Free Web NovelThree days passed after arriving in Pyongyang, yet Kim Jongil did not summon me.
Kim Seongjin’s warning weighed on my mind, but I waited calmly.
Unlike before, Manager Ma and Chairman Kim Byungwoo had accompanied me on this Pyongyang visit, so he would not call for me lightly.
On the morning of the third day, the bus carrying us moved toward Kaesong.
“Chairman Song Chanwoo, how is Honorary Chairman Song Youngjoo’s health?”
“The same. Father keeps saying he wants to be discharged, but I’m stopping him. We never know when something might happen again. Not long ago he had another strain on his heart. If he hadn’t been in the hospital, it could have been dangerous, but he keeps being stubborn.”
Chairman Song Youngjoo’s stubbornness was famous for being as tough as an ox tendon. No doubt he had threatened to go to Pyongyang.
But this time, instead of bedridden Chairman Song Youngjoo, Chairman Song Chanwoo visited Pyongyang. No matter how he insisted, he had to give up the trip for health reasons.
“The Honorary Chairman’s stubbornness is well known. Still, it’s fortunate his mind is clear.”
“It’s the heart because of old age; everything else is still robust. Sometimes when he summons group executives and scolds them, you’d wonder if he’s even a sick man.”
I could picture Chairman Song Youngjoo shouting. I smiled without realizing and said:
“Is the succession proceeding smoothly?”
“...For now, it’s proceeding without issue. But to be honest, I don’t know what will happen after Father passes away. I heard you didn’t give a definitive answer either. Is that right?”
It seemed Chairman Song had called in Song Chanwoo the moment I left the hospital and told him everything.
I gave a slight nod to his question.
“Are you not considering splitting the company?”
“Father has no such thought at all. He’s firm that every company bearing the name Daehyeon must remain within the Daehyeon Group.”
“Setting aside the Honorary Chairman’s opinion, what is yours?”
“...I simply do as Father instructs.”
A bitter look crossed Song Chanwoo’s face as he spoke self-mockingly.
Though he and Song Chanseong shared the same father, as an illegitimate son he surely had been kept at the fringes of the family.
There was no place for him within the Song family of Daehyeon Group. Once Honorary Chairman Song Youngjoo died, Song Chanwoo would inevitably become isolated.
“You do as Honorary Chairman Song instructs...”
He might be a filial son, but he did not look like he would become a successful entrepreneur.
Hearing my muttered words, he asked back:
“Do I not inspire confidence?”
“Well. I’ll meet the Honorary Chairman once more first.”
“Understood.”
To the end, Song Chanwoo did not reveal his own thoughts.
With that, he fell silent. Since he seemed unwilling to converse further, I also said no more.
Until we reached Kaesong, there was no conversation between us.
“We will build an industrial complex here. What do you think, entrepreneurs from the South?”
Our guide showed the site where the complex would be established.
“It’s good. The problem is the infrastructure is far too poor...”
Chairman Song Chanwoo and Chairman Kim Byungwoo were speaking with the North’s representatives on behalf of the Southern entrepreneurs.
“I feel the same as Chairman Song. Just setting up the infrastructure alone will require an enormous amount of capital.”
Chairman Kim Byungwoo nodded at Song Chanwoo’s words. Looking out over the practically empty, barren site of the Kaesong Industrial ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Complex, he sighed.
Watching him, the guide spoke crisply:
“That part is for you to solve. We provide only the land and labor. Everything else has been agreed to be handled by the South.”
Chairman Song and the South Korean government had promised that all infrastructure needed to build the factories would be funded by Southern capital.
Acknowledging the guide’s point, Song Chanwoo nodded.
“Of course we know. Rather than building all infrastructure at once, we’ll proceed step by step. First, we must construct roads to connect with Korea immediately.”
“Yes, we should start with that.”
“Jungwoo Group’s construction merger is still in progress, correct? May Daehyeon Group take on the Kaesong project?”
“Mm...”
At the mention of construction, Chairman Kim Byungwoo looked at me.
Reading his look for help, I gave a slight shake of my head and stepped into their conversation.
“The merger of Jungwoo Construction and Geukseong Construction has already been completed.”
At my answer, Song Chanwoo replied with an awkward face, though the will of Chairman Song faintly seeped through it. freewebnσvel.cøm
“Daehyeon is Korea’s top construction firm, and the Honorary Chairman initiated this first. Isn’t it only right that Daehyeon take it on?”
“For that, discuss it further with the South Korean government. For today, let’s tour the vicinity and handle the details in Seoul.”
“Understood.”
It was a project too significant to hand over entirely to Daehyeon Construction.
Beyond profit: roads linking North and South, factory facilities to be built on Northern soil, dormitories for Northern workers—once built, they would go down in history.
Seeing that the exchange between me and Song Chanwoo had roughly wrapped up, Chairman Kim Byungwoo addressed the guide.
“I’d like to stop by a nearby village before we return. Is that all right?”
The guide nodded readily.
“Of course. Once the Kaesong Complex is built, most of the workers will come from that village. Take a look and then return.”
After touring the village near the planned site, we returned straight to Pyongyang.
After a short rest at the hotel, I was getting ready to head to the banquet hall at night.
Just then, there was a knock. The person who had come for me was Baek Cheolsu.
“President Kim, the General is summoning you.”
“Is that so? I’ll just put on my coat and come.”
I went back in, put on my overcoat, and stepped out again.
Before I got into the car Baek Cheolsu had brought, he asked:
“You’re going to meet the General—will that person be coming as well?”
