Free Web NovelNear Pyongyang lay Jinampo City in South Pyongan Province.
That was the administrative designation used by South Korea. In North Korea, the city was called Nampo Directly Governed City.
It bordered Pyongyang, and at one point had been the site where Joongwoo Group and North Korea joined hands to open the Nampo Industrial Complex.
But the complex didn’t last very long. Due to economic factors including the IMF crisis and various political reasons, it shut down in 1998 and fully withdrew in 1999.
Originally, a Pyeonghwa Motors factory was supposed to be established there, but in this life, even that plan collapsed and was never built.
― Nampo City······. Are you saying you want us to hand over the entire area?
“That’s correct. Like China, I want it declared a Special Economic Zone and turned into a region with free entry and exit. If we do that, not only Korean conglomerates but also global companies that were originally heading to China will bring their factories there.”
― Hm.
Jang Songthaek swallowed quietly, clearly troubled.
I knew exactly what he was worried about.
Nampo City was adjacent to Pyongyang.
“Is it because of Nampo’s location?”
― I can’t say it’s not. If entry and exit become unrestricted······.
“You’re worried something like this could happen in Pyongyang.”
― ······.
Jang Songthaek fell silent.
He had felt the combat capability of mercenaries with his own body.
If he wasn’t worried, that would have been strange.
Back then, he had been a second-in-command struggling desperately just to survive. Now, he was the man holding real power in North Korea.
“That won’t happen. You know this already. Attacking Pyongyang isn’t something that can be done with half-baked tricks. It’s impossible with just a handful of people. And just because entry and exit are free, there’s no way the North Korean government wouldn’t know exactly who’s coming in and out.”
― ······Let’s discuss the details in person.
Jang Songthaek didn’t give a definitive answer.
He deflected by suggesting a face-to-face meeting, clearly trying to avoid committing for now. I let out a small chuckle.
“Understood for now. Then when do you plan to start talks with the South Korean government?”
― The talks have already begun. A hotline has likely been set up with the South Korean government by now, and negotiations are underway. The meeting itself probably won’t be possible until next year.
“Faster than I expected.”
― Chairman Kim Jongil helped, so internal consolidation was easier than anticipated. Still, things aren’t completely settled yet, so we’ll likely request that a special envoy be sent to Pyongyang next year.
Looks like I’ll have to move faster than I planned.
After setting out a rough plan for how we’d move forward, I ended the call with Jang Songthaek.
As soon as the call ended, I pressed a speed-dial number and called Myungsoo.
― Oh, Muhyuk.
“Have you heard anything from President Yoon?”
― Huh? About what? I haven’t heard anything.
“North Korea will request a special envoy next year. The delegation will probably leave for Pyongyang sometime between January and February.”
― What? So it’s true that Jang Songthaek has fully taken control of the regime.
“That’s right. You take that envoy position. And go up there with me.”
― ······You’re insane. Can’t I just not go? free𝑤ebnovel.com
I burst out laughing at Myungsoo’s horrified voice.
He really was entertaining. But I quickly wiped the smile off my face and spoke seriously.
“We need to move with the smallest group possible. The fewer eyes watching us, the better. So you’ll serve as head of the envoy. I’ll explain everything properly to President Yoon.”
Understanding exactly what I meant, Myungsoo let out a long sigh.
― Damn it. Fine. I get it.
“Thanks. Oh, and let’s get together with everyone soon for a year-end gathering. You said we haven’t been able to meet much lately because everyone’s been busy.”
― Yeah. We can’t meet every month like before. It’s hard to sync schedules······.
“Still, we should meet more often. I’ll pick a date soon and let everyone know.”
― Okay. Let me know.
After hearing Myungsoo’s reply, I hung up. Then I immediately called Yoon Changho.
Not long after, Yoon Changho’s voice came through the line.
― President Kim.
“Yes, Mr. President. Are you at the residence?”
― It’s about that time. What is it?
