Dear Comrade

＜ Chapter 22. The start of the war (1) ＞

Chapter 22. open war (1)

Park Se-hwang, who was making an emergency report in front of the projector, wrinkled his forehead and swallowed a sigh.

After the death of Kim Il-sung became known to the South last month, or even last year, the Ministry of National Security was literally turned upside down.

The soldiers had their vacation cut off, and a jindo dog came down in front.

The sigh that comes out of Park Se-hwang now was also due to the fatigue accumulated from gathering all the information related to how the power structure would be reorganized in the future in anticipation of the North’s reaction, sleeping on the field bed in the office for over a month.

But even so, he could not let out a sigh of sorrow for the middle manager.

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Now, among the people listening to his presentation in this conference room, there were not only the 3rd Deputy Director, who was his direct supervisor, but also the director of the National Security Agency.

The only unknown person is a man who dares to hold his arms crossed next to the head of the Ministry of Security and Public Administration, who says that the mountains and plants are trembling.

“After gathering all the information so far, it is certain. It must be said that he clearly declared his policy externally with this inaugural address, such as the four new routes announced by Kim Jeong-hwan when he took office a year ago, the designation of a special economic zone, and an attempt to improve relations with the UK.”

“Let me explain in detail.”

“The inaugural speeches of the heads of state, whether South or North, are like a trailer for future policies. As you can see from the video here, the Korean War… So, it was only three seconds in my previous inaugural speech that the centipedes talked about the Fatherland Liberation War.”

According to Park Se-hwang’s manipulation, the scene of Kim Jeong-hwan’s speech, recorded in blurry image quality, was played on the front screen.

It was a precious video sent by a local Korean-Chinese collaborator in and out of Pyongyang via Sinuiju and Dandong and finally to Incheon.

“The Korean War was one of Kim Il-sung’s greatest achievements. You can find out why I mentioned it so briefly when you listen to the back part. It was called the United States of America, not ‘the end of the confrontation with the US imperialists’, even the US imperialists, that is, ‘US imperialists’. Why did those people who wear teeth say that there were no buildings more than two stories tall in Pyongyang after the US bombing during the 6th century?”

“So, is that a signal to the United States to improve relations? In just one year? Isn’t the friend who hasn’t even passed the handover process to G-Abby going through a sharp curve too badly?”

“So, there must have been a broker in the middle. According to information provided by the British embassy, North Korea recently sent a sign to the British Foreign Ministry during the fall of the Berlin Wall. Even though the Soviet Union recently expressed support for the reunification of Germany, it did not withdraw its signature. As you know, Britain, along with the United States, is one of Europe’s most fiercely opposed to the Soviet Union. Especially with the KGB.”

Park Se-hwang, who had spoken up to this point, paused for a moment as if to check the reaction of the audience who was just listening without saying anything, then swallowed a saliva and continued.

“No matter how long the relationship has been in May, why is North Korea taking a position that is in direct opposition to the diplomatic position of their supreme leader, the Soviet Union? Simple. Getting ready to change. The general is staggering, and China, the vice-captain, is being beaten here and there after the Tiananmen incident, so they are also worried about their future.”

“…So, as a person who has been in charge of the North Korean part, what do you think? If you can make that kind of decision, you can say that Kim Jeong-hwan is the head of the North in name and reality, right? So are you now completely free from Soviet influence and starting your own path?”

“Yeah, at least I think so. The fact that a friend named Kim Jung-hwan received the title of Supreme Commander is proof that he has completely taken over the military. For the time being, the possibility of a surprise invasion of South Korea has been greatly reduced.”

“Who are the Frunze guys? A year ago, didn’t I tell you that these guys are wild and you have to be careful? You seem to have grasped the atmosphere by watching the Soviet Union stumble, right?”

“Even the hard-line Frunze officers who caused the last incident will be disgusted with the fact that hard-liners or hard-liners tell them to fight alone with the ROK Army and US Forces Korea. It’s not easy to control anger with someone stronger than you, haha.”

“……Whoa…”

‘What, wasn’t it fun?’

It was a joke of conversion that I threw in to make you laugh, but when the reaction was very shaky, Se-hwang Park made a smirk inwardly.

I’d rather say that this is a place for jokes. If the conductor threw an ashtray, I could go to work, so I was prepared to be right. This is neither positive nor negative.

At that time, a man with arms folded, who had only listened with his mouth shut, opened his mouth.

“I heard you. Manager Park. Since it is consistent with the analysis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can trust it. Can I add a few more words to that, boss?”

“Oh, of course. Chief.”

‘top? It must have come from the Blue House, too.’

It was also clear that he was not a high-ranking chief, but a person high enough to represent the will of the president.

Otherwise, the director of the Ahn Ki-wi, who is called the review of the current president, would not be so polite.

“Nowhere else, North Korea is a pro-military country… Heh heh heh… It looks like the sky has turned upside down when you wake up. I didn’t think the day when those gangsters would set out to establish diplomatic ties with the United States would not come until the waters of the East Sea dried up… Anyway, this is a suggestion from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Blue House… For now, only you should know.”

