PUEBLO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-1-3-31-2
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 1, 2009
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: April 21, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

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No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/01 : LOC-HAK-1-3-31-2
AT-1ON-~-
April 21, 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM: Henry A. Kissinger
SUBJECT: PUEBLO
During the Friday press conference, in explaining the difference
between PUEBLO and the EC-121 incident, you stated "... in the case
of the PUEBLO, the North Koreans had warned and threatened the PUEBLO
for a period of several weeks before they seized it. " Because subsequent
questions may be raised concerning the matter of these "warnings" I have
summarized our previous position on this issue.
The PUEBLO sailed from. Japan on January 11, 1968, arrived
off the North Korean coast on Januisy 12, and was seized on January 23.
Immediately upon her capture, there was press speculation that there had
been a "warning. " Subsequent investigations did not confirm any specific
warning, particularly against the PUEBLO. There had beene long history
of North Korean charges against "U. S. imperialist aggressors and reckless
provocations, "associated mainly with South Korean fishing boat and DMZ
incidents.
When Dick Helms appeared before the committee on March 5, he
refuted the allegation that we had been specifically warned about the
PUEBLO operation. An extract of his statement follows:
"Shortly after the seizure of the PUEBLO, the allegations was
made that the North Koreans had warned they would seize such
reconnaissance ships, and that the warning had been disregarded.
A. We immediately ordered the Foreign Broadcast Information
Service to make a complete review of any North Korean
statements which might be susceptible of such an inter-
pretation, from the time of President Johnson's visit to
South Korea in November 1966, until the time of the PUEBLO'S
seizure.
[ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY]
No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/01 : LOC-HAK-1-3-31-2
 No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/01 : LOC-HAK-1-3-31-2
SECRET
11B. During those 15 months, there were dozens of North
Korean references to incursions into their waters, but
the review showed only statements which applied
broadly to South Korean naval and fishing boats.
A reference to 'reconnaissance' in January, 1967
for example, one year prior to the PUEBLO
incident, concerned a South Korean patrol boat
sunk two days earlier by a North Korean shore
battery.
In the two months preceding the start of the
PUEBLO'S mission, all remarks were generalized
referring to 'spy boats' or 'agent boats.'
On January 11, 1968, as the PUEBLO reached North
Korean waters, North Korea charged that 'U. S.
imperialist aggressor troops early this mornigg
again dispatched hundreds of fishing boats and spy
boats into the coastal waters on our side. '
"4. Such references require further explanation. .A
correlation of North Korean propaganda with the
actual events referred to shows that the communists
routinely described incursions by South Korean ships --
whether fishermen, naval ships, or actual agent
infiltrations -- as 'provocations by U. S. imperialism.'
or by 'the U. S. aggressor.'
The repeated assertions that North Korea had issued
a warning in regard to the PUEBLO mission, as far
as we can determine, must have arisen from the
January 11 broadcast which definitely referred to
movement by a South Korean fishing fleet into waters
north of the dividing line.
"C. At this time, the North Koreans had not observed or
identified the PUEBLO.
No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/01 : LOC-HAK-1-3-31-2
 No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/01 : LOC-HAK-1-3-31-2
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SECRET
D. As a matter fact, the PUEBLC was not approached by
communist ships until the evenigg of January 20, less
than three days before the actual seizure, when a
submarine chaser passed within about two miles without
incident. "
In view of the foregoing, you may wish, if subsequently asked,
to refer to those warnings as generalized in nature.
SECRET
No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/01 : LOC-HAK-1-3-31-2