INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Directorate of Intelligenceanuary8
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
Puoblo Sitrep No.As0 EST)
5.
There is still no hint of Pyongyang'sfor the release of the ship and crew.
Pyongyang, in an editorial in the official Nodong Sinroun, reiterated onanuary its rejection of UN consideration of the Pueblo case.
Onanuary,
Batrayev suggested that Pyongyang may wish to swap the Pueblo and its men for North Koreans charged with terrorism in South Korea. He hinted thatefforts to persuade Pyongyang to release the ship in return for an admission of guilt and perhaps paymentine had been unsuccessful.
Batrayev implied strongly in his second conversationthatands-off posture which Moscow must maintain toward thein public, the USSR is interested in workingthe scenes to resolve it. He said Moscow was gathering information on the crisis and was interested in finding out from the CS and North Korea what each wanted and what each would givo up toeaceful settlement.
Batrayev apparently also is the source of news reports to the effect that Kosygin told Indian Prime Minister Gandhi that the Pueblo incident could haveenuineon whosethat the disputeroutine matter." There is no other reporting to support or confirm Batraycv's assertions.
TOP OKCrtlST
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10. Peking's first commentary on the Pueblo situation, in broadcasts onanuary, stated that it was watching developments "closely.M Referring to US contingency measurest it declared that US "war provocations" would not cow the Korean people,
n.i
It is unusual for such Pacific Fleet aircraft to be used for international flights and the flight was possibly related to the Pueblo incident. It may have been bringing Soviet personnel to examine the Pueblo and whatever equipment was not destroyed.
13,
) Patrol activity is still heavy,,
particularly in the Wonsan area, extending someiles into the Sea of Japan.
14, Three USAFotal ofighters and fighter-bombers, are due to arrive in South Korea betweenndanuary,
Original document.
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