Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Korea, Volume XXIII, Part 2

207. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Lay) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, March 18, 1957.

SUBJECT

• U.S. Policy toward Korea

REFERENCES

• A. Annex A to NSC 170/1²
• B. Memo for Addressees from Executive Secretary, NSC, subject: “U.S. Objectives and Courses of Action in Korea”, dated February 18, 1955³
• C. NSC 5702/1⁴

The enclosed Annex F to NSC 5702/1, which incorporates the revisions made in Annex A to NSC 170/1, as transmitted by the reference memorandum of February 18, 1955, is transmitted herewith for use in considering NSC 5702/1.

This Annex is being disseminated only to the addressees above, and it is requested that special security precautions be observed in the handling of this Annex and that access to it be very strictly limited on an absolute need-to-know basis.

James S. Lay, Jr.

⁵

[Enclosure]

ANNEX F⁶

(Reference: Paragraph 22 of NSC 5702/1, “U.S. Policy toward Korea”)⁷

In anticipation of the possibility that President Rhee may order the renewal of hostilities in Korea by an attack on Communist forces in or north of the demilitarized zone despite all actions taken by the United States and the UNC, the United States should take all possible measures, both overt and covert:

a. To secure prompt warning of any decision by Rhee to order ROK forces to attack;

b. To prevent the issuance of any such order, if decided on, or its receipt by ROK military commanders in the field;

c. To reduce the likelihood that ROK field commanders would carry out such an order if received; and

d. To select and encourage covertly the development of new South Korean leadership prepared to cooperate in maintaining the armistice, and if Rhee initiates or is about to initiate unilateral action, assist such new leadership to assume power, by means not involving overt U.S. participation until and unless U.S. overt support is necessary and promises to be decisive in firmly establishing such new leadership.

1. Source: Department of State, S/P Files: Lot 62 D 1, Korea, US Policy Toward (NSC 5702, 5702/1, 5702/2). Top Secret; Eyes Only. Also sent to the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Director of Central Intelligence.
2. See footnote 2, Document 4.
3. Document 21.
4. Not printed. (Department of State, S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63 D 351, NSC 5702 Series) For text of the policy statement as adopted, see Document 240.
5. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.
6. Top Secret; Eyes Only.
7. Paragraph 22 of NSC 5702/1 reads: “In anticipation of the possibility that President Rhee may order the renewal of hostilities by an attack on Communist forces in or north of the Demilitarized Zone, despite all the actions taken by the United States under the preceding paragraph, the United States should take the measures stated in Annex F (not reproduced herein; to be circulated only to the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Director of Central Intelligence).”