WEEKLY REVIEW

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00928320
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: March 31, 2021
• Case Number: F-2018-00781
• Publication Date: February 9, 1968

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February 1968
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C 0 N T_E N T S
(Information as of noon EST, 8 February 1968)
Far East
KOREAN CONFRONTATION CONTINUES UNRESOLVED
The talks between North Korean and US representatives
at Panmunjom appear to have made no progress toward
resolving the Pueblo incident.
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WEEKLY REVIEW 9 Feb 68
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KOREAN CONFRONTATION CONTINUES UNRESOLVED
The talks between North Ko-
rean and US representatives at Pan-
munjom appear to have made no prog-
ress toward resolving the confron-
tation over the Pueblo incident.
Pyongyang is clearly intent
on prolonging tensions by dragging
out negotiations. North Korean
propaganda has concentrated on pub-
licizing "confessions" by the
Pueblo's. crew. A lengthening
parade of officers and crewmen al-
legedly have
"apologized"
trusion into
expressed guilt and
for the ship's in
-
North Korean waters.
The South Korean Government's
initial dissatisfaction over US
handling of the Pueblo incident
soon broadened, with official en-
couragement, into widespread pub-
lic resentment. The South Koreans
feared the Panmunjom talks were
ignoring the raid on Seoul and
were pushing South Korean national
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interests into the background. The
press complained that the Panmun-
jom talks undermined South Korean
sovereignty and elevated the sta-
tus of the North Korean regime.
Some politicians urged diplomatic
pressure to stop the "secret"
talks and demanded unilateral re-
taliatory action against the Com-
munist North. The National As-
sembly unanimously passed a reso-
lution protesting US - North Ko-
rean talks without South Korean
participation.
Students have demonstrated at
the US Embassy in Seoul, in Pusan,
and near the Demilitarized Zone
(DMZ). Prior official hints that
public agitation might lead to
demonstrations suggest the govern-
ment probably approved.
The South Korean leaders, how-
ever, realize the dangers to their
own position if popular emotions
get out of hand. They may also
now believe that the lack of prog-
ress at Panmunjom reduces the pos-
sibility the US might make com-
promises that would undercut Seoul.
Thus, after officially protesting
on 5 February, the government moved
to damp down public indignation.
A high-level spokesman assured
press representatives on 6 February
that President Pak has in fact been
fully informed on the talks and
that the assassination attempt
against him had been discussed at
one meeting. The next day while
speaking to the National Assembly,
the foreign minister conceded that
discussion of the Pueblo crewmen's
release might be given priority
"from a humanitarian point of
view." This change in official
position has been reflected in the
shift of the Seoul press to a more
moderate stance.
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Soviet military reaction to the
Korean crisis is continuing on a
low level. As US naval forces moved
into the Sea of Japan, they were
shadowed by two Soviet destroyers
and an intelligence collection ship.
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task force of five more Soviet de-(b)(3)
stroyers was deployed in the Sea of
Japan early this week in an after-
the-fact show of force. Soviet naval
aircraft have conducted several re-
connaissance missions--including over-
flights--against the US task force.
Soviet propaganda is playing
the Pueblo incident in low key and
Soviet officials have for the most
part been maintaining that the Pueblo
intruded into territorial waters.
Moscow continues to emphasize that
direct US - North Korean meetings of-
fer the best chance for resolving the
issue. The most authoritative pub-
lic statement on the crisis, a Pravda
"Observer" article on 4 February,
concluded by advising the US that if
it really desired a solution it
should respect North Korea's sover-
eignty and stop "threatening" the Ko-
reans.
Since China's official state-
ment of support on 28 January, Peking
propaganda has given only sparse and
low-level coverage to the Pueblo in-
cident.
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