U.S. PROGRAMS IN KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-533-1-12-5
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: March 20, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

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NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL'
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20506
TOP SECRET/NODIS
March 20, 1970
National Security Decision Memorandum. 48
TO: The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
The Director of Central Intelligence
The Director, Bureau of the Budget
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
SUBJECT: U. S. Programs in Korea
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
Following NSC review of U. S. policy and programs toward Korea,
the President has decided to reduce the U. S. military presence in
Korea by 20, 000 personnel by the end of FY 71. The President,
has also directed that the following priority actions be taken to
implement his decision.
1. Consultations with President Park. The President directs
that consultation be undertaken with' President Park to inform him
of the President's intentions and explore with him the timing and
conditions of withdrawal. The President wishes the objective of
this consultation to be the creation of a situation in which U. S.
withdrawals result from President Park's initiative in view of
present ROK strength and the agreed need for future improvements
in ROK forces. The Under Secretaries Committee shall submit
a plan, based on the conditions outlined below, for consultations
with President Park to _the President's Assistant for National
Security Affairs no later than April 1 , 1970.
2. Conditions for Consultation. The President has decided
that consultations with.Piesident Park shall be based on the following
conditions:
(a) Subject to approval of the Congress, the U.S. will attempt
to provide annual average military assistance to Korea over FY 71-75
at a level of $200 million per year comprised either of grant MAP of
TOP SECRET/NODIS
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/13: LOC-HAK-533-1-12-5
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/13: LOC-HAK-533-1-12-5
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$200 million per year or its equivalent in grant MAP at a lower
level, such as $160 million per year, supplemented by equipment
and other supplies excess to U. S. needs.
(b) The U. S. will increase its economic assistance to
Korea by continuing PL-480, Title I at or above a level of $50
million per year, depending on the availability of surplus commodities,
in addition to currently-planned aid, provided that the ROK assumes,
to the extent feasible, a larger defense burden through a MAP transfer
or military sales program.
(c) Further withdrawals of substantial numbers of U. S.
personnel beyond the 20, 000 personnel decided upon are not now
planned, though they may be considered when substantial RQK forces
return from Vietnam or compensating improvements in ROK forces
are well underway.
Upon completion of initial consultations with President Park, these
conditions will be revised as necessary.
3. Other Preparations for Consultation. The President has also
directed that concurrently with consultations with President Park:
(a) The Departments of State and Defense will develop a plan
for consultation with the Congress on the feasibility of increasing
MAP for Korea to the levels noted above.
(b) The Department of Defense will develop a plan for the
withdrawal of military personnel, noted above, and the disposition
of remaining forces in such manner as to reduce the U. S. presence
in the DMZ to the minimum consistent with our continuing responsibility
for the security of the UN area at Panmunjon.
4. The Korea Program Memorandum. Following initial
consultations with President Park and the Congress, the President
has directed the preparation of a five-year Korea Program Memorandum
covering U. S. policy and 'programs for Korea, including:
TOP SECRE'T'/NODIS
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/13: LOC-HAK-533-1-12-5
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/13: LOC-HAK-533-1-12-5
Ip
TOP SECRET/NODIS
.(a) ROK Military Forces - The President directs that the
U. S. support improvements to the ROK forces to the maximum
extent possible within the available resources. The objective of
these improvements shall be to develop ROK forces capable of
deterring or conducting a defense against a conventional or
unconventional attack by North Korea. For this purpose, a five-
year force structure and resource plan for the development of the
ROK armed forces toward this goal shall be prepared by the
Department of Defense based on the assistance levels in 2 (a).
(b) U. S. -Military Forces - The President directs that the
Department of Defense develop a five-year force structure, resource
and personnel plan for U. S. forces in or clearly related. to Korea.
In this plan, the feasibility and timing of further reductions in the
U. S. military presence in Korea should be thoroughly evaluated.
(c) Other U. S. Programs -,The President directs that
the Department of State and other agencies develop five-year resource
and personnel plans covering their programs in or related to Korea.
As envisaged in NSDM 4, the Korea.Program Memorandum based on
these plans will serve to guide agency, planning in regard to Korea
and be periodically revised as necessary.
5. Organization. The President directs that these plans be
prepared under the direction of the NSC Under Secretaries Committee
and, upon completion, submitted to the President.
TOP SECRET/NODIS
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/13: LOC-HAK-533-1-12-5