“I heard you opened a dialogue channel with Pyongyang.”
― And how did you find out about that······.
Yoon Changho trailed off in surprise.
Even /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ inside the Blue House, only a handful of people would know about this.
To clear up his confusion, I told him that Jang Songthaek had contacted me directly.
“Jang Songthaek reached out to me himself.”
― ······.
“I’ll explain the details later. North Korea will request a special envoy. Appoint Myungsoo as that envoy, and send him together with me.”
― That’ll benefit me as well, won’t it?
There was a subtle greed in his voice, and I answered gently.
“You’ll gain more than whatever you’re imagining. This might be something that puts your name in the history books.”
― Then we’ll do it that way. Come to the Blue House and explain everything in person.
Yoon Changho replied in a satisfied tone and ended the call.
I set the phone down, leaned back against the sofa, and closed my eyes.
The memory of the day Manager Ma was shot in Pyongyang surfaced in my mind.
That was when it started.
When I realized I couldn’t just leave Kim Jongil as he was.
But I couldn’t do anything about a dictator of a nation by myself.
So I dug a trap and waited. And just as I’d predicted, Kim Jongil walked into hell on his own.
As a result, he was chased out by Jang Songthaek—the man he had trusted, or rather, pretended to trust.
Now he was nothing more than an ordinary old man with nothing left.
There would be no third-generation hereditary succession like in the original history, and North Korea would never develop nuclear weapons.
“······I want to rest now.”
The tumultuous year of 2003 was finally coming to an end.
December 30, with the end of 2003 in sight.
I headed to a makgeolli bar in the university district near Korea National University.
The moment I pushed open the shabby door, I heard Myungsoo’s loud voice and laughter filling the place.
Smiling faintly, I walked toward them and spoke.
“So, I said we should have a year-end gathering—did you really have to pick a place like this?”
Everyone turned to look at me. Their faces were filled with joy and warmth.
“Oh! Kim Muhyuk!”
Myungsoo made a huge fuss, charging over with a beer glass and a bottle of soju.
“You’re late, so let’s start with three shots.”
Unbelievable. I stared at Myungsoo with an annoyed look.
But he wasn’t fazed in the slightest and filled the beer glass to the brim with soju.
In an instant, half the bottle was gone.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Who told you to be late? Come on, hurry up and drink.”
I thought he’d change as he got older, but Myungsoo was exactly the same as ever.
Sharp as a knife when it came to work, but why was he like this at a drinking table?
“Drink! Drink!”
“One shot! One shot!”
Myungsoo shoved the glass toward me, and the others shouted along.
Unbelievable, seriously. I shook my head and took the glass.
Then tilted it back. The bitter soju burned vividly as it slid down my throat.
Only after downing three shots in a row was I finally allowed to sit. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
“Where’s the owner?”
“We told her to head home early.”
I glanced around. This place really hadn’t changed, no matter how much time passed.
It always felt like it welcomed me back just as it was.
“But why did you insist on this place?”
At my question, Myungsoo grinned.
“Lately everyone’s gotten a taste for fancy stuff—whiskey, wine, all that—but I can’t forget the soju and food we used to eat here back in college. So I picked this place. Why, you don’t like it?”
He spoke teasingly, but I knew he’d chosen it because it was the most comfortable spot for all of us.
The dishes laid out on the table looked familiar.
Various jeon, fish cake soup, and cockle salad were neatly arranged.
“No. You did well. I think about this place sometimes too.”
“Right? It’s fine to relax like this for a day, isn’t it? Reminiscing about college.”
I looked around at my friends and smiled. Everyone nodded, clearly thinking the same thing.
As glasses went back and forth, stories about everyone’s recent lives flowed freely.
Oh Hyunwoo was doing well at the prosecution, and Yoon Jaeha was steadily undergoing successor training at the law firm his father headed.
Han Minkyung was also rising smoothly within the court system.
As the mood ripened, Oh Hyunwoo spoke up.
