side to send its observers to the South for the purpose of observing · Team Spirit ·gr so that they may con­ firm the defensive nature of the exercise. The North Korean authorities. however. instantly rejected the invitation. It may also be recalled that North Korea rejected a proposal for confidence-building measures made by the United Nations Command on 23 January 1982. The proposal called for. among other things. advance notification and mutual observation of military exer­ cises by both sides. North Korea has conducted a series of massive military exen.:ises in the past and most recently in December 1982. without prior notifi- cation. · In view of what has heen stated a hove. ii is self­ evident that North Korea is grossly distorting the facts when it blames the defensive military exercise in the Republic of Korea for contributing to the tensions on the peninsula. On the contrary, it is the decision of North Korea to place its entire armed forces and civil­ ian population in a state of semi-war that is exacer- . bating the situation on the Korean peninsula. I have the honour to request this letter to be circu­ lated as a Security Council document. (Signed) Kyung-Won KIM Permanent Observer for the Republic of Korea to the United Nations DOCUMENT S/15608* Note verbale dated 14 February 1983 from the Mission of Iraq to the Secretary-General The Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Na­ tions presents its compliments to the Secretary­ General and has the honour to send him herewith a message from Mr. Saddam Hussein, President of the Republic of Iraq, on the final communique issued at Damascus on 23 January 1983 by the representatives of the Government of Syria, the Government of Libya and the Iranian regime. The Permanent Mission of Iraq requests that the 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a diplomatic communication related to a military exercise and tensions on the Korean peninsula. The language used is formal and official, suggesting a high-level government document. The content focuses on the actions of North Korea and its rejection of a proposal from the United Nations Command, which implies a political or security-related issue.

**Category**
International Relations, Humanitarian aid and relief