Korean Peninsula
260. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford, Washington, January 3, 1975.
Kissinger recommended that Ford approve the issuance of a NSDM on future U.S. military assistance to South Korea.
Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–57, NSDM 282, Review of ROK Air Defense Requirements (10). Top Secret; Nodis. Ford initialed the approve option. The response to NSSM 211, an undated IG paper, is ibid., Box H–32, NSSM 211, Review of U.S. Security Assistance to the Republic of Korea (1).
261. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, January 6, 1975, 8 a.m..
Habib and Kissinger discussed weapons sales to South Korea.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 5. Secret.
262. National Security Decision Memorandum 282, Washington, January 9, 1975.
Kissinger issued NSDM 282 concerning the Korean force modernization plan.
Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–69, NSDM Originals (1 of 2), NSDM 281–NSDM 300. Top Secret; Nodis. Copies were sent to the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
263. Key Judgments From an Interagency Intelligence Memorandum DCI/NIO 165–75, Washington, January 24, 1975.
[1 page not declassified.]
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, OPI 122 (National Intelligence Council), Job 79R01142A, Box 1, Folder 10. Secret.
264. Memorandum From Richard Smyser and David Elliott of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, February 28, 1975.
Smyser and Elliott recommended that Kissinger approve a Department of State cable addressing the development of nuclear weapons in South Korea.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 9, Korea [4]. Secret; Sensitive. On behalf of Kissinger, Scowcroft initialed his approval of the draft State cable. Tab A is attached but not published. Tab B, not attached, is likely telegram 8023 from Seoul, referenced in Document 263. The Department sent the cable on March 4 as telegram 048673 to Seoul. (Ibid., Box 11, Korea, DOS Cables, NODIS from SECSTATE [3])
265. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 27, 1975, 5 p.m.
Sneider informed Scowcroft about developments in U.S.-South Korean relations.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 10. Secret. The conversation took place in the White House. The March 26 talking points that Smyser gave Scowcroft, are ibid., Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 9, Korea [5].
266. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 28, 1975, 11 a.m.
Kissinger and Foreign Minister Kim discussed South Korea’s international position.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P820123–1061. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Smyser and approved by Gompert.
267. Telegram 2685 From the Embassy in the Republic of Korea to the Department of State, April 18, 1975, 0933Z.
The Embassy analyzed the South Korean view of the U.S. security commitment in the light of developments in Indochina.
Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis. The Embassy in Seoul sent a telegram of policy recommendations to bolster ROK security on April 22. (Telegram 2807 from Seoul; Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 11, Korea, State Department Telegrams to SECSTATE, NODIS [5])
268. National Security Study Memorandum 226, Washington, May 27, 1975.
Kissinger asked the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the CIA to review U.S. policy toward the Korean peninsula.
Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–36, NSSM 226, Review of U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula. Secret; Nodis. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
269. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, June 12, 1975, 4 p.m.
Kissinger and Habib discussed U.S.-ROK relations.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P820123–1364. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by O’Donohue and approved by Covey.
270. Memorandum of Conversation, Seoul, August 27, 1975.
Park and Schlesinger discussed Japan, human rights, and anti-submarine warfare.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 9, Korea (11). Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The conversation took place in President Park’s Office. The discussion occurred before and during lunch. Howard Graves, Military Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, sent this memcon to Scowcroft on September 9.
271. Memorandum of Conversation, Seoul, August 27, 1975.
Park and Schlesinger discussed the North Korean threat, ROK force improvement, and the military situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 9, Korea (11). Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The conversation took place in President Park’s Office. Howard Graves, Military Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, sent this memcon to Scowcroft on September 9.
272. Memorandum of Conversation, Seoul, August 27, 1975.
Park and Schlesinger discussed nuclear matters, the U.S. commitment to Korea, and U.S. military commanders in South Korea.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 9, Korea (11). Secret; Nodis. The conversation took place in President Park’s Office. The meeting time is unrecorded. Howard Graves, Military Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, sent this memcon to Scowcroft on September 9.
273. Memorandum From Thomas J. Barnes of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, September 29, 1975.
Barnes recommended that Scowcroft investigate Schlesinger’s discussions in Korea and the proposal for a short-war strategy.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 9, Korea (12). Secret. Sent for action. The memorandum notes Granger’s concurrence, next to which is written “strongly concur.” Attached but not published are Tab A, undated comments on Schlesinger’s discussions in Seoul; Tab B, Schlesinger’s conversations with Park and Suh, which the NSC received under a covering memorandum, September 9, from Schlesinger’s Military Assistant Howard Graves to Scowcroft, and which are published as Documents 270–272; Tab C, an undated outline of Schlesinger’s anticipated discussions with Park. Tabs D and E are not attached, but refer to telegram 226183 to Seoul, September 23, and telegram 7547 from Seoul, September 25, both at the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. In response to telegram 7547, the Department sent telegram 234236 to Seoul, October 1; ibid. Scowcroft initialed his approval of the recommendation.
274. Study Prepared by the Office of International Security Affairs in the Department of Defense, Washington, undated.
The Bureau of International Security Affairs in the Department of Defense examined the problems facing the United States in Korea.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–79–0049, Korea, 092, 1976, January 16. Secret. Amos Jordan sent the study to the Secretary of Defense under a covering memorandum, January 15, on which was noted: “Sec Def has seen. 19 Jan 1976.”
275. Information Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs in the Department of Defense (Bergold) to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Washington, March 16, 1976.
