pak has urged the
cabinet and party leaders to "pre-
pare measures to counter and root
out once and for all such atrocious
activities" as the Seoul raid. De-
spite firm UN Command prohibitions
against unilateral South Korean
reprisals, Pak has permitted some
punitive raids against the North in
the past. Any further aggravation of
the confrontation might impel Pak to
authorize more extensive retaliatory
action and make it more.difficult to
control the course of events.
(b)(3)
LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES SUFFER SEVERE SETBACK
The loss of Nam Bac on
13 January represents one of the
most severe military setbacks
the Laotian Government has suf-
fered in five years, but there
are still no indications that
the Communists intend to press
their advantage by a drive into
government-held areas.
It will be some time before
total government casualties can
be determined, but losses will
probably be high. A full week
after the defensive perimeter
collapsed, less than half the
original complement of 3,500 is
accounted for. The enemy is still
harassing units as they attempt
to withdraw, and friendly guer-
rilla units and helicopters are
being moved in to help with the
evacuation. The government also
lost large stocks of heavy weap-
ons, ammunition, food, and equip-
ment.
SE Er
Page 7 WEEKLY SUMMARY
26 Jan 68
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