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
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PDF icon PUEBLO SITREP NO. 12[15886933].pdf89.93 KB
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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