Office of the Historian

501.BB Korea/6–1149: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State

confidential
Seoul, June 11, 1949—1 p. m.

688. I have informally broached suggestion set forth Deptel 417, June 3 to French delegate, Indian delegate (chairman) and principal secretary who have agreed bring matter up for formal consideration at its next meeting scheduled on June 13.

At invitation UNCOK, I, accompanied by Commanding General USAFIK, appeared at formal session UNCOK June 9 and reviewed US position regarding withdrawal US troops. I informed Commission US Government stood ready to extend all available facilities to UNCOK for purpose implementation of paragraph 4(D) resolution 12 December 1948. Australian delegate asked whether US Government would agree to have USSR military observers in South Korea for purpose assisting UNCOK observe and verify US troop withdrawal. I replied that US had no objection provided US military experts reciprocally permitted verify withdrawal USSR troops from North Korea.

[Page 1041]

I believe UNCOK satisfied with my presentation.1

Muccio

  1. At its June 13 meeting, UNCOK established Sub-Committee III to verify the withdrawal of occupation forces from Korea. On June 21 and 29, Sub-Committee III witnessed the embarkation of the last of the U.S. occupation forces front Inchon. On July 27, it reported to UNCOK that, as of June 30, the only U.S. troops left in the Republic of Korea were 50 Air Force personnel who were to staff Kimpo Airport until civilian administration could be arranged, and the personnel of KMAG which had an authorized strength of 500.

    As of July 1, USAFIK was deactivated and PMAG was succeeded by KMAG. In addition, the interim military agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea, signed August 24, 1948 (62 Stat. (pt. 3) 3817), lapsed and the South Koreans assumed full control of their military forces. (See U.N. document A/936, pp. 17–20, and Sawyer, Military Advisors in Korea, p. 45.)

    Through the U.N. Secretary-General, UNCOK notified the Soviet Union of its readiness to carry out its duties regarding verification of Soviet troop withdrawal from North Korea, but received no reply from the Soviet Government (see U.N. document A/936, pp. 18, 31).

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