SOUTH KOREAN CIA DIRECTOR'S FURTHER COMMENTS ON HIS VISIT TO NORTH KOREA MAY 2-5 FOR HIGH LEVEL DISCUSSIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-23-2-27-4
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 7, 2009
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: May 3, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/07: LOC-HAK-23-2-27-4
INFORMA TION
SECRET/SENSITIVE May 3M 11972
MEMORANDUM FORT MR. KISSINGER
FROM:
SUBJECT:
49
South Korean CIA Director's Further
Comments on His Visit to North Korea
May 2-5 for High Level l )tscussions
South Korean CIA Director Yi Hu-rak
the following additional particulars on his planned visit
to Pyongyang May 2-5 for political discussions:
- Yi believes the time is propitious for the meeting- U. S. forces
and UNCURK (U. N. Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation
of Korea) are still in South Korea. the U. N. declaration on Korea re-
mains in force, and President Park's domestic political position is
strong enough to support such an initiative.
State Dept.
review completed
-- Ti believes his discussions could be kept confidential or could re-
suit in a joint communique outlining specific areas of agreement. Yi
favors the latter, because it would detract from the current North Korean
diplomatic offensive and would forestall the development of an adverse
would derive no advantage from such a course. Nevertheless, should
this come to pass. he said he wanted Washington to have the detailed
record of the development of his visit.
political reaction in South Korea. Yi doubts, however, that his own
government would go along with the idea of a communique.
-- Yi said President Park had instructed him to be prepared to
commit suicide if the NWrth should detain him. Yi said North Korea
- - Yi said President Park asked whether the President to aware
of the exchanges with the North and his impending visit.
25X1
25X1
* Ti probably was referring to the U. N. General A,sseembly'a resolutions
of 1948 which recognised the Government of the Republic of Korea as
the sole legal government in Korea.
I w or d C~rr.A~taTTrv>r.
.. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/07: LOC-HAK-23-2-27-4
MORI/CDF
C05139106
JOHN H. HOLDRIDGE
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/07: LOC-HAK-23-2-27-4
MCRETISE14 TIVT 2
- - Yi said he thought his Government would welcome strong U. S.
Government support should his visit become known publicly, either
through a communique or through leaks. U. S. support would help
counter domestic criticism in South Korea, asmell as improved al's
position in dealing with Pyongyang.
Charge Underhill reported that South Korean Foreign Minister Kim
Yong-sik told him May 1 of the Yi mission. [Ti had told us earlier
that Foreign Minister Kim was not to be cut in on the plans for his
Pyongyang visit until Ki*n'a return from the U. S. I Kim said that his
Government would want to consult immediately with us in the event that
North Korea detained Yi. Kim also pictured Yi's mission as intelligence-
oreteated, and stressed its non-political nature. [It was not clear
whether Kim is only partially informed, or knows better but is taking
this line for face-saving reasons. I When asked for his opinion, Underhill
said the IRK initiative, was bold and courageous, and if made Imown publicly
later should improve Seoul' as position in its diplomatic competition with
Pyongyang, most immediately as regards the U.N. consideration of the
Korean question next fall.
JIlisJAtapam: S / 3/72
SEAT/SENSI.TIVE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/07: LOC-HAK-23-2-27-4