Bergold warned that increasing repression by Park’s government was diminishing Congressional support for South Korea.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–79–0049, Korea, 092, 1976, 1976 March 16. Confidential; Eyes Only. A notation on the memorandum reads, “22 Mar 1976. Sec Def has seen.” For NSSM 235, see Document 23.
276. Memorandum From Jeanne Davis of the National Security Council Staff to the Chairman of the National Security Council Interdepartmental Group for East Asia (Habib), Washington, April 19, 1976.
Davis asked the NSC Interdepartmental Group for East Asia to resume work on NSSM 226.
Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–36, NSSM 226, Review of U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula. Secret; Nodis.
277. Memorandum from Jay Taylor of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, April 22, 1976.
Taylor summarized a CIA report on possible North Korean initiatives during 1976.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea (15). Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Scowcroft initialed the memorandum and wrote, “Good idea.” Tab A, April 8, 1976, is not attached. It is in the Central Intelligence Agency, OPI 122 (National Intelligence Council), Job 91R00884R, Box 31, Intelligence Memorandum: Possible North Korean Initiatives During 1976, NIO M 76–010 C. The Defense papers on the vulnerabilities of the Northwest Islands to attack and on options for their defense are in the Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea (17).
278. Memorandum From Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affair Abramowitz to William Hyland of the NSC Staff, Washington, April 22, 1976.
Abramowitz asked that the request for NSSM 226 be withdrawn.
Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–36, NSSM 226, Review of U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula. Secret.
279. Memorandum From Thomas J. Barnes of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, May 19, 1976.
Barnes asked Scowcroft to decide the future of the NSSM 226 study.
Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–36, NSSM 226, Review of U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for Action. The tabs are attached but not published. On the first page of the memorandum, Scowcroft wrote, “a mistake” next to the passage: “We originally issued NSSM 226 in May 1975 but delayed action pending the broad review of U.S. interests and security objectives in the Asia-Pacific area.” On the third page, Scowcroft underlined, “informally inform the departments concerned” and initialed his approval of option A. He also wrote, “Our basic mistake was stopping work on the NSSM last spring when we could have used it.”
280. Memorandum From Thomas J. Barnes of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, May 28, 1976.
Barnes informed Scowcroft of North Korean threats and of accusations of South Korean provocations.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea (16). Confidential. Sent for information. Concurred in by Granger. According to the correspondence profile, Scowcroft saw this document on June 1. (Ibid.) North Korean news accounts of enemy provocations are ibid.
281. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs (Habib), Washington, August 18, 1976, 10:05 a.m.
Kissinger and Habib discussed a North Korean attack on South Korean and U.S. soldiers who were pruning a tree in the demilitarized zone.
Source: Department of State, Electronic Reading Room, Transcripts of Kissinger Telephone Conversations. Unclassified.
282. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, August 18, 1976, 3:47–4:43 p.m.
WSAG received a CIA briefing on the DMZ attack and then discussed policy options.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 27, WSAG Meeting, Korean Incident, August 18, 1976. Secret. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room.
283. Telegram 206084 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of Korea, August 19, 1976, 0110Z.
The Department sent instructions to the U.S. political and military representatives in Korea on the response to the North Korean attack in the DMZ.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea, North Korean Tree Incident, August 18, 1976, Telegrams (1). Secret; Flash; Nodis. Drafted by Hurwitz and approved by Kissinger.
284. Telegram 190720Z From the Commander in Chief of the United Nations Command (Stillwell) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of State Kissinger, and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, August 19, 1976, 0720Z.
Stilwell described his meeting with Park on the response to the North Korean attack.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea, North Korean Tree Incident, August 18, 1976, Telegrams (3). Secret.
285. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, August 19, 1976, 8:12-9:15 a.m.
WSAG discussed how to respond to the North Korean DMZ attack.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 27, WSAG Meeting, Korean Incident, August 18, 1976. Secret. The meeting occurred in the White House Situation Room. The briefing by the Director of Central Intelligence is attached but not published. Hyland’s draft telegram to Scowcroft, August 19, reported on proposed responses to the attack. (Ibid., Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea, North Korean Tree Incident, August 18, 1976 [2]) On the morning of August 21, UNC forces felled the disputed tree.
286. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, August 25, 1976, 10:30 a.m..
WSAG met to discuss the Korean situation.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 27, WSAG Meeting, Korean Incident, August 18, 1976. Top Secret; Sensitive. The minutes contain handwritten revisions by Gleysteen. The meeting occurred in the White House Situation Room. Gleysteen sent these minutes to Hyland under an undated memorandum.
287. Telegram 213541 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of Korea, August 27, 1976, 2010Z.
The Department of State sent Sneider instructions for his meeting with Park.
Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Director of the Korea desk Edward Hurwitz; cleared by Hummel, Habib, and Deputy Executive Secretary Peter Sebastian; and approved by Kissinger. On August 28, Sneider reported that he had met with Park and had carried out his instructions. (Telegram 6748 from Seoul; ibid.)
288. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Hyland) to President Ford, Washington, September 5, 1976.
Hyland informed Ford of a revision to the Korean DMZ agreement.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea (19). Confidential. Ford initialed the first page of the memorandum.
289. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, September 15, 1976, 2:30 p.m.
Scowcroft, Sneider, and Gleysteen discussed U.S. policy toward Korea.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea (19). Secret; Sensitive. Gleysteen sent the memorandum of conversation to Scowcroft under a covering memorandum, September 17, recommending his approval, which Scowcroft initialed. The talking points that Gleysteen prepared for Scowcroft, September 14, are ibid.