Everyone, including Park Se-hwang and the Ahn Ki-duk, listened to the ‘chief’ who seemed to be trying to tell a secret story.

What the hell are you talking about?

“If our judgment is correct… So, if North Korea takes a pro-US route and opens reform and opening up, that story means that our Republic of Korea will not take a gesture to improve relations sooner or later. There is no story yet, but…”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“What is reform and opening in North Korea? But what do you need first for capitalism? Think back to a time when our country was hungry and difficult.”

“……The chief’s words…”

“It is not far. At least 10 years ago… I did my best to get one more loan and one more support from abroad, and went to Saudi Arabia and Vietnam to earn dollars, didn’t it achieve this development? In other words, capitalism requires seed money and capital first. Isn’t that the same for North Koreans?”

“In other words, sir, are you saying that we will lend capital there?”

Why the hell?

Park Se-hwang swallowed the question that came to his mind and thought so.

Although it is not an era in which inter-Korean cooperation should be hidden as it was during the military regime, it was only a few years ago when innocent people were beaten up by accusations of gangsters (actually, this is still the case).

What kind of wind is the Blue House going to do to the north by opening a barn in a country that is not very rich?

His doubts were resolved with the following words of the chief.

“It has been over 10 years since our Republic of Korea caught up with the national income of the North. Now, even if you don’t know about the war with bullets, you can be confident that you have won the war with money and economy. Although the North Koreans poured cold water on the way, the victory of the systemic competition with the 88 Olympics is almost unheard of.”

“…that’s right.”

“…Then the president’s will is now to expand the front line and win the war with bullets with this economic power, this is it.”

“Aha, so, let’s say that with our economic power and capital, let’s keep the North Koreans locked up so that they can’t think of anything else.

When the third deputy chief, who was only aiming for a chance to flatter the president’s right arm, patted his knee and spoke in a tone of acknowledgment, the chief also smiled and nodded his head.

“Would you like to just keep it tight? How much do Americans and Japanese guys help with everything they lent us, yes. So maybe this time we can help out a bit with the drums. This means we can serve as masters.”

“Anyway, that’s a bit… Is it possible with our economic power?”

“Oh, why not? Spend some money for the country in a place like a modern group over there! Can’t you do it? In the first place, they say that there are several places where they can work… China and the Soviet Union are busy taking care of themselves these days, and what can the US and Japan trust to lend money to them? I can communicate, it must be close to the street… The closest possibility that these bastards will come to borrow money to clean roads and build factories is here in Korea.”

“That’s it… it is.”

“And if we do it well for 10 years, we can unify the North without firing a single shot… So, we could absorb it altogether. Wouldn’t our voice be much stronger, at least on the issue of unification? In other words, this is a new diplomatic route. Go north!”

“Huh, that makes sense. It’s North Korean diplomacy… to Pyongyang without firing a single shot… Wouldn’t it be better for us to take the initiative peacefully than to start a war and burn everything down? Oh, so you are now the first unification president?”

Park Se-hwang, who was looking at the 3rd deputy chief who gave and received each other, and the chief of the security department and the chief, was convinced that he saw the smile on the chief’s lips deepened in this part.

And at the same time, he could also be sure that the strange word “North Korea’s diplomacy” didn’t come out of the head of the head in a day or two.

It was clear that the words were derived from crafting and squeezing a trick to replace northern diplomacy, which was delayed by at least several years due to China’s self-destruction at Tiananmen Square.

All of a sudden, the head of the security department and the chief seemed to have forgotten for a moment that Park Se-hwang was listening to each other as they were having a hard time chatting with each other.

“Well, it’s still in the planning stage, but isn’t it possible that it can be done…. Once the cause is unification, opposition lawmakers like Park Yi-sam and Yoo Min-jung, or left wing figures, will not be able to openly oppose it….. They said it hurts so much that I should write it, so what would you say?”

“Because he is the president of unification… I will have to amend the constitution…. But then, what is going on with what security officers are doing these days? Can you sweep them all at once?”

“Don’t worry. Even so, the change of leader over there must have raised the public’s expectations, raising the approval rating and timely diplomacy to the north! Amendment to the 5-year single term system to empower the unification president! If the social atmosphere is well managed in this way, it is not difficult to amend the constitution. North Korea is helping us like this. haha.”

Again, you had other intentions.

Park Se-hwang sighed as he saw his superiors already drinking kimchi soup from a bowl, but on the other hand, he did not see that the policy of economic absorption and unification, the so-called northward diplomacy, was so wrong.

As stated in the Law of the Grandchildren, if you can win without shooting, that’s the best.

But he still had one problem.

“When these guys are talking about socialism and communism, the game board, that is, the ring is completely different. It seems that the day will not be long before the modern group billboard will be placed in Pyongyang instead of the Taegeukgi. Your Excellency will be overjoyed when you hear this news.”

“Over there, boss, there is one strange thing.”

“yes? What is it, Manager Park?”

The two of them, who were dreaming of a future like a dream, were only then recognizing the existence of Park Se-hwang again, correcting their posture, and Park Se-hwang carefully informed them of the reality.

