PUEBLO SITREP NO. 12
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
06811594
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
2
Document Creation Date:
March 9, 2023
Document Release Date:
March 31, 2021
Sequence Number:
Case Number:
F-2018-00781
Publication Date:
January 27, 1968
File:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
PUEBLO SITREP NO. 12[15886933].pdf | 89.93 KB |
Body:
Approved for Release: 2021/03/25 C06811594
SC No. 01903/68
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
27 January 1968
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
Pueblo Sitrep No. 12
(As of 1200 EST)
1. In New Delhi today Soviet Premier Kosygin
continued to play down the Pueblo incident. Delhi
Radio reports that the Soviet premier is understood
to have said that his government's policy is to de-
fuse situations, and that the present incident is a
case of violation of territorial waters and should
be dealt with as such by the two parties. The broad-
cast reports that he said not too much importance
should be attached to the matter.
2. Members of Kosygin's entourage have shown
interest in planting similar thoughts with press cor-
respondents. On one occasion a prominent Soviet
news correspondent declined to comment but instead
referred US reporters to a KGB officer attached to
the Soviet Embassy in New Delhi. The KGB officer
then volunteered the suggestion that the incident
was "similar to a Soviet fishing vessel incident off
American waters some months past."
3. The Swiss and Swedish members of the Neutral
Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) are said to have
urged the Czech and Polish NNSC members to impress on
the North Koreans the seriousness of US intentions.
Meeting on the 26th with General Pak, the senior
North Korean representative on the Military Armistice
Commission, the Pole and Czech found him in a tough
mood, saying North Korea would discuss the situation
only if the UN Command first apologized. The Czech
and Pole appeared seriously disturbed over North
Korea's belligerence, and the Swiss and Swede be-
lieved this reflected attitudes of the two Commu-
nists' home governments.
No Foreign Di33cm/Dackground 17b Owly_
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2021/03/25 C06811594
Approved for Release: 2021/03/25 C06811594
C TOFECRET
-lie-ferreirn--E01-s-s-ett71131t-eitgretrtri-its-e-Orrty-
4. The four country members of the NNSC have
agreed, on humanitarian grounds, to transmit un-
officially to the North Koreans a request for infor-
mation on the Pueblo's crew. However, the NNSC mem-
bers suggest that the UN Command first make such a
request through the Military Armistice Commission.
If there is no North Korean response by 30 January,
the NNSC members would raise the question at the
NNSC meeting scheduled for that day.
5. A Czech foreign ministry official has agreed
to refer to "proper authorities" a US request that
the Czech NNSC member try, to obtain from North Koreans
the names of wounded Pueblo crew members. He cau-
tioned that some time might be required to make con-
tacts.
6. In Seoul, President Pak Chong-hui called
the third joint meeting of the government and ruling
party to discuss urgent issues stemming from the
Pueblo seizure and last Sunday's attempt by Communist
agents to assassinate President Pak.
7. The unusual Chinese naval activity in the
Pohai Straits adjacent to the west coast of North
oeacontitc�da.
Although the exact
nature of this activity cannot be determined from
available information,
Some ele-
ments of the North Sea Fleet may be on a defensive
alert for the Pohai Straits area.
8. Soviet Naval surveillance of the US task
force in the Sea of Japan continued as of 0200 EST,
with the intelligence collector Gidrolog five miles
from the task group and the surface-to-surface
missile-carrying destroyer No. 983 eight miles from
the task group.
2 -
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2021/03/25 C06811594