(January 24,1958)
Comrade Prime Minister Kim Il Sung,
We have received both your letters, dated December 16 and 25,
1957.
We have carefully studied the two plans put forward for the
withdrawal of the Chinese People's Volunteers from Korea. We feel
that it is more appropriate for the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea to initiate a request for the withdrawal of foreign forces
from Korea, then for the Chinese government to respond to the
request of the Korean government. Therefore, we consider it better
to adopt the plan proposed in your letter of December 16. Regarding
this plan, we now make some specific suggestions. We have already
consulted the Soviet government on these suggestions, to which they
have expressed full agreement. The suggestions are now presented as
follows, and we request you and the Central Committee of the Korean
Workers' Party to consider whether they are appropriate.
1. The Supreme People's Council of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea would write a letter to the United Nations, which
would be put forward in the United Nations by the Soviet Union, as
a member of the United Nations, to press for action by the United
Nations. But this method has one defect, that is it would treat the
whole United Nations as our belligerent, whereas in actuality it is
only a minority of U.N members who have sent aggressive troops to
form the U.N Forces. Hence we suggest that the government of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea issue a public statement,
advancing the following proposals in accordance with the basic
propositions of the Korean-Chinese side on the Korean question at
the 1954 Geneva Conference:
(1) The UN Forces and the Chinese People's Volunteers are to
withdraw from Korea simultaneously;
(2) South Korea and North Korea are to conduct consultations on
an equal footing, so as to establish and develop economic and
cultural relations between them and prepare for free elections in
all of Korea;
(3) Within a defined period of time after the complete
withdrawal of foreign forces from South Korea and North Korea, free
elections are to take place throughout Korea under the supervision
of an organization composed of neutral nations.
2. The Chinese government would issue a statement right after
the public statement of the government of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea, supporting the latter's stand and officially
expressing its readiness to consult with the government of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the withdrawal of the
Chinese people's Volunteers in groups at set times, in the meantime
demanding that the governments of countries on the side of the U.N.
Forces take similar steps.
3. Subsequently, the Soviet government would issue a statement
supporting the statements of the Korean and Chinese governments and
stressing that the governments of countries on the side of the U.N.
Forces should, like the Chinese government, respond to the demand
of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; it
would also propose convening a conference of all countries
concerned to discuss the peaceful settlement of the Korean
question.
4. During the forthcoming visit to Korea by Comrade Zhou Enlai
representing the Chinese government in mid-February this year, the
Korean and Chinese governments may announce in a joint communiqué
that the Chinese government has obtained, through consultation, the
agreement of the Chinese People's Volunteers to withdraw from Korea
and that the latter have decided to do so in groups before the end
of 1958. The Korean and Chinese governments may state in the joint
communiqué that the withdrawal of the Chinese People's Volunteers
from Korea prior to that of the U.N. Forces is for the purpose of
easing tension and facilitating consultations between South and
North Korea on an equal footing for the peaceful reunification of
Korea. Therefore, the U.N. Forces ought to take similar actions.
Meanwhile, the Chinese People's Volunteers would issue a statement
to the effect that the Chinese people and the Korean people depend
on each other like lips and teeth and will stand together through
thick and thin, and that the withdrawal of the Chinese People's
Volunteers from Korea by no means signifies disregard of the
interests of the Korean and Chinese peoples, who share the same
weal and woe. If Syngman Rhee and the United States dare renew
provocations and cross the armistice line, the Chinese People's
Volunteers will, at the request of the Korean government,
unhesitatingly fight once again shoulder to shoulder with the
Korean People's Army to repulse aggression.
5. We have provisionally worked out the timetable for the
withdrawal of the Chinese People's Volunteers from Korea as
follows:
(1) From March to April 1958, after the publication of the joint
communiqué of the Korean and Chinese governments, one third of the
Chinese People's Volunteers will be withdrawn and completely
replaced by the Korean People's Army at the first defense line,
while the remaining two thirds will be stationed at the second
defense line;
(2) From July to September 1958 the second third will be
withdrawn;
(3) The final third is to be withdrawn before the end of
1958.
6. Following publication of the joint communiqué of the Korean
and Chinese governments, Switzerland and Sweden on the Neutral
Nations Supervisory Commission most likely will again ask for the
abolition of the Supervisory Commission. Thereupon we can, on the
ground that the U.N. Forces are not yet withdrawn, request that
they leave a minimum number of persons at Panmunjom to carry out
supervision. However, we must be prepared for their departure in
disregard of our request.
Please study the above-mentioned points and give us a reply.
Please accept my salutation.
Mao Zedong
January 24, 1958
(PLA Daily)