“If that side really needs capital in the process of reform and opening up… Why is there no direct contact from us? Even now, we have only sent signs to improve relations with the United States, but there is no news through Panmunjom.”

“Ah, that’s it, other than that, I think it would be better to get acquainted with our boss, the United States, first. How proud are the North Koreans, so it would be difficult to immediately say that they regret asking for some money.”

With the look of ‘Don’t you know that?’, the head of Ahn gave him a pint glass, and the 3rd deputy chief coughed vainly because he was uncomfortable when he intervened in talking to high-ranking people, but there was still a part that Park Se-hwang did not understand.

“Is that the only intention of the North? They may not know that if they try to make friends with the United States empty-handed and have nothing, they will only be alienated diplomatically… Does the United States not have the spirit to even care about North Korea?”

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North Korea and South Korea are basically countries with a very dim presence on the international arena.

Of course, in the long run, it is meaningful to act as a stopper to prevent the Soviet Union and even China from advancing into the Pacific Ocean.

In other words, the North Korean issue is not an important issue that should be dealt with on a one-to-one basis for an American diplomat who has turned his attention to Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

At least unless North Korea has something (oil or an intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead) that will exert some decisive influence on the US side, positive or negative.

In a situation where North Korea does not have sufficient leverage with the United States, it was not a rational strategy to abandon its traditional allies, China and the Soviet Union, and to court the United States.

“After all, the new North Korean leader is a young friend, so maybe he doesn’t know something? Didn’t your father give you tutoring with teachers?”

“This is my opinion, but… North Korea may see through our intentions and raise its diplomatic ransom. We will only be talking with the United States for the time being, so if you want to talk, you should come first.”

“What absurd…”

At Park Se-hwang’s prediction, the head of the Ministry of Security and Security, the 3rd deputy chief, and the senior all laughed and shook their heads.

Isn’t this supposed to make a lot of sense to hit the ball?

“Raising diplomatic ransom? Hey, Manager Park. You seem to be underestimating the ROK-U.S. alliance too much right now, so what the hell does the US mean by abandoning us, who have been allies for 40 years, and alienating the Republic of Korea, who have shed blood against China and North Korea on the same front, and talking with North Korea?”

“……It is, but…”

“Besides, the current president of the United States is a Republican veteran. Do you know how important American veterans are to camaraderie? And one of the Republicans’ big support bases is the veterans. But do you mean that Americans suddenly turn their heads and pass the Republic of Korea and accept North Korea’s offer to establish diplomatic ties, which until recently stuck with the Soviet Union and China?”

“……”

“I do not know if North Korea has the ability to directly harm or benefit the United States, but to the United States, North Korea is still an untrustworthy aptitude country. I still think the Panmunjom ax incident was yesterday, but what…”

“……….However….”

“Ah, I know that your job is a job that examines all possibilities, so it’s a good work posture. But that doesn’t happen. At least until aliens invade and fight with the US and North Korea hand in hand! There must be some serious misjudgment over there.”

At the manager’s assertion, Park Se-hwang kept his mouth shut without saying anything.

When Park Se-hwang’s shoulder sagged, the manager waved his hand in an attitude as if he was using his heart as if he thought he was doing too much.

“It seems that you have become more sensitive due to fatigue from all night work. It seems like you took a breather, so I’m off to work today, so let’s take a look at the faces of my wife and children after a long time. I do not allow it.”

“…….thank you.”

Although he got the job he wanted so much, Park Se-hwang was not happy at all.

It was because, like the manager, doubts that the decision makers were too optimistic about the situation did not disappear from his heart.

In particular, the young general secretary who became the absolute power of North Korea this time.

Is he really just a rookie who doesn’t know one, two or three of diplomacy, as the manager said?

So, was it just a simple misjudgment?

If not… Do you have any plans to dramatically change the relationship between the United States and North Korea?

‘…I hope it’s not like that.’

Park Se-hwang muttered inwardly.

If his predictions come true, even one in ten thousand or one thousand, South Korea will have to compete with North Korea, not anywhere else, for the interest and support of the United States, and the unimaginable situation will occur.

He only hoped that the possibility he had envisioned was merely a megalomaniac caused by fatigue.

“……The secretary’s office has changed a lot.”

“Yeah, it’s not about changing, it’s about keeping pace with the times.”

Choi Seung-il shook his head as if tired of seeing Jeong-hwan, who was in charge of the ‘design in line with the times’, without even looking back.

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No matter how much he rises to the top of the leadership, the general secretary has nothing to fear now, but isn’t this a quick change?

“…are you taking down the portrait of Comrade Lenin now? And living there…”

“An electronic bulletin board showing each country’s stock market. The United States, Japan… Of course, there is also South Korea. I had a bit of trouble getting it in. The secretariat comrades put a lot of effort into it.”

As Choi Seung-il pointed out, under Jeong-hwan’s leadership, the republic undertook major reforms.

As soon as he took office as the supreme leader and military commander, Jeong-hwan began to freely touch areas that he had never touched due to a lack of authority, although he had to do so.

The first of these was a political prison camp, also known as ‘Kyohwaso’ .