Free Web NovelKim Hakgwon received a report at dawn that the North Korean People’s Army was on the move. Before daylight, he summoned State Council members to convene the National Security Council.
Inside the underground bunker at the Blue House, those contacted by the President began arriving one by one.
The Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Unification, the Director of the NIS, the Head of National Security—everyone responsible for the safety of the state gathered.
After they were all assembled, President Kim Hakgwon entered last.
“Thank you for coming so early in the morning.”
No sooner had he greeted them than the Head of National Security immediately gave a briefing.
“At about 1 a.m., movements from the 2nd Corps and other People’s Army units were confirmed. The exact number of troops is not clear, but...”
He pointed at a map, going over the movements one by one. For twenty minutes he explained the situation.
When the explanation ended, shock spread across the faces of all present.
The Minister of National Defense spoke gravely.
“If the movements are as we’ve confirmed, the likelihood of a coup is high. Not only has part of the 2nd Corps, deployed on the front line to contain South Korea, moved, but the 4th Corps in Gangwon-do is also heading toward Pyongyang.”
A coup.
The word sank the room into silence.
The South Korean government always prepared scenarios for emergencies such as coups in the North.
But never had they considered such a massive troop movement.
As the unexpected unfolded, President Kim Hakgwon exhaled and asked the Defense Minister,
“Have the corps commanders joined the coup?”
“That is not certain. The number of troops moved is rather small for corps commanders to be directly involved.”
No definite answer. With limited information, they could only speculate.
Trying to fill the gaps, Kim Hakgwon asked the NIS Director,
“Has your agency discovered anything?”
“I’m sorry. We only know as much as the Defense Ministry. Our sources are unreachable.”
Kim Hakgwon’s face darkened, a sigh slipping out.
If the NIS agents were cut off, then North Korea was effectively sealed.
“Any word from the United States?”
The Foreign Minister shook his head.
“They say Washington is still trying to assess the situation.”
“How can the U.S. not know of such an emergency? Are they pretending not to know?”
“It was relayed through the U.S. Ambassador. Washington convened its own NSC as well.”
“I see. What of our businesspeople in Pyongyang? Any contact?”
The Unification Minister answered with a heavy expression.
“All lines to Pyongyang are cut. We cannot reach them, nor is the hotline to Kim Jongil working.”
Despairing answers. Kim Hakgwon sighed quietly, sinking into thought.
Meanwhile, the other members whispered among themselves, the room naturally growing restless.
After a long pause, Kim Hakgwon spoke.
“What about U.S. military movements?”
“No reaction yet.”
“Minister of Defense, contact the Joint Chiefs and declare DEFCON 3. Then, with the Deputy Commander of the Combined Forces, secure U.S. approval.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Minister bowed and left.
“The rest of you remain at your posts. No one knows what may happen.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The most important matter is whether our nationals in Pyongyang are safe. They are businessmen who control our economy. Use any means necessary to find out whether they are safe, detained, or...”
He trailed off.
But everyone in the room knew the unspoken final word.
No answer came, only a solemn air filling the chamber.
At that hour, not only South Korea but neighboring nations were in emergency mode.
The United States, China, Japan, Russia—all East Asia fixed its gaze on Pyongyang, straining for any scrap of information.
* * *
Kim Jongil drank in silence for a long time.
I too only watched him without a word.
But the silence dragged on, and I knew even now the rebels were hunting for him.
“Comrade Chairman.”
Instead of replying, Kim Jongil lifted his glass and stared at me.
“Shouldn’t you at least contact China or Russia?”
Whatever distance had grown since he took power, they were still North Korea’s allies.
“China and Russia...”
He let his words trail off and drank again. freewёbnoνel.com
After emptying his glass and pausing in thought, he spoke.
“Mr. Kim, you are close with high-ranking figures in both China and Russia, aren’t you? You said you were friends with Putin, and connected to Wen Jiabao through guanxi?”
“That’s right. I was fortunate. I built ties with President Putin long ago and have maintained them since. And yes, Wen Jiabao through guanxi.”
Listening quietly, Kim Jongil gave a crooked smile.
“True friends can be trusted. But I cannot trust either China or Russia in any situation.”
Even if he could not trust them, this was an emergency.
To move him, I tried again carefully.
“At least show them you are safe. Otherwise, who knows what they might do.”
The Chinese I knew might use this chance to send troops across the border under the pretext of ‘assistance.’ Putin would likely only observe.
Catching the meaning, Kim Jongil let out a booming laugh.
“Let them try if they can.”
His face flushed with drink, but his eyes stayed cold.
“Let those bastards come. I will not stand idly by. The day they set foot in this Republic without my permission, we all die together.”
“Comrade Chairman.”
“Mr. Kim, say no more. I am not in the # Nоvеlight # mood to listen.”