So he asks at last. I had expected it, and I gave a small smile.
He was pointing at Manager Ma.
“Is there a problem?”
“Well...”
I cut off whatever Baek Cheolsu was about to say.
“As I said in Seoul—if Comrade Kim Jongil has you, I have this man. I am not his subordinate.”
When I spoke firmly, Baek Cheolsu’s face went stiff. I did not stop there.
“If you ask me to leave him behind, I will not go. What will you do?”
“...No. Let’s go.”
The car carrying us moved toward the outskirts of Pyongyang.
“It’s not the same place as last time.”
“No. At night, the General changes where he sleeps each time. Only a few know; the rest won’t even know where he is.”
“I see.”
It struck me that dictators behaved alike. Their frantic measures, born of trusting no one, were pitiful.
“Was there another assassination attempt?”
“No. Not once since then. Why do you ask?”
Baek Cheolsu looked at me suspiciously.
“Because you said he moves where he sleeps.”
Even at my answer, he remained prickly. His guard was far higher than before.
After roughly an hour’s drive, we arrived at a villa guarded by soldiers.
Inside, Kim Jongil was waiting.
“Mr. Kim, long time.”
“Yes. It’s been a while, Comrade Chairman.”
“And who is this?”
Seeing Manager Ma standing expressionless behind me, Kim Jongil asked.
“This is Chief Manager Ma Seokdae. He’s practically my shadow.”
“Is that so? Come, sit. I prepared a bit today since you said you brought good news.”
Hearing that Manager Ma was my man, he turned his attention away from him and led me in.
Sitting where he directed, I saw a lavish spread on the table.
“Have a drink.”
Kim Jongil picked up a bottle of liquor that looked expensive at a glance and held it out to me.
I rose, went to his side, and received the drink. Unlike before, no one tried to stop me.
He poured into his own glass as well, lifted it, and said,
“Let us drink first.”
Back in my seat, I emptied what he had poured in one go.
“Mr. Kim, do you drink well?”
“I enjoy it. This seems like good liquor.”
“Of course. Fine liquor. They say when you drink with a man who knows liquor, the night runs on without notice. Let’s drink together all night.”
He deliberately avoided bringing up America. Instead, we made small talk as we ate and drank.
After about an hour, once the mood had loosened and the drink had sunk in, he moved to the main topic.
“Mr. Kim, did America accept the conditions I set forth? Or did they offer new ones?”
At his question, I straightened my posture and answered seriously.
“Yes. They said they will recognize the Republic’s system. In return, complete abandonment of nuclear development is a precondition. And...”
Letting my words trail, I watched his face. He only tilted his glass and looked at me, betraying no emotion.
“Don’t read my face. I know those Americans are not the sort to sign a peace agreement taking only my conditions.”
At his calm urging, my throat felt dry; I took the glass before me and drained it.
“Then I will relay exactly what Vice President Dick Cheney said. On the premise of complete abandonment of nuclear development, you will receive periodic U.S. nuclear inspections, and you will join the War on Terror as an allied nation. Those are the two conditions.”
No sooner had I finished than surprise flickered across his face. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
“What did you just say? Join as an allied nation?”
Even as a non-party, I found the demand absurd; how much more for him?
As expected, emotion surfaced in his voice for the first time.
“Mr. Kim, do you think that makes sense? Do you know how many of our People’s Army died to their guns and blades fifty years ago? And now join as allies?”
“If you are trapped in the past, nothing can change. Even the North and South fought a fratricidal war fifty years ago, did we not?”
“Even so, not that. China will oppose it as well. Allies with America...”
His words trailed off as he tossed back several strong whiskeys in succession, then put a cigarette to his lips.
Baek Cheolsu, standing behind, flicked a lighter and lit it for him.
“...Cheolsu, what do you think?”
“My thoughts are the General’s thoughts.”
At the stolid answer, Kim Jongil leaned back and blew out smoke.
“I’m asking for your thoughts as a soldier of the People’s Army. Speak.”
Asked twice, Baek Cheolsu answered at once.
“If it is the General’s order, the People’s Army is trained to march into even the fires of hell.”
“Huh... This fellow.”
His second answer was no different from the first; his loyalty was stark.
“But... if I may presumptuously say one thing: if we accept, perhaps our Republic could live with America as Japan does.”
“America and Japan...”
Chain-smoking, Kim Jongil sank into deep thought. I, too, toyed with my glass and waited for his words.
The long contemplation was shattered when a soldier burst through the dining room door.
“What is this! Who told you to open that door without the General’s permission? Do you wish to die?”
Baek Cheolsu drew his pistol and aimed it at the intruder, shouting.
Kim Jongil still sat with eyes closed, unmoving.
“General, forgive me.”
Only then did he open his eyes—cold as ice.
“Speak. If it’s nothing, I will send not only you but your entire family to the camp tonight.”
“Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Kim Ilcheol has launched a coup. He is currently advancing on Pyongyang.”
“What?”
Kim Jongil sprang to his feet. His lips quivered slightly, shaken.
“Say it again.”
“Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Kim Ilcheol has moved the army. Confirmed at present: the 2nd Corps has left its post and is advancing on Pyongyang.”
“...The 2nd Corps commander?”
“We cannot reach him.”
I turned over the information from the soldier’s mouth.
A coup; Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Kim Ilcheol; the father of Director Kim Seongjin whom I had met in Seoul.
Only now did I understand what his warning had meant.
