Chapter 51 On the Withdrawal of the Chinese People's Volunteers from North Korea

(January 24, 1958) Comrade Kim Il Sung[1] Prime Minister: Both letters of December 16 and 25, 1957 have been received. We have carefully studied the two proposals put forward in the letter concerning the withdrawal of the Chinese People's Volunteers from North Korea.We feel that it is more appropriate for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to initiate the request for the withdrawal of foreign troops from North Korea, and then for the Chinese government to respond to the request of the North Korean government.Therefore, we think it is better to adopt the plan proposed in the letter of December 16.For this program, we put forward some specific comments.We have discussed these opinions with the Soviet government and they fully agree with them.These opinions are hereby notified as follows, please consider whether it is appropriate for you and the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

1. It is indeed beneficial for the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to write a letter to the United Nations, requesting the withdrawal of the United Nations troops from North Korea, because this will make it easier for the Soviet Union, as a member state of the United Nations, to put forward proposals in the United Nations and promote the United Nations Take action.However, this method also has a disadvantage, that is, the entire United Nations is regarded as a hostile party to us, but in fact only a small number of member states of the United Nations sent aggressive troops to form the United Nations army.We therefore recommend a public statement by the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.In the statement, based on the basic propositions of the DPRK and China on the Korean issue at the 1954 Geneva Conference[2], the following proposals were put forward:

(1) The United Nations Army and the Chinese People's Volunteers withdraw from North Korea at the same time; (2) Negotiations between North and South Korea on the basis of reciprocity to establish and develop economic and cultural relations between North and South Korea, and to prepare for free elections throughout Korea; (3) Within a certain period of time after the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from North and South Korea, free elections in all of Korea shall be held under the supervision of neutral institutions. 2. After the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued a public statement, the Chinese government then issued a statement supporting the proposition of the Korean government and formally expressing its readiness to consult with the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the issue of withdrawing the Chinese People's Volunteers in batches and regularly, At the same time, the relevant governments of the United Nations Army are required to take the same steps.

3. The Soviet government then also issued a statement, supporting the statement of the North Korean and Chinese governments, emphasizing that the governments of the United Nations military should respond to the request of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as the Chinese government did, and suggested that a meeting of relevant countries be held to discuss the peaceful settlement of the Korean issue . 4. In mid-February of this year, during Comrade Zhou Enlai's visit to North Korea on behalf of the Chinese government, the governments of North Korea and China could announce in a joint communiqué that the Chinese government had obtained the consent of the Chinese People's Volunteers. Before withdrawing from North Korea in batches.In the joint communiqué, the governments of the DPRK and China can state that the withdrawal of the Chinese People’s Volunteers from North Korea before the United Nations forces is to ease the tension and facilitate the negotiation between the North and the South on the basis of reciprocity for the peaceful reunification of Korea.Therefore, the UN Army should do the same.At the same time, the Chinese People's Volunteers issued a statement stating: The Chinese people and the North Korean people are closely related and share weal and woe.If Syngman Rhee[3] and the United States renew their provocations and cross the armistice line, the Chinese People's Volunteers will not hesitate to repel the aggression side by side with the Korean People's Army once again at the request of the Korean Government.

5. The timetable for the withdrawal of the Chinese People's Volunteers from North Korea is initially drawn up as follows: (1) From March to April 1958, after the North Korean and Chinese governments issued a joint communiqué, one-third was withdrawn, and the remaining two-thirds were placed on the second line of defense. The Korean People's Army All connected to the first line of defense; (2) From July to September 1958, the second third was withdrawn; (3) Withdraw the last third by the end of 1958. 6. After the publication of the joint communiqué between the governments of North Korea and China, the two sides of the Neutral Nation Supervisory Committee[4] are likely to make another request for the abolition of the Supervisory Committee. At that time, we can ask them to stay for a while based on the reason that the United Nations Army has not yet withdrawn. A minimum number of people will perform monitoring tasks in Panmunjom, but be prepared that they will leave regardless.

Please reply after researching the above points. Sincerely, salute Mao Zedong January 24, 1958 Printed from originals kept at the Central Archives. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] Kim Il Sung, then Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Prime Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. [2] Geneva Conference, see note [3] on page 148 of this volume. [3] Syngman Rhee (1875-1965), was then the president of South Korea, that is, South Korea. [4] The Neutral Nations Supervisory Committee was established on August 1, 1954 in accordance with the "Korean Armistice Agreement", and is composed of members from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland to implement the relevant provisions of the "Korean Armistice Agreement" functions of supervision, observation, inspection and investigation.