PUEBLO SITREP NO. 16 (AS OF 5 P.M. EST)

Created: 1/28/1968

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

Directorate of Intelligenceanuary 8

INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM

Pueblo Sitrep No,As of. EST)

* 1. Pyongyang's latest statement on the Pueblo case came todayeputy premier who told re-portersamascus airport that North Korea will "severelyhe Pueblo crew. He charged that the US hopes to "cover up its espionage against our country and other barbaric acts it has committed'* by taking the case to the UN Security Council, and warned that "if the American imperialists dare to commit aggressionudden attack on our country, we will repulse it completely." The deputy premier was on his way to Baghdad, were North Koreaonsulate, for six days of discussions with Iraqi officials.

2. North Korea's deputy foreign affairsit has just been learned, convened all accredited missions in Pyongyang yesterday to deliver aon the Pueblo seizure. Claiming that the capture wasegitimate defense measure" against "overte insisted North Korea "is notby reprisal measures and holds itself into face American provocation or invasion."

3. Peking hasew and'stronger expression of support for Pyongyang. An official Chinese govern^ ment statement said today that "the Chinese government and people firmly support the just stand* of North Korea. ew China News Agency report issued earlier today stated only that Peking was watching the Korean situation with "close attention." China is undoubtedly anxious that its support of North Korea appear as least as strong as that of the Soviet Union. The new statement from Peking attempted to depict the Pueblo incident as further evidence of US plans to expand the Vietnamfavorite theme of recent Chinese propaganda. The

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Original document.

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