Showing irritation, Kim Jongil filled his glass again. Then he asked,
“But tell me, Mr. Kim, do you know something? Even after hearing ‘coup,’ you show no reaction.”
Suspicion gleamed in his eyes.
I stopped myself from sighing.
‘This man...’
Kim Jongil was pathologically distrustful. Even on his deathbed, he warned Kim Jongun never to trust Jang Songthaek.
“Is Jang Songthaek involved in this?”
“I know nothing of it.”
He emptied his glass, then pushed it toward me.
“Have a drink. I already know Jang met with you secretly in Seoul.”
Of course he knew. If I refused now, he would take it the wrong way, so I accepted the glass.
“Yes. He hinted he wanted to see Seoul nightlife, so I showed him around.”
“What did you talk about?”
The liquor spilled over, but Kim Jongil kept pouring, eyes fixed on me.
I met his gaze and spoke softly.
“Comrade Chairman.”
“Speak.”
“Are you interrogating me?”
“Mr. Kim, I’m asking. Answer.”
I set down my glass. The bottle in his hand kept dripping liquor onto the table.
“I am not your subordinate.”
His expression shifted subtly. When the bottle emptied, he set it down.
“That is why you can still sit before me.”
“Is that a threat?”
“I respect you, Mr. Kim.”
“I supported reconciliation with the U.S. out of gratitude for your past help.”
Risky words, but I let the implication stand—I had helped him. He nodded.
“Honestly, I did not expect you to bring back positive results. For that, I thank you. But that matter is separate.”
Stubborn to the core. I sighed deeply.
“What answer do you want? Do you want me to say Jang Songthaek is behind this coup? Will that satisfy you?”
“...What do you mean by that?”
“Comrade Chairman, would you believe me no matter what I say?”
Kim Jongil pulled off his sunglasses and glared.
“Mr. Kim, mind your words.”
If he wished, he could kill me. But if I wished, I could kill him too.
In this room were only myself, Kim Jongil, and Manager Ma.
If I ordered it, Ma would obey—even if the pistol handed to him by Baek Cheolsu was empty.
‘Boss, no bullets.’
Ma had whispered that in the secret stairway beneath the villa.
Whether Baek acted on his own to restrain me, or Kim Jongil ordered it, it made no difference.
Either way, they had mocked and underestimated me. My lips curled into a crooked smile.
“If you want me dead, you could do it. But can you?”
Kim Jongil was a coward. He already knew he stood to lose more than gain by killing me.
His cheeks trembled with fury.
Everyone else bowed before him, so he expected the same of me. But I never would.
In this new life I had bowed to no one—not Kim Hakgwon, not Putin, not Bush.
I had vowed never to kneel again. And I had the wealth and power to ensure it.
“I heard nothing from Jang Songthaek about this coup. It was only idle chatter. Believe it or not, that is the truth.”
Kim Jongil studied me with snake-like eyes.
Without his shades, the murderous gleam was clear.
They say a man shows his true self in crisis—his true self was a mad tyrant.
“Mr. Kim. You must answer for those words. When this is over, I will wipe out three generations, no, nine generations, of those involved.”
Chilling threat. His glare promised death.
I answered lightly.
“If you are not fabricating.”
“Your tongue will be the death of you.”
The atmosphere was ice, so different from the villa’s earlier camaraderie.
But the tension broke when the door opened and Baek Cheolsu entered.
“Have you found out?”
“Yes. Both the 2nd Corps commander and 4th Corps commander are said to be detained by their subordinates. Pyongyang is isolated. All lines to the capital have been cut by the rebels, and they are frantically hunting for you, Comrade Chairman.”
“Those bastards. Is Kim Ilcheol the ringleader?”
“They only borrowed his name. The ones actually moving troops are young lieutenant-grade officers under him. They are the true leaders.”
Surprise spread over Kim Jongil’s face.
“So you mean, young reactionaries are the masterminds?”
“Yes, sir.”
Listening to them, I realized Kim Seongjin and his fellows were behind this.
I remembered the grim expressions of those young power-holders at the banquet.
“No generals among the traitors?”
“...A few joined, swayed by Kim Ilcheol’s name.”
Kim Jongil nodded.
“Right. A mere handful of lieutenants could not pull this off alone. What of the Director of the General Political Bureau?”
“Fortunately, he was outside Pyongyang. After the incident, he quickly took shelter in a bunker elsewhere and began rallying units. Now he is focusing on the capital’s defense.”
“Good. Good. That’s how it should be.”
Relieved, Kim Jongil turned to Baek Cheolsu, then glanced at me.
“Any Party officials involved? Deputy Director Jang, or anyone of high rank?”
I waited tensely for Baek Cheolsu’s reply.
