247. Editorial Note
Between January 29 and January 31, 1968, the United States and North Korea established the foundation for face-to-face discussions on the fate of the U.S.S. Pueblo and its crew, after the UN Senior Member of the Military Armistice Commission submitted two messages from the U.S. Government to the North Korean Senior Member. The first message responded to information received from the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, and the second requested an immediate private meeting between the Senior Members of each side. (Telegram 3755 from Seoul, January 30; National Archives and Records Administration, [Page 571] RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 33–6 KOR N–US) In response the North Koreans agreed to private meetings between the two principals and proposed that each side be assisted by an official translator and a liaison officer. By mutual agreement the meetings were held in the conference room of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom. (Telegrams 3744 from Seoul, January 29, and 3794 from Seoul, January 31; both ibid.)
After receiving a message from Rear Admiral Smith suggesting a meeting of the two Senior Members on February 1, the North Koreans countered with a proposal offering to meet on February 2 at 11 a.m. local time. Since a “delay of at least one day is customary communist tactic,” Rear Admiral Smith accepted the alternate date. (Telegram 3826 from Seoul, February 1; ibid.) The closed meeting convened in the Neutral Nations conference room and was limited to four persons on each side: the senior member, an interpreter, an assistant, and a junior liaison officer. (Telegram 3856 from Seoul, February 1; ibid.) The Department of State notified Ambassador Thompson in Moscow and Ambassador Johnson in Tokyo of the details of the meeting and transmitted the text of a statement indicating that, since North Korea had rejected working through the United Nations to resolve the Pueblo crisis, the United States was prepared to handle the issue through the Military Armistice Commission at Panmunjom. (Telegram 108288 to Moscow and Tokyo, February 1; ibid.) Ambassador Porter notified the Department of State of his intention to inform President Pak of the upcoming meeting. (Telegram 3832 from Seoul, February 1; ibid.)