Free Web NovelThe President’s Oval Office at the White House.
President Bush sat with one leg crossed over the other, listening to Secretary of State Colin Powell’s report.
After hearing everything, President Bush nodded and spoke.
“By now, Kim Muhyuk and Jang Songthaek are probably meeting. Just like us.”
“That seems likely.”
Bush rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, then continued.
“That man, Kim Muhyuk... he genuinely seems to believe that North Korea can change. I can’t tell whether he doesn’t understand the nature of power... or whether he understands it perfectly and is acting anyway.”
Bush did not trust North Korea.
Whether the one holding power was Kim Jongil, Jang Songthaek, or some new third party, he believed North Korea would never change.
The United States had supported dictators plenty of times before. They would proclaim pro-American sentiment and act as if they were willing to give everything on the surface, but in the end, they always revealed their true colors.
Their way of thinking itself was different. Dictators were a breed that could never truly be controlled.
“Still, for the sake of reelection, we have to engage in dialogue. It would be even better if we get results before the presidential election. I suppose we have no choice but to trust him.”
Bush decided to use North Korea for his reelection campaign this year.
Powell nodded as he replied.
“No one understands the nature of power better than Kim Muhyuk. Russia, China, Japan... he’s the only one who has personal ties with the leaders of all those countries. I believe he’ll handle this well too.”
Powell knew Kim Muhyuk’s methods well.
“He’ll probably bring us good results.”
“I want to talk directly right away. But I can’t keep ignoring the backlash from the neocons. If my support base fractures before reelection, winning a second term becomes difficult. You know that.”
“Of course.”
“They demanded that I replace the Secretary of State... once I secure reelection.”
“I’m aware of that as well.”
“And knowing that, you’re still telling me I should talk to North Korea for my sake?”
The neocons demanded the dismissal of Powell, who had opposed them at every turn, from the position of Secretary of State.
However, replacing the Secretary of State right before a presidential election would be a blunder.
Powell’s name still carried weight with the American public.
So Bush made a promise to the neocons. After the election, if he succeeded in reelection, there would be no place for Powell in the second-term administration.
“Yes. Because it benefits America’s national interests. Now that Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq has collapsed, there aren’t many countries left that pose a threat to the United States. China and Russia can be controlled to some extent, but Iran and North Korea cannot. If we can lead North Korea to denuclearization through dialogue, the threat to America will be greatly reduced.”
Bush smiled bitterly.
This was precisely why he had appointed Powell as Secretary of State in the first place.
“We’ll soon be entering the presidential election schedule. When that happens, you’ll have to handle all the details, Powell. I’ll be entrusting this matter entirely to you as Secretary of State.”
“I will deliver satisfactory results. I’ll consider this my final duty as Secretary of State.”
Bush nodded.
Silence settled briefly in the office, occupied only by the two of them. No words were exchanged, but there was a trust between them that didn’t need to be spoken.
Eventually, Bush let out a sigh and broke the silence.
“By the way... I really can’t tell what Kim Muhyuk is thinking.”
At the muttered complaint, Powell gave a small chuckle.
“Kim Muhyuk isn’t doing anything that runs counter to America’s national interests.”
“Even so, every time I see him, something just feels off. The way he acts like he knows everything. And his wealth, too......”
“Let’s keep watching him. For now, no matter what anyone says, he’s been a great help.”
“I suppose so.”
For them, acting in their country’s interests was an unquestionable truth, as self-evident as any law of nature.
America was already moving.
* * *
At the Kremlin in Moscow, discussion about Kim Muhyuk was also in full swing.
“Hm. So Muhyuk has arrived in Pyongyang?”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
Medvedev quickly lifted the teacup personally poured by the president.
“Have a drink. What did the embassy in Pyongyang say?”
After taking a sip of black tea, Medvedev replied. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
“They just confirmed that he entered Jang Songthaek’s office.”
A low chuckle mingled with the cold air spreading from the window.
“That man, Jang Songthaek. Isn’t he interesting? Setting up his office right next to the Russian embassy. Confidence, perhaps.”
“He probably didn’t have the luxury of choosing conditions while rushing to set it up.”
Jang Songthaek’s office was within a straight-line distance of 200 meters from the Russian embassy.
A location where wiretapping could be carried out at any time, if one so wished.
“When Muhyuk first told me about this plan, I honestly thought it would be difficult to succeed. Just securing the nuclear weapons in Kim Jongil’s hands would have been considered a successful operation.”
“I also thought the probability of success was less # Nоvеlight # than fifty percent. The mercenaries seem to be of better quality than expected. Well, Igor is with Black Bear too. He was quite famous, wasn’t he?”
At the mention of Igor’s name, a trace of bitterness entered the conversation.
“It doesn’t sit well with me, seeing a soldier abandoned by his country thrive as a mercenary.”
“There was no choice back then. No one expected Yeltsin to be that disastrous.”
“Should we consider secretly creating our own private military company? If we move special forces veterans there and conduct military operations as mercenaries rather than under Russia’s name, things could get interesting.”
“You’re suggesting we create a mercenary company?”
“Looking at Black Bear, they don’t seem that far behind a regular army. The United States also uses Black Bear for military operations, doesn’t it? They intervene in conflicts across various countries using mercenaries, while avoiding the scrutiny of the international community......”
Judging by the detailed vision he laid out, this wasn’t something he’d only thought about for a day or two. Medvedev listened while sipping his tea.
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s a good idea. If we deploy mercenaries to regions where it’s awkward to send the Russian military, we can take a step back from international criticism.”
“Exactly. See it through properly. Even if it takes a long time, aim for something on the level of Black Bear.”
“Yes. I’ll do so.”
It was the moment a PMC to act in place of Russian military operations was set in motion.
Setting down his teacup, Medvedev asked,
“As agreed with President Kim Muhyuk, we’ve lifted the border blockade. What are your plans now?”
A small tapping sound echoed as fingers drummed on the table.
And as the steam rising from the tea faded, a question was directed at Medvedev.
“Will we gain anything from North Korea?”
“For now, there’s a considerable amount of money North Korea owes us from the Soviet era. Recovering just that would be a significant gain. However, rather than receiving it in cash, I think it might be better to lease the port and land of Rason City for about fifty years, in exchange for settling the sovereign debt.”
“Hm......”
“If we don’t ask for it, China will. If China leases the port and land of Rason City, it would be like placing a dagger right under our chin. It’s better that we make the request first.”
The situation was far too complex to think about comfortably. If it were only between North Korea and Russia, that would be one thing—but China, the United States, and Kim Muhyuk were all entangled as well.
“