268. National Security Study Memorandum 226, Washington, May 27, 1975.1 2
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON D.C. 20506
May 27, 1975
National Security Study Memorandum 226
TO: The Secretary of Defense
The Deputy Secretary of State
The
Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Review of U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula
The President has directed an assessment of U.S. policy toward the Korean Peninsula. The study should examine U.S. interests and objectives toward the Korean Peninsula, and the combined political and military strategy that would flow from these interests and objectives over the next three to five years.
The study should assume a continuation of the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea.
The study’s consideration of factors bearing on U.S. interests and objectives should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:
- — The threat from North Korea, and the extent of support that North Korea is likely to get from the Peoples Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and Third World countries.
- — The impact of Indochina developments on North Korean and South Korean policies.
- — The arms competition between the two Koreas.
- — The diplomatic competition between the two Koreas, including the role of U.N. actions on the United Nations Command.
- — The North-South dialogue.
- — Japan’s orientation toward North and South Korea and toward the U.S. security role in South Korea.
The study’s examination of policy issues should include, but should not necessarily be limited to, the following:
- — The U.S. force presence in South Korea, and the termination of the United Nations Command.
- — The U.S. response to North Korean aggression.
- — U.S. military assistance, including the transfer of advanced weapons and technology and the South Korean interest in nuclear weapons development.
- — The U.S. position toward the relative international standing of the two Koreas and toward great power relations with the Peninsula.
- — The North-South dialogue, and how the major powers might relate to the process between the two Koreas.
- — South Korea’s future regional role in Northeast Asia.
- — The U.S. position towards South Korea’s internal political developments.
The study should be prepared by the NSC Inter-Departmental Group for East Asia, and should be submitted no later than June 30, 1975, for consideration by the Senior Review Group.
[Brent Scowcroft signed
for]
Henry A. Kissinger
cc: The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- 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.↩
- Kissinger asked the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the CIA to review U.S. policy toward the Korean peninsula.↩