Telegram To Kim Blsung On The Withdrawal Of The Chinese People'S Volunteers From Korea

Comrade Prime Minister Kim Il Sung,
We have received both your letters, dated December 16 and 25, 1957.
We have carefully studied the two plans put forward for the withdrawal
of the Chinese People's Volunteers from Korea. We feel that it is more
appropriate for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to initiate a request
for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Korea, then for the Chinese
government to respond to the request of the Korean government. Therefore,
we consider it better to adopt the plan proposed in your letter of December
16. Regarding this plan, we now make some specific suggestions. We have
already consulted the Soviet government on these suggestions, to which they
have expressed full agreement. The suggestions are now presented as follows,
and we request you and the Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party
to consider whether they are appropriate.
them and prepare for free elections in all of Korea;
(3) Within a defined period of time after the complete withdrawal of
foreign forces from South Korea and North Korea, free elections are to take
place throughout Korea under the supervision of an organization composed of
neutral nations.
interests of the Korean and Chinese peoples, who share the same weal and woe.
If Syngman Rhee and the United States dare renew provocations and cross
the armistice line, the Chinese People's Volunteers will, at the request of the
Korean government, unhesitatingly fight once again shoulder to shoulder with
the Korean People's Army to repulse aggression.

--- Notes

1. The Supreme People's Council of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea would write a letter to the United Nations, which would be put forward
in the United Nations by the Soviet Union, as a member of the United
Nations, to press for action by the United Nations. But this method has one
defect, that is it would treat the whole United Nations as our belligerent,
whereas in actuality it is only a minority of U.N. members who have sent
aggressive troops to form the U.N. Forces. Hence we suggest that the
government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issue a public
statement, advancing the following proposals in accordance with the basic
propositions of the Korean-Chinese side on the Korean question at the 1954
Geneva Conference:
(1) The U.N. Forces and the Chinese People's Volunteers are to withdraw
from Korea simultaneously;
(2) South Korea and North Korea are to conduct consultations on an equal
footing, so as to establish and develop economic and cultural relations between

2. The Chinese government would issue a statement right after the public
statement of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
supporting the latter's stand and officially expressing its readiness to consult
with the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the
withdrawal of the Chinese People's Volunteers in groups at set times, in the
meantime demanding that the governments of countries on the side of the
U.N. Forces take similar steps.

3. Subsequently, the Soviet government would issue a statement support
ing the statements of the Korean and Chinese governments and stressing that
the governments of countries on the side of the U.N. Forces should, like the
Chinese government, respond to the demand of the government of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea; it would also propose convening a
conference of all countries concerned to discuss the peaceful settlement of the
Korean question.

4. During the forthcoming visit to Korea by Comrade Zhou Enlai
representing the Chinese government in mid-February this year, the Korean
and Chinese governments may announce in a joint communique that the
Chinese government has obtained, through consultation, the agreement of the
Chinese People's Volunteers to withdraw from Korea and that the latter have
decided to do so in groups before the end of 1958. The Korean and Chinese
governments may state in the joint communique that the withdrawal of the
Chinese People's Volunteers from Korea prior to that of the U.N. Forces is
for the purpose of easing tension and facilitating consultations between South
and North Korea on an equal footing for the peaceful reunification of Korea.
Therefore, the U.N. Forces ought to take similar actions. Meanwhile, the
Chinese People's Volunteers would issue a statement to the effect that the
Chinese people and the Korean people depend on each other like lips and teeth
and will stand together through thick and thin, and that the withdrawal of the
Chinese People's Volunteers from Korea by no means signifies disregard of the

5. We have provisionally worked out the timetable for the withdrawal of
the Chinese People's Volunteers from Korea as follows:
(1) From March to April 1958, after the publication of the joint
communique of the Korean and Chinese governments, one third of the
Chinese People's Volunteers will be withdrawn and completely replaced by the
Korean People's Army at the first defense line, while the remaining two thirds
will be stationed at the second defense line;
(2) From July to September 1958 the second third will be withdrawn;
(3) The final third is to be withdrawn before the end of 1958.

6. Following publication of the joint communique of the Korean and
Chinese governments, Switzerland and Sweden on the Neutral Nations Super
visory Commission most likely will again ask for the abolition of the
Supervisory Commission. Thereupon we can, on the ground that the U.N.
Forces are not yet withdrawn, request that they leave a minimum number of
persons at Panmunjom to carry out supervision. However, we must be prepared
for their departure in disregard of our request.
Please study the above-mentioned points and give us a reply.
Please accept my salutation.
Mao Zedong
January 24, 1958
(From the draft of the telegram)