The East Asia Department replies to the previous memorandum stating the request should be refused because: (i) presently there are no official relations; (ii) the coming U.N. debate makes this extra sensitive for South Korea; (iii) Australia, fellow UNCURK member and closest to the Netherlands politically, recently refused a similar request; (iv) little new is to be expected from having a meeting; (v) it would be good to keep the initiative in establishing contacts with the North Koreans.

The Hungarian representative has visited the Ministry relaying a request from the North Korean Ambassador in East-Berlin to visit the Netherlands in an unofficial capacity, most likely in relation to the upcoming U.N. debates about Korea. The memorandum asks the East Asia Department for its reply.

Brief note relaying that the July 18 message from Warsaw has been requested for viewing by the chief of the DKP department.

Tengbergen reports an telephone call by the North Korean Embassy Counsel requesting to meet with him informally, which he declined.

Van Schelle reports that pending the outcome of an investigation the Belgian government has told its Embassy in Warsaw to avoid further contacts with the North Koreans. Furthermore the Belgian Embassy in Bern will look into a presumable visit to Switzerland by a highly placed North Korean and possible motivation of the Swiss to establish a North Korean trade office. The Belgians have reiterated their restrictive standpoint and have no current intention to recognize North Korea

Schmelzer states he would like to be informed of the Belgian government's reaction to the report of the Belgian Embassy Counsel in Warsaw's report on his informal meeting with the North Korean Counsel.

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

Reports that the Belgian Embassy Counsel received the North Korean Counsel in his home, where the latter noted the establishment of a North Korean information bureau in France and a trade bureau in Finland, and proposed a formal or informal visit to Brussels. The Belgian reply was noncommittal; the North Korean also announced his intention to visit the Dutch Embassy.

Representatives from the companies CKH, VMF and Grenko visited the Ministry to plead for the establishment of a North Korean trade office. The Ministry remained of the opinion, also informed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, that economic and political relations with South Korea would be unacceptably damaged by such rapprochement with North Korea.

Verkade reports that the South Korean deputy vice-minister of foreign affairs Whang summoned him to inform him that the three recent North Korean visitors to the Netherlands had supplied false information on their visa papers yet were admitted. Whang expressed his concern, given their apparent intent to establish official contact with the Netherlands; Verkade reassured him there was no change in Dutch policy.