Translating History winds down its look at Korean War with four new translations, the last of our documents from this batch. Today’s post features evidence that most of the world was siding with the United Nations version of events, that the North Koreans invaded South Korea as puppets of the USSR. The Soviets, seeing the writing on the wall, unleashed an interesting (and arguably compelling) campaign that the US was using bacteriological weapons in the war, not only on the military but also civilians. These accusations came from North Korea, the Soviet Union, and China, which were later proven false. Propaganda has always been one of the strongest tools in Russia, and it continues today.
Since the beginning of the Korean conflict, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been working on selecting and analyzing the media that covered the reaction of various countries to the events in Korea in 1950-1952. The main topics of the selected material are devoted to identifying the culprit of the conflict, its nature, and the role of the USSR and the USA in the Korean War. Selections from foreign press demonstrate that the world community considered North Korea to be the culprit of the armed conflict, with the Soviet Union behind it. A roundup of international opinion showed broad approval of the actions of the UN Security Council, with the exception of those countries with communist regimes and some Arab states (see document 6). In the political situation at the time, the Soviet leadership needed to organize an information campaign for the DPRK and distance itself from the conflict in the eyes of the world community.
After the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Korea on June 27, 1950, the Soviet media began to portray the Korean War as an act of aggression by American imperialism. The anti-American theme in covering the Korean War was mainly limited to a few assertions. First, the attack on the DPRK “was carried out with the approval and under the leadership of the American masters in South Korea.” Second, in order to save the reactionary puppet regime of Syngman Rhee, the United States resorted to open intervention in Korea. Soviet and North Korean media shaped the image of the United States as an “instigator of a new world war.” The documents contain texts of appeals prepared for publication on behalf of Soviet trade unions and containing editorial changes. In order to reinforce the negative perception of the United States and its policies among readers, the expression “brazen aggression of American imperialism” was replaced by the epithet “bloody aggression” (see document 8). Third, the Soviet media accused the United States of violating the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibited the use of gas and bacteriological agents in war, and the 1949 Geneva Agreements on the treatment of prisoners of war. A clear example of the information warfare is a draft document to organize events to accuse the United States of using bacteriological weapons (see document 9).
In contrast to the American aggressive policy in Korea, Soviet foreign policy was promoted as peaceful, based on the traditional principle of non-intervention. Therefore, in the text of the appeals, considerable attention is paid to the “solidarity of Soviet workers with the struggling people of North Korea” and protests against the “aggression of American imperialism.”
Document 6. Telegram
Lake Success
6 July 1950. To the UN Information Center in Moscow.
For your information: A study of the responses supporting the resolution, which total more than 40, shows that their nature varies from country to country, since the resolution of June 27 was in the form of a proposal, not an order.
Some responses contain specific offers of assistance, such as air power; others state their decision to provide support within their capabilities; others express a desire either to support the measures under consideration or to fulfil the obligations imposed by the UN Charter; and others offer moral support.
The information obtained by the Survey of International Opinion indicates broad approval of the Security Council’s actions, with the exception of the USSR, the countries of Central Eastern Europe, North Korea, Beijing China, and some Arab states. In some of these countries, the press indicates that the Security Council made an illegal decision under pressure from the United States. The next meeting of the Security Council will be held on Friday, July 7. Most delegates are firmly in favor of finding some method or creating a mechanism for the Security Council to coordinate military, economic, and other assistance offered. Gromyko’s statement was not officially received.
Transmitted by Koltsova
Distribution: Stalin, Molotov, Malenkov, Beria, Mikoyan, Kaganovich, Bulganin
Document 7. Telegram
From Pyongyang 15 August 1950
To Moscow
For the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR A. Ya. Vyshonskiy
Dear Mr. Minister,
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the liberation of our people from the yoke of Japanese imperialism by the Soviet Army, allow me to express to you my warmest congratulations and wishes.
The Korean people will never forget how the heroic Red Army, fulfilling its sacred mission of liberation, defeated the Japanese invaders, brought freedom and happiness to our people, and provided selfless fraternal assistance in economic and cultural development.
The Korean people are waging a just war of liberation against the illegal armed intervention of the American imperialists and, relying on the powerful friendly support of all mankind, are achieving brilliant victories. The Korean people, who have risen in a holy war for the honor and freedom of their homeland against American aggression, are confident of the final victory of their just cause.
On this glorious day, I wish you and the Soviet people further success in the struggle for peace and democracy throughout the world.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Pak Hon-yong
Certified
Distribution: Stalin, Molotov, Malenkov, Beria, Mikoyan, Kaganovich, Bulganin, Khrushchev
Document 8. Appeal of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions to all members of trade unions, to all workers of the Soviet Union
/ Excerpt /
Dear comrades! The Korean people are courageously fighting with arms in hand against the American aggressors for the freedom, unity, and national independence of their homeland. The armed forces of the United States of America are bombing cities and villages, bringing death to the peaceful population of Korea. The warmongers are threatening to use the atomic bomb against the Korean people. All progressive humanity is outraged by the brazen [crossed out and replaced with “bloody”] aggression of American imperialism, which is a serious threat to universal peace and the security of all peoples. Millions of people around the world are raising an angry voice of protest against the American armed intervention in Korea and demanding that the aggressors be curbed.
Document 9. Plan of Action in Connection with the Use of Biological Weapons by the United States in Korea
1. Through the Soviet representatives in the Bureau of the World Peace Council, Comrades Tikhonov, Fadeyev and Ehrenburg, raise the question of the World Peace Council supporting the protest of the Chinese Peace Committee against the use of bacteriological weapons by the Americans in Korea and calling on all national peace committees to support this protest /before March 3/.
2. Following the publication of the statement by the World Peace Council, the Soviet Peace Committee is to protest against the use of bacteriological weapons by the Americans in Korea /March 4–6/.
3. The Anti-Fascist Committee of Soviet Women and the Anti-Fascist Committee of Soviet Youth are to publish statements condemning the use of bacteriological weapons by the Americans in Korea /6–7 March/.
4. Through Soviet representatives in the International Democratic Federation of Women and the World Federation of Democratic Youth, raise the question of these organizations protesting against the use of bacteriological weapons by the Americans in Korea and calling on the national committees of women and youth that are part of these federations to also protest on this issue /March 5–7/.
5. The Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences, together with a number of prominent Soviet scientists, should make statements condemning the use of bacteriological weapons by the Americans in Korea /March 8–10/.
6. Send a note of protest on behalf of the USSR government to the US government in connection with the use of bacteriological weapons by the Americans in Korea /March 6/.
7. The editorial boards of the newspapers Pravda, Izvestia, Trud and Krasnaya Zvezda are to publish special articles, as well as statements by prominent Soviet writers, scientists and artists in connection with the use of bacteriological weapons by the Americans in Korea /March 1–15/.
8. The Radio Broadcasting Committee shall transmit abroad the main materials published in the Soviet press on this issue.
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