The statement of the Foreign Ministry of the USSR on the evacuation of Soviet troops from Korea, as published on September 19, 1948, by the Moscow press:
ON SEPTEMBER 10 the Supreme National Assembly of Korea issued an appeal to the Governments of the USSR and the USA requesting the simultaneous withdrawal of Soviet and American troops from Korea. It declared that the formation of the Supreme National Assembly of Korea, and the creation by that Assembly of a united Korean Government composed of representatives of various political trends of North and South Korea, representing the overwhelming majority of the population of North and South Korea, was a guarantee that during and after the withdrawal of foreign troops complete law and order would be preserved all over Korea.
It is known that in the autumn of 1945, after routing the Japanese Kwantung Army, the Soviet troops liberated Korea from the Japanese occupationists, and in conformity with the agreement between the Allies, remained in Korea north of the 38th parallel, while American troops remained on Korean territory south of the 38th parallel.
Remaining in North Korean territory, the Soviet troops gave the North Korean population ample opportunity to create organs of democratic administration, and constantly rendered friendly assistance to Korea's national revival. The number of Soviet troops in North Korea was steadily reduced.
In September, 1947, the Soviet Government proposed to the United States Government that there should be simultaneous withdrawal of Soviet and American troops from Korea. It has subsequently confirmed on many occasions its readiness to withdraw Soviet troops from North Korea at once if the United States Government simultaneously withdrew the American troops from South Korea. The United States Government has not so far agreed to these proposals.
The request put forward by the Korean Supreme National Assembly for the simultaneous withdrawal of Soviet and American troops from Korea was referred by the Soviet Government to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, which examined the request of the Korean Supreme National Assembly and decided that it was time to evacuate the Soviet troops from North Korea. The Presidium expressed the hope that the United States Government will agree to withdrawal of the United States troops from South Korea, in accordance with the desire of the Supreme National Assembly of Korea
In conformity with the decision passed by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Council of Ministers of the USSR has decreed:
1. To withdraw to the territory of the USSR the Soviet troops remaining on the territory of North Korea.
2. To instruct the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the USSR to begin the evacuation of Soviet troops from North Korea not later than in the second half of October, 1948, and to complete it by January 1, 1949.
On December 30, the Moscow radio announced that withdrawal of Soviet troops from North Korea had been completed by December 25.