Memo on a visit by Heldring and Kroese, of the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion, during which a draft agreement with their North Korean counterpart was discussed. Despite some specific objections the agreement in principle was acceptable to the Ministry. (The draft is the first attachment; other materials supplied for comparison by Heldring comprise the second attachment.)

Heldring of the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion has visited to inquire if the Ministry would object to the Council sponsoring a North Korean trade mission to the Netherlands in June. It did not, but his interlocutor did point out the government's opposition to any permanent trade mission.

Memorizes a visit by the South Korean representative in The Hague to urge the Dutch to deny a North Korean request for visa for journalists.

The Ministry's Secretary-General reports a conversation with the South Korean Ambassador in which the latter invited the Minister to visit South Korea, inquired if the Dutch would like to open an Embassy in Seoul, and expressed intent to expand ties, to all of which the Secretary-General gave a noncommittal reply.

The uncooperative attitude of North Korea re admission of both Koreas to the U.N. has disappointed the Dutch. Furthermore, general Communist refusal to recognize South Korea makes progress presently impossible.

The Minister requests confirmation of Austria's rumored intent to engage in official relations with Pyongyang.

The Minister in principle supports recognition of North Korea but wants to delay it because of lack of Communist reciprocity re South Korea.

A memorandum on North Korea’s claim to be the sole legal representative of Korea in the context of the United Nations.

The memorandum notes the Minister's intent to recognize North Korea no later than year's end, if possible. It agrees with the suggestion made in a departmental study that confidential consultations with those countries most involved would be good to get rid of UNCURK and the attached UN Command. It does note that (1) recognition should be postponed until some kind of basic agreement between the Koreas has come about; (2) getting rid of UN Command would create a difficult situation for those American troops still present, which should be addressed.

D.W. Baron van Lynden counsels the Minister not to recognize North Korea unless both Koreas accede to the United Nations AND the Communist countries recognize South Korea. 4 June 1973 memorandum attached.