S/S Files: NSC 118 Series

Memorandum by the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Lay) to the National Security Council

top secret

Subject: United States Objectives and Courses of Action in Korea

  • References: A. NSC 118/1 and Annex to NSC 118/11
  • B. Memo for NSC from Executive Secretary, same subject, dated December 18, 19512

The Senior NSC Staff, having reviewed the statement of policy contained in NSC 118/1 in the light of the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and after further study by the interested departments and agencies, recommends the following revisions in NSC 118/1 to the National Security Council for consideration at its meeting on December 19:3

Page 2, subparagraph (4): Revise to read as follows:

(4) Permit the building of sufficient ROK military power to deter or repel a renewed aggression by North Korean forces alone.

Page 3, subparagraph (4), 5th line of the subparagraph: Place a period after “security of the ROK” and delete the remainder of the subparagraph.

Page 4, subparagraph (5), next to last line of the subparagraph: Delete “the heads of”.

[Page 1375]

Page 4, subparagraph (6), 4th line of the subparagraph: Place a period after “terms” and delete the remainder of the subparagraph.

Page 5, subparagraph (3): In the first line substitute “any” for “all”; in the second line after “against” insert “air”.

The Senior NSC Staff also concurred in the view of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as expressed in paragraph 2 a of Reference B that NSC 118/1 is intended to amend only subparagraphs 6 e and f and paragraph 9 of NSC 48/5. It is suggested that a statement along the lines recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff be incorporated in the “Note by the Executive Secretary” when a revised version of NSC 118/1 as amended is reproduced.

James S. Lay, Jr.
  1. See NSC 118/1, dated December 7, p. 1259.
  2. Not printed.
  3. The paragraphs of NSC 118/1 under reference are: 1a(4), 2a(4, 5, and 6), and 2b (3).