Office of the Historian

261. Memorandum From the Department of State to President Johnson1

Washington, February 3, 1968.

SUBJECT

  • Second Meeting at Panmunjom

The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. tonight, our time, 9:00 a.m. February 4, Korea time.2

We have sent Admiral Smith a detailed statement for him to make.

He will again ask for the names of the injured and wounded.

The North Korean chief effort we think will be to use the alleged confession of Lieutenant Harris which they issued yesterday to support their case that the vessel was in territorial waters. This confession includes several references to violations and one specific latitude-longitude position inside their waters.

We are sending a special guidance to Admiral Smith to handle this “evidence”.

The minimum condition the North Koreans are going to attach to the release of the crew and possibly the vessel is beginning to take shape. What they seem to be shooting for is a signed statement by us admitting the vessel violated their waters. They may initially attach other conditions, such as espionage, hostile and provocative acts, but might settle for the single admission.3

  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 33–6 KOR N–US. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Bundy.↩
  2. The North Koreans asked for a meeting on February 3. The U.S. principals countered with the later time and date, which were accepted, because of preparational and logistical problems created by the short notice given by the North Koreans as well as uncertainty as to the latter’s motives for suddenly requesting a meeting. In addition, as Porter noted, requesting a delay of at least 1 day after having received an invitation was standard procedure when scheduling MAC meetings. (Telegram 3917 from Seoul, February 3; ibid.) A chronology of events in Washington the evening of February 2 and Seoul at the corresponding time was sent to President Johnson. (Memorandum from Katzenbach to the President, February 3; Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Korea—Pueblo Incident, Vol. Ib, Part A [beginning February])↩
  3. When informed of the meeting, President Pak asked only that the United States adopt a “strong posture” with the North Koreans. (Telegram 3904 from Seoul, February 3; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 33–6 KOR N–US)↩