Cold War International History Project
Virtual Archive 2.0

Korea, DPRK, Soviet Economic and Military Aid

Stalin’s meeting with Kim Il Sung
March 05 1949 - Kim Il Sung asks for economical aid distributed over a period of six years, reports on the status of American soldiers in South Korea and mentions their lack of trade with other South East Asian countries.
 
Telegram from Shtykov to Soveit Foreign Minister Andrei Vyshinsky
February 07 1950 - Kim Il Sung directs questions to Moscow regarding arms, a budget, etc. via Shtykov
 
Telegram from Shtykov to Vyshinsky
March 09 1950 - Receipt of goods and payments expected of North Korea from the Soviet Union.
 
Telegram from Vyshinsky to Shtykov, transmitting message to Kim Il Sung.
March 12 1950 - Telegram from A. Vyshinsky to Soviet Ambassador in Pyongyang, Shtykov, to inform Kim Il Sung of reallocation of portion of 1951 credit (17 March 1949 agreement) to 1950.
 
Ciphered telegram, Vyshinsky to Soviet Ambassador in Pyongyang (Shtykov) transmitting message to Kim Il Sung
March 12 1950 - Telegram from A. Vyshinsky to Soviet Ambassador in Pyongyang, Shtykov, to inform Kim Il Sung of reallocation of portion of 1951 credit (17 March 1949 agreement) to 1950.
 
Telegram from Shtykov to Vyshinsky
March 16 1950 - Shtykov transmits Kim Il Sung’s March 14 letter containing requests for credit in the form of arms and other military equipment.
 
Message, Stalin to Kim Il Sung (via Shtykov)
March 18 1950 - Telegram from Stalin to Kim Il Sung thanking him for agreeing to send lead to the USSR as requested, and informing him of the decision to grant all of Kim's arms, equipment and specialist requests, per his March 4 message.
 
Message from Stalin to Kim Il Sung, via Shtykov
March 18 1950 - Telegram from Stalin to Kim Il Sung thanking him for agreeing to send lead to the USSR as requested, and informing him of the decision to grant all of Kim's arms, equipment and specialist requests, per his March 4 message.
 
Ciphered telegram, Shtykov to Vyshinsky re meeting with Kim Il Sung
March 21 1950 - Telegram from Shtykov to Stalin reporting his meeting March 20 with Kim Il Sung and Kim's request for a meeting with Stalin in April.
 
Top secret report on military situation by Shtykov to Comrade Zakharov
June 26 1950 - Report from Shtykov to Zakharov detailing North Korean advances on the first day of the Korean War. Included is a list of conclusions drawn up by Shtykov regarding the conduct of Northern and Southern forces thus far.
 
Telegram from Stalin to Shtykov
July 01 1950 - Reply from Stalin to Shtykov's telegram of July 1, 1950. Requests additional information on KPA plans and reaction to American internvention. Informs of intent to meet requests by Kim Il Sung for additional war materiel.
 
Telegram from Shtykov to Stalin
July 01 1950 - Telegram from Shtykov to Stalin (copied to the Soviet leadership) describing the successes of KPA forces in the South. He also relays the concern of some of the DPRK cadre regarding American intervention.
 
Ciphered telegram, Fyn-Si (Stalin) to Soviet ambassador in Pyongyang (Shtykov)
July 01 1950 - Reply from Stalin to Shtykov's telegram of July 1, 1950. Requests additional information on KPA plans and reaction to American internvention. Informs of intent to meet requests by Kim Il Sung for additional war materiel.
 
Ciphered telegram, Shtykov to Fyn-Si (Stalin) re political mood on North Korea
July 01 1950 - Telegram from Shtykov to Stalin (copied to the Soviet leadership) describing the successes of KPA forces in the South. He also relays the concern of some of the DPRK cadre regarding American intervention.
 
Telegram from Shtykov to Stalin
July 04 1950 - Shtykov reports on a meeting with Kim Il Sung and Pak Hon-Yong concerning requests for arms, advisers and advice on how move troops more efficiently. Shtykov proposes resolutions and advice
 
Telegram from Stalin to Shtykov
July 06 1950 - Stalin approves sending North Korea arms through China.
 
Telegram from Shtykov to Stalin, transmitting letter from Kim Il Sung to Stalin
July 08 1950 - Kim Il Sung gives Stalin his gratitude for all his aid in the war and asks Stalin for more military advisers.
 
Ciphered telegram, Shtykov to Fyn-Si (Stalin), transmitting letter from Kim Il Sung to Stalin
July 08 1950 - Telegram from Shtykov to Stalin (copied to the Soviet leadership) relaying a request from Kim Il Sung for military advisors.
 
