Telegram to Peng Dehuai〔1〕 Regarding Our Army's Deployment for June and July (June 11, 1951)

Comrade Dehuai:

(1) Your telegram of instruction sent to Comrade Kim Ung〔2〕 at 20:00 hours on June 4 is very good. With this instruction, the draft of your instruction to Kim Ung of May 31 need not be sent.

(2) It has been agreed with Comrade Kim Il Sung that for the next two months no major counter-offensive campaigns will be launched, in preparation for a well-conceived, steady, and solid counter-offensive in August.

(3) In the two months of June and July, if no unexpected changes occur (i.e., amphibious landings), we must accomplish the following tasks: (A) By means of active defense, hold fast to the three lines of defense at Cheorwon, Pyeonggang, and Ichon, and not allow the enemy to advance beyond the Ichon line; (B) Swiftly replenish the 3rd Army Group and the 19th Army Group to 45,000 men per army, with adequate training; (C) The armies of the 13th Army Group to complete their rest and consolidation; (D) Strengthen the firepower of all armies and divisions, especially anti-tank and anti-air force artillery; (E) Swiftly complete the construction of at least one, and preferably two, highways from Huichon to Nyongwon to Tokchon, and stockpile a considerable amount of grain in the Huichon, Tokchon, and Maengsan areas for any contingency. Please let me know your thoughts.

Mao Zedong
04:00 hours, June 11

Published according to the manuscript.

Notes
〔1〕 Peng Dehuai was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
〔2〕 Kim Ung was then a front-line commander of the Korean People's Army.