“Hey! Muhyuk, did you hear? Yoon Jaeha’s getting married next year.”
“Really?”
I asked while looking at Yoon Jaeha, who awkwardly tilted his glass.
“Congratulations. You’re always busy—when did you even have time to date?”
“Thanks. We haven’t been together that long. But I thought, if I let this woman go, I’d regret it. So I proposed. We’ve already done the formal family meeting. All that’s left is picking a date.”
Myungsoo jumped into the conversation, making a big fuss.
“Who is she? Is she pretty?”
“She’s a lawyer at our firm. Two years junior to us.”
“Oh, office romance! Tell us everything. The older I get, the more I like hearing stuff like this.”
Yoon Jaeha let out an embarrassed laugh and began his story.
We raised our glasses as we listened.
“She joined under me as a junior associate, but for some reason, I kept noticing her. At first, I treated her strictly professionally.”
He spoke calmly.
But his voice was full of affection for the woman he was about to marry.
With Myungsoo chiming in here and there, Yoon Jaeha’s story came to an end, and we congratulated him.
After he finished, I asked,
“Did Chairman Yoon oppose it?”
“You know I was never a son who listened to my father that well. And it’s not like her family is lacking in any way. So, no.”
Yoon Jaeha shrugged and smiled.
“Then that’s all that matters. Congratulations. You’re getting married too now.”
“What about you? No plans to get married?”
Come to think of it, among the people here, only Myungsoo and I were still single.
Hyunseong was married, Oh Hyunwoo and Han Minkyung were married, and now Yoon Jaeha was getting married.
“Who knows. If I meet a woman I really like, maybe. For now, I’m comfortable being single. Myungsoo’s the real problem.”
Everyone’s gaze shifted to Myungsoo.
“Why the hell are you all ganging up on me all of a sudden? I’m seeing someone too! What’s wrong with you people?”
At Myungsoo’s protest, Yoon Jaeha grinned openly.
“Really? Myungsoo dating? Guess becoming a National Assembly member made you good at lying too.”
“What? You little bastard!”
Myungsoo shouted angrily, and everyone burst out laughing.
As Myungsoo and Yoon Jaeha bickered, I moved to sit beside Oh Hyunwoo.
“How’s the elder doing? After serving as head of the transition committee, he hasn’t appeared in the media much. Is his health okay? I haven’t been able to check in lately.”
Oh Hyunwoo held out his empty glass and chuckled.
“He’s still going strong. He actually mentions you sometimes. Says you only contact him when you need something.”
“Haha. Sounds just like him. As long as he’s healthy, that’s enough. I should pay my respects after the New Year.”
I filled his glass and clinked mine against it.
“So when do I get to become an uncle? No plans for kids yet?”
“We’re still newlyweds. And both Minkyung and I are swamped. You know how important this period is.”
“Well, that’s your call. But don’t the elders think differently?”
“Don’t even get me started. The pressure’s intense.”
Oh Hyunwoo frowned and let out a deep sigh, then glanced at Han Minkyung, who was laughing nearby.
“She’s been pretty stressed about it too.”
“Yeah. You’ll handle it in your own way. By the way, how’s the mood in the prosecution?”
“You know there’s going to be a major overhaul, right?”
Oh Hyunwoo lowered his voice.
No one knew the prosecution better than Yoon Changho.
And he was pushing hard for a sweeping reform.
“There’s a lot of internal backlash. Given the President’s background, people aren’t happy about him pushing prosecution reform······.”
Oh Hyunwoo trailed off. Knowing exactly why, I shifted the conversation.
“What do you think?”
“Hmm······. I’m in favor of reform.”
“This overhaul is going to weaken the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, right?”
“Yeah. Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office will be elevated to Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, and the East, South, North, and West branch offices under it will be promoted to full district offices. Then they’ll all be reorganized under the High Prosecutors’ Office. That’s the core of the reform.”
In the end, this prosecution reform was about redistributing the power concentrated in the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