Telegram from Stalin to Kim Il Sung, via Shtykov
August 27 1950 - Stalin praises Kim Il Sung for his struggle, reinforces Soviet aid and advices Kim Il Sung how to best utilize the air force.
 
Ciphered telegram, Fyn-Si (Stalin) to Kim Il Sung (via Shtykov)
August 28 1950 - Telegram from Stalin to Kim Il Sung, congratulating him for his victories thus far and offering the help of the Soviet air force.
 
Vasilevsky to Stalin
September 23 1950 - Message from Vasilevsky to Stalin detailing the plans for redeployment of 40 LA-9 fighters of the 304th fighter aviation regiment, 32nd fighter aviation division from the Spassk air base to Pyongyang.
 
Telegram from Fyn Si (Stalin) to Matveyev (Army Gen. M.V. Zakharov) and Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK T.F. Shtykov, approved 27 September 1950 Soviet Communist Party Central Committee Politburo
September 27 1950 - Telegram from Stalin to Soviet representatives in the DPRK containing extracts from a meeting of the VKP CC(b). The message expresses Stalin's displeasure with the KPA forces' conduct of battle and issues a series of directives for continuing the campaign.
 
Ciphered Telegram, DPRK leader Kim Il Sung and South Korean Communist leader Pak Hon- Yong to Stalin (via Shtykov)
September 29 1950 - Telegram from Kim Il Sung and Pak Hon-Yong telling Stalin of the losses they have incurred following American air and ground attacks in South Korea and of their general lack of supplies and trained personnel. They explain that should the Americans cross the 38th parallel, North Korea and Communist South Korea would require immediate and direct military assistance from the Soviet Union (or at least the benefits of Stalin’s influence over Chinese volunteer forces) in order to avoid complete American capture.
 
Ciphered Telegram, Shtykov to Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and Instantsia (Stalin)
September 30 1950 - Telegram from Shtykov to Gromyko and Stalin reporting the dire circumstances into which the North Koreans had fallen in the wake of the Inchon landings. Mentioned is a correspondence between the North Koreans and Mao which hinted at possible Chinese aid.
 
Memorandum Gromyko to Stalin, 30 September 1950, with draft cable from Gromyko to Shtykov
September 30 1950 - A message from Gromyko to Stalin relaying the assessment of Shtykov that it would be prudent for the Soviet Union to withdraw some nonessential embassy personnel and specialists from North Korea. Gromyko advises that withdrawals should be considered only in consultation with North Korea and the appropriate Soviet ministeries. A draft of a telegram to Shtykov to this effect is attached.
 
Ciphered Telegram, Chan Fu (Stalin) to Matveyev (Zakharov)
October 02 1950 - Telegram from Stalin to the North Korean leadership emphasizing the importance of recovering their military personnel. Stalin advises that they recover as much personnel as possible, regardless losses in equipment.
 
Gromyko and Vasilevsky to Stalin, 6 October 1950, attaching draft cable to Shtykov
October 06 1950 - Memorandum from Gromyko and Vasilevsky to Stalin adivising that Shtykov be given discretion to follow his recommendations regarding the evacuation of Soviet personnel, specialists and citizens (including ethnic Koreans) from North Korea.
 
Ciphered Telegram, Fyn Si (Stalin) to Kim Il Sung
October 14 1950 - Telegram from Stalin to Kim Il Sung informing him of the finalization of China's decision to send troops to North Korea's aid.
 
Telegram from Zhou Enlai to Stalin
November 16 1950 - Request from Zhou Enlai to Stalin for specific quantities of automobiles and fluids necessary for their operation - oil, grease, gasoline etc. - in conjunction with movement of troops to North Korea.
 
Telegram from Shtykov to Gromyko, transmitting 16 November 1950 message form Kim Il Sung to Stalin
November 17 1950 - Kim Il Sung asks to send Korean students over in order to learn flying and maintenance techniques.
 
Telegram from Stalin to Kim Il Sung, via Shtykov
November 20 1950 - Stalin agrees to train North Korean pilots, but in China, not in the Soviet Union, as Kim Il Sung previously suggested.
 
Telegram from Stalin to Razuvaev with message for Kim Il Sung
May 29 1951 - Stalin sends a message for Kim Il Sung saying that he cannot give Kim Il Sung rifle-mortar arms, but can give him other types of ammunition.
 
CC Politburo decision with approved message from Stalin to Kim Il Sung
April 14 1952 - Stalin asks for Razuvaev’s agreement to send flour to Korea.
 
VKP(b) CC Politburo decision with approved message from Stalin to Kim Il Sung
April 14 1952 - Telegram from Stalin to Kim Il Sung asking whether the latter wants wheat flour in response to a shortage of bread in North Korea.
 
