283. Telegram 206084 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of Korea, August 19, 1976, 0110Z.1 2
TELEGRAM
Department of State
206084
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 /001 R
DRAFTED BY
DRAFTED: EA/K: EHURWITZ:
BCL
APPROVED BY S - THE SECRETARY
JCS - CAPT. COMBS
ISA - PFLINT
NSC - MR. HYLAND
EA - MR. ARMSTRONG
P - MR. HABIB
S/S - O: A. OTTO
190110Z AUG 76
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY
SEOUL FLASH
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR, POPS
SUBJECT: INFORMING PRESIDENT PARK OF IMPENDING MILITARY MEASURES
JOINT STATE/DEFENSE MESSAGE
- 1.
- CHARGE AND GENERAL STILLWELL SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CALL ON PRESIDENT PARK TO INFORM HIM OF CERTAIN MEASURES WE INTEND TO TAKE AND OTHERS WE ARE CONSIDERING IN CONNECTION WITH AUGUST 18 JOINT SECURITY AREA INCIDENT.
- 2.
- YOU SHOULD TELL PARK THAT WE CONSIDER INCIDENT TO BE HIGHLY PROVOCATIVE ON PART OF NORTH KOREA AND THAT WE MUST MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR TO PYONGYANG THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE A FREE HAND TO ENGAGE IN THIS OR SIMILAR ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE. [Page 2] TO SUPPORT THE STRENGTH OF THIS MESSAGE TO PYONGYANG, WE PROPOSE IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHING DEFCON 3 IN SOUTH KOREA AND TO BRING INTO THE ROK AN ADDITIONAL SQUADRON OF F–4’S FROM KADENA. IN ADDITION WE ARE EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING SUCH MEASURES AS: [A] HOLDING A B-52 BOMBING EXERCISE IN SOUTH KOREA. [B] BRINGING AN F-111 SQUADRON INTO THE ROK. [C] MOVING A CARRIER TASK FORCE INTO THE SEA OF JAPAN.
- 3.
- YOU SHOULD REQUEST PARK’S VIEWS ON NORTH KOREAN ACTIONS AND INTENTIONS, AND REPORT HIS REACTION TO OUR MOVES AND ANY SUGGESTIONS HE MAY HAVE FOR FURTHER ACTION.
KISSINGER
- Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 10, Korea, North Korean Tree Incident, August 18, 1976, Telegrams (1). Secret; Flash; Nodis. Drafted by Hurwitz and approved by Kissinger.↩
- The Department sent instructions to the U.S. political and military representatives in Korea on the response to the North Korean attack in the DMZ.↩