CABLE TO THE WHITE HOUSE FROM SEOUL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-559-1-2-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 24, 1973
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-559-1-2-8 p '3
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OP IMMED 25X1
DE #0818 2360656
O AUG 73 ZYH
,F M SEOUL
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
TO THE WHITE HOUSE
S E C R E T SENSITIVE EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
FM AMBASSADOR HABIB SEOUL 818
CODE WORD*******S Call
MORI/CDF
C05075601
TO THE WHITE HOUSE - IMMEDIATE --'EYES ONLY DR. KISSINGE25X1
REF: WH 31940
1. .1 SPOKE TO PRESIDENT PARK ABOUT PEKING CONTACT WITH
NORTH KOREANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS REFTEL.
PRESIDENT PARK AGREES TO THE FIRST MEETING AS YOU PROPOSED,
HE ALSO AGREES WITH YOUR BELIEF THAT WE SHOULD NOT
ACCEPT A ~ECOND,MEETING UNLESS THE PRC IS PREPARED TO
RESPOND TO ROK APPROACHES FOR CONTACT. HE IS HOPEFUL
THAT .WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS LATTER REGARD.
2. PRESIDENT PARK SAID HE WISHES TO STRESS THAT THE
MEETING WITH THE NORTH KOREANS SHOULD NOT BE MADE PUBLIC.
HE FEARS THAT NORTH KOREANS MIGHT WISH TO PUBLICIZE SUCH
A MEETING IN ORDER TO EMBARASS HIS GOVERNMENT BY MAKING
IT APPEAR THAT THE U.S. IS GOING OVER ROKG HEAD TO DEAL
DIRECTLY WITH NORTH KOREANS. HE APPRECIATED THAT WE
COULD NOT GUARANTEE SECRECY ON THE PART OF THE OTHER
SIDE BUT WAS HOPEFUL WE WOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO AVOID
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
3. THE PRESIDENT DID NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION AS TO THE
LEVEL AT WHICH HE PREFERS WE MAKE THE CONTACT. I GAVE
HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO BUT DID NOT ACTIVELY SOLICIT
A RESPONSE FROM HIM SO AS TO LEAVE YOU WITH A FREE HAND.
SIMILARLY, HE DID NOT EXPRESS ANY PREFERENCE AS TO THE
PLACE AT WHICH CONTACT SHOULD BE MADE. HE DID ASK THAT
WE KEEP HIM INFORMED OF THE RESULTS AND I PROMISED TO DO
SO.
4. AS TO MY VIEWS WHICH YOU REQUESTED, I FAVOR PROCEEDING
AS PROPOSED, BUT WOULD SUGGEST WE MAKE FIRST CONTACT AT
LEVEL JUST BELOW US-LO CHIEF AND MEET SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN.
USLO. I AGREE WITH PARK THAT IT WOULD CREATE SOME PROBLEMS
FOR HIM IF MEETING IS PUBLICIZED. HOWEVER, WE CAN LIVE WITH
'PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE IF IT COMES OUT THAT WAY, PARTICULARLY IF
,MEETING IS AT SECOND LEVEL AND IN INFORMAL SURROUNDINGS.
350
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *WHSR COMMENT * * * *
KENNEDY,MCFARLANE,
RECALLED
PSN:010192 PAGE 01 TOR:236/07i05Z DTG:240615Z AUG 73
No Objection to Declassification in Part2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-559-1_2-8_