280. Telegram From the Embassy in Korea to the Department of State1
4368. Subject: Eighth Senior MAC Members Meeting at Panmunjom, February 20.
1. Following is text of preliminary report today’s meeting received from RAdm Smith over secure wire system from advance camp.
Begin text. Meeting consisted largely of Pak reading long statement which was later passed across table. No acceptable solution yet apparent. Return of ship not mentioned. After a long justification of DPRK position and action Pak then said (English version follows):
“I have noted your statement made at the previous meeting that your side will assure that ‘United States naval vessels will continue to be ordered to remain more than twelve nautical miles from your coast.’ I have also noted that the indication of the willingness of the U.S. Government to make an apology.
Such being the case I considered that the issue of the crew will be easily solved in case your side does not try to make the apology after [Page 632] the return of the crew but makes a proper apology on the basis of the confessions made unanimously by all the crew members including the captain of their intrusions into the territorial waters of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and of their hostile acts.
At the previous meeting, you asked me when the crew of the Pueblo would be returned.
My answer to the question is that it completely depends upon your side which will take its position with regard to the matters raised by me in the above.
Therefore, your side should seriously study the statement I have made today.” End text.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 33–6 KOR N–US. Secret; Flash;Nodis; Cactus. A copy of this telegram was given to the President under a February 20 covering memorandum from Arthur McCafferty that indicates the President saw it. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Korea—Pueblo Incident—Cactus IV, Cactus Misc. Papers, February to December 1968)↩