Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Korea, Volume VII

795B.00/6–950: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State

restricted

Seoul, June 9, 1950—noon.

829. Pyongyang Radio commenced new propaganda campaign June 7 analogous similar one 1949.¹ “Democratic Front” deploring continued division Korea by American-Rhee police state proposes “patriotic parties” and organizations celebrate liberation day August 15 in unison, accordance following principles: (1) from August 5, for eight days,² elect “unified supreme legislative organ” throughout Korea; (2) hold first session this legislature Seoul August 15; (3) hold preliminary joint north-south leaders conference Haeju or Kaesong discuss (a) measures peaceful unification; (b) create general election committee for holding elections; (4) exclude UNCOK from work for attainment peaceful unification; (5) make “north and south regimes responsible for public peace and order during period joint meeting and general election (although ‘Syngman Rhee, Lee Bum Suk and other criminals’ not allowed participate joint meeting)”. Three persons to be sent south deliver copies this appeal to various parties and UNCOK.

Comment: Noteworthy first time date set for occupation Seoul, although many previous claims intention do so. Embassy estimates program purely propaganda campaign attempting offset results recent election which portrayed by Pyongyang Radio as complete failure with popular participation only under duress. Possible some border incidents may coincide with “election campaign” but no estimate basic change military situation (unlikely this propaganda much effect South Korea since Communists all underground while “middle readers” largely supporting ROK).

Methods of meeting this new propaganda campaign now subject informal conversation with ROK and UNCOK officials.

Muccio

1. See Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. vii, Part 2, footnote 2, p. 1064.
2. The text of the proposal by the North Korean “Democratic Front for the Attainment of Unification of the Fatherland” (DFAUF) is printed in U.N. document A/1350, p. 35; it actually called for elections during the period August 5–8.