(SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-10-5-24-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: December 23, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/01 LOC-HAK-10-5-24-8
MEMORANDUMFOR; DR. KISSER
J0 19N H. aou)RI E
The main points in response t
quest. ar(
;s follows
He is an attrac-
tive, active, forty-five year old politician, a. Roman ' atholic., and does
.nto speak.,English. He is described by U.S.,: oicials who have: dealt
with him as more forthcoming and direct than most Korean. politicians,.
a Proven vote getter with a persuasive manner and an eloquent, oratori-
cal.style. im like s to be called the ('Kennedy of Korea. ri.
-Despite the widespread. favorable reaction to Kim' 5 opening
campaign s peeches ,. his prospects for victory net May appear at this
time to be. marginal at best. In comparison to. President Paric's
De :ocratic-Republican Party,- the mostly. conservative New Democrats
are poorly organized and short of money. . Moreover, Kim. cannot count
on even. the unswerving support of all of his own party.
--The issue of U. S. troop reductions in Korea appears. likely to
have only a marginal impact on the election. President Park had opened
himself to the charge that he created undue strains in: relations with the ..Americans by his initial strong stand that any cutback of U. S.roops
in Korea at this time would be tantamount t4 inviting. Pyongyang to re_
sump open hostilities. The emotional. impact of this issue has by now
largely dissipated, however, and the talks on modernizixng South I organ .
forces have helped to recreate an atmosphere of mutual cooperation.
.-Kim cannot make too much of an issue of -t3. S. troop reduI ions.
without the risk of offending the nation's 625, OOOwman military estab-
lishment. For Kim to insist that these reductions endanger thy:
nation's security would, at the very least, imply criticism of the
country' a armed forces, and could ;expose him to charges of giving
.aid and comfort to the enemy
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/01: LOC-HAK-10-5-24-8
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