151. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Korea1
109821. Please deliver following message dated February 3, 1968, from President Johnson to President Park:
Begin text:
Dear Mr. President: The attempt to assassinate you and your family and our Ambassador is the latest and most shocking act against your country by the North Korean communists. I thank God that this unspeakable attempt has failed.
That the leaders in Pyongyang would order such a desperate measure shows their awareness of what your courageous leadership has meant to your country. I doubt that their failure will bring any respite in their efforts to introduce armed agents into your Republic, and to cause as much trouble as possible.
These attacks on your country have greatly increased during the past year, and you and I have done a lot to improve your ability to deal with them. I know you have given much thought to new ways in which this infiltration can best be met, and I, too, have been thinking of more ways to help you. Several of my top advisors have been working on this matter with even greater urgency than before, and I hope to be able to share our specific ideas with you at an early date.
I want you to know that we are urgently considering how to strengthen the equipment of your forces to meet this increased campaign from the North. I am giving this my personal attention and expect to be in touch with you soon about this matter.
You have been kept fully informed of the details of the recent seizure by the North Koreans of our naval ship, the Pueblo, and its crew. I know you share our concern. We shall continue to press hard [Page 323] for the earliest possible release of these men and their vessel. If progress toward this end is not soon forthcoming, we shall have to consider what additional measures will be necessary and appropriate.
I have no doubt that the increased incidents along the Demilitarized Zone, the seizure of our ship and the recent effort to attack you, are part of North Korea’s program to create maximum tension in the area. They may hope, thereby, to help their friends in Hanoi. They may think that by raising tension in Korea they can force us to divert our attention from the campaign of aggression against South Viet-Nam. They will not succeed in that effort. The movements of planes and ships to the Republic of Korea in these last days have been from our active forces in the United States and in the Pacific. None has been taken from Viet-Nam.
The events of this past week in Viet-Nam have demonstrated anew how important it is for us all to remain strong there and to stand fast. I have no doubt we shall continue to do so. And we shall continue to stand strong and together in your country against any efforts, however desperate, by the regime in the North.
Our mutual objectives of peace, security and progress in Asia require us to make it entirely clear to the men in Pyongyang and in Hanoi that terror and lawlessness will not succeed and that their diversionary tactics will have no effect.
I am particularly grateful that we have been able to keep in such close contact through Ambassador Porter, who has been able to keep me current with your views. In these difficult days for both our countries, it is good to be able to share one’s thoughts with a trusted friend and ally. Sincerely, Lyndon B. Johnson
End text.
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Head of State Correspondence, Park Correspondence, Vol. I. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted by the Korean Task Force, cleared by Read and Rostow, and approved by Rusk.↩