• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 1974 0

and from the Department of State under the Freedom of Information Act, as well as interviews with a number of former officials who were on the scene in Korea or Washington. Three books were also of great value: Richard G. Head, Frisco W. Short, and Robert C. McFarlane (the last a future White House national security adviser), Crisis Resolution: Presidential Decision Making in the Mayaguez and Korean Confrontations (Westview Press, 1978), which covers Washington policy making; Colonel Conrad DeLateur, Murder at Panmunjom: The Role of the Theater Commander in Crisis Resolution, research paper for the Senior Seminar, Foreign Service Institute, 1987, dealing primarily with General Stilwell's role; and Major Wayne A. Kirkbride, DMZ: A Story of the Panmunjom Axe Murder (Holly, 1984), which deals with the episode as seen by U.S. officers and men at the DMZ.

The CIA report, titled DMZ Incident, was dated Aug. 18, 1976; top secret (declassified 1996). The discussion at the WASAG meeting was taken from the minutes of the meeting obtained through the Ford Presidential Library, secret (declassified 1995). For the historical buildup cable, ComUSKorea to AIG Washington, Aug. 18, 1976, confidential (declassified 1996). For the warning effort by intelligence analysts, see Head, Short, and McFarlane, Crisis Resolution, p. 155. For Hyland's recommendation and discussion of punitive measures, see Memorandum for Brent Scowcroft from W. G. Hyland, Aug. 18, 1976, top secret/exclusively eyes only (declassified 1994).

On military views of punitive actions, see JCS Assessment and Addendum, top secret (declassified 1994). Scowcroft's "wimpish" quote is from Scowcroft interview, Mar. 29, 1995. For military "handwringing," William Hyland interview, May 15, 1995. Ford's summary quote is from Head, Short, and McFarlane, Crisis Resolution, p. 193.

For the Pyongyang radio programming and blackout, U.S. Liaison Office Beijing to SecState Washington, "Panmunjom Incident and Situation in Pyongyang," Aug. 21, 1976, confidential (declassified 1994). See also South-North Dialogue in Korea (Seoul: International Cultural Society, Nov 1976), p. 64. On the military precautions in the DPRK, Colonel Choi Ju Hwal, a high-ranking DPRK defector, interview, June 24, 1996. For Ho Dam quote, AmEmbassy Colombo to SecState Washington, Aug. 20, 1976, unclassified.

Stilwell's reaction, cable from Stilwell to JCS, Aug. 19, 1976, secret (declassified 1995). Park's quotes are from Park Chung Hee, "Blue House Diary," Minju Ilbo, Nov 24, 1989, in Korean. Stilwell quote on Park, cable from CINCUNC Korea (Stilwell) to JCS, Aug. 19, 1976, secret (declassified 1995). On the arms of the tae kwan do group, Lieutenant General John Cushman telephone interview, May 4, 1995. Park quote on retaliation, Emb. cable, Aug. 20, 1976, secret (declassified 1994).

Stilwell's battle plan is set out in his cable to the JCS, Aug. 19, 1976, secret (declassified 1995). On North Korean notification, see DeLateur, Murder at Panmunjom, p. 20. Peter Hayes, Pacific Powderkeg (Lexington Books, 1991), p. 60, on "blew their minds."

Kim quote about North Korea not resisting, "Talk to a Professor of SOKA University in Japan," Nov 13, 1976, in KIS Works, vol. 31, p. 401. Scowcroft quote on the impact on U.S. election, Scowcroft interview, Mar. 29, 1995. Lee's comments on North Koreans, Jimmy Lee interview, July 8, 1995.

CHAPTER 4: THE CARTER Ch ILL

For Carter on the origin of his position, letter from Carter to me, Mar. 12, 1994. Brzezinski quote from "President Carter's Troop Withdrawal from Korea," Harvard University case study by Major Joseph Wood, 1990.

Carters Withdrawal: Origins and Implementation: For Ford review, National Security Study Memorandum 226, "Review of U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula," May 27, 1975, secret/nodis (declassified 1994). A notation in the Ford Presidential Library file says that Scowcroft approved suspension of work on the study on May 29, with no reason given. For Powell quote and other details of my 1977 research on the origins of Carter's ideas,