The Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion decides not to reciprocate a visit to North Korea for the time being.

The East Asia Department agrees with Foreign Economic Relations that no North Korean trade mission in the Netherlands should be established, but proposes instead that a number of representatives be allowed temporary stay to build up commercial contacts instead.

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.

A memorandum from the Dutch Government which argues the benefits of opening informal contacts with North Korea.

The Jhr. Vegelin van Claerbergen proposes to the chief of the department to loosen the reins in relations with North Korea, both for reasons of commerce and of politics, namely engaging North Korea to allow it to become less dependent on China.

Reports on a request from Dutch shipbuilding company Verolme N.V. to reconsider the Dutch standpoint regarding the establishment of a (semi-)permanent North Korean representation in the Netherlands to further commercial contacts. Verolme was told there is no reason to reconsider, also given that it was currently able to procure large orders already - two ships were to be delivered to North Korea in September. The American Embassy was confidentially informed of this.

Handwritten memorandum regarding a draft message to the Dutch Permanent Representation to NATO in Brussels, suggesting that the North Korean attempts at establishing contact should be mentioned for completeness.