Telegram from Babkin to Shtemenko, conveying letter from Kim Il Sung to Stalin
April 16 1952 - Telegram from Kim Il Sung to Stalin confirming that he would accept Stalin's offer to send 50,000 tons of bread.
 
Ciphered telegram, Babkin to Shtemenko conveying letter from Kim Il Sung to Stalin
April 16 1952 - Telegram from Kim Il Sung to Stalin confirming that he would accept Stalin's offer to send 50,000 tons of bread.
 
Ciphered telegram, Kim Il Sung to Stalin via Razuvaev
July 16 1952 - Telgram from Kim Il Sung to Stalin stating the current situtation of the armistice talks and the pressure which is being exerted upon North Korea by uninhibited American air power. He makes a request for additional anti-aircraft support from the Soviet Union and China, which he believes will lead to a more advantageous bargaining position at the negotiating table.
 
Report by N. T. Fedorenko on a Meeting with DPRK Ambassador to the USSR Li Sangjo, 29 May 1956
May 29 1956 - Discussions between Fedorenko and Li Sangjo about the economic troubles in North Korea and potential Soviet aid, allowing the Ministry of Internal affairs to observe Soviet institutions, unrest in the KWP CC, and the power of Kim Il Sung
 
Memorandum of Conversation between Soviet Ambassador to North Korea Vasily Moskovsky and Kim Il Sung
August 14 1962 - The newly appointed Soviet ambassador to Pyongyang reports on his recent meeting with Kim Il Sung. Among the issues discussed is the continued cooperation between the two countries in the military and economic sectors.
 
Memorandum of Conversation between Soviet Ambassador to North Korea Vasily Moskovsky and acting Soviet Military Attaché Ustinov
September 01 1962 - The Soviet Ambassador and the Military Attaché report on the activities surrounding the second detachment of Soviet military aircraft to DPRK. They both find it hard to explain the Korean requirement to keep the operation hidden from the Chinese.
 
Memorandum of Conversation between Soviet Ambassador to North Korea Vasily Moskovsky and Kim Il Sung
November 01 1962 - The Soviet Ambassador Vasily Moskovsky and Kim Il Sung discuss DPRK’s border security in the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. By pointing out North Korea’s poor air defense and coast guard capabilities, Kim Il Sung requests an increase in the Soviet military assistance. He clearly states that DPRK is in favor of a peaceful resolution of the Cuban Crisis, because according to him, the socialist camp does not need a military conflict at that time. The two also discuss the economic development of the country.
 
Report, Embassy of Hungary in North Korea to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry
June 29 1964 -
 
Report, Embassy of Hungary in North Korea to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry
October 01 1964 -
 
Record of Conversation between Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Kuznetsov and the North Korean Ambassador to the Soviet Union Kim Pyong-chik
May 21 1965 - On behalf of Kim Il Sung, Ambassador Kim Pyong-Chik expresses thanks to the Soviet Union for their donation in weapons and military equipment in the amount of 150 million rubles; North Korea is asking for more aid
 
Report, Embassy of Hungary in North Korea to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry
May 08 1967 - Report on Romanian, Czech, and Hungarian military attachés views on the KPA. The KPA is viewed as years behind in military technologies and capabilities.
 
“On the current problems of the international situation and on the struggle of the CPSU for the unity of the international communist movement,” Excerpt from a speech by Leonid Brezhnev at the April (1968) CC CPSU Plenum
April 09 1968 - A memorandum regarding the incursion of the US's military vessel, Pueblo, in the Korean waters. The US increased deployment of miliatry forces to the East; The DPRK and Soviet Union's react to this mobilization. The DPRK and Soviet Union discuss intentions on strenghtening ties with one another.
 
Record of Conversation between Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Aleksei Kosygin and North Korean Ambassador in the USSR Chon Tu-hwan
May 06 1968 - DPRK diplomat, Chon Tu-hwan expresses his satisfaction about the mutual relationship between the DPRK and the Soviet Union. He discusses the Pueblo incident, and remarks on the increased tension on the Korean peninsula and in the far east. A.N. Kosgygin describes in frank detail, the continuous economic co-operation that the Soviet Union has with the DPRK.
 
Report, Embassy of Hungary in North Korea to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry
December 08 1976 - The DPRK requests economic aid and technology from the Soviet Union. The Soviets repeatedly ignore or refuse the requests.
 
Memorandum, Branch Office of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Trade in Pyongyang to the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Trade
July 28 1983 - At the Soviet-Korean Intergovernmental Economic, Technical, and Scientific Consultative Commission, the Soviets decline to extend technological cooperation with the Koreans until the DPRK is part of relevant international agreements.
 

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