292. Editorial Note
On February 18, 1963, Chairman Pak Chung-hui told Ambassador Berger that he was considering withdrawing from the presidential race. Pak noted the strong opposition within the military government to the Director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, Kim Chong P’il. Pak also told Berger he was disillusioned with politics and government and had met with political leaders on February 14 to discuss his future. Berger informed the Department of State of these developments and received instructions to inform Pak that the United States considered his withdrawal the best hope for political and economic stability.
Pak announced on February 18 that he was willing to withdraw from the presidential election, provided opposition political leaders would agree on a nine-point program featuring political harmony, continuation of certain basic political objectives, including normalization of relations with Japan. The U.S. Embassy immediately gave public support to the proposal, saying that it believed the plan provided a basis for the smooth transition to civilian government through the democratic process in an atmosphere of national unity and stability. The principal South Korean political leaders accepted the scheme formally on February 27.
Kim Chong P’il left the country on February 25 to become a roving Ambassador, and a former rival took over control of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. (Memorandum by Norred, March 27, sent by Forrestal to McGeorge Bundy on March 28; Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Korea, General, 8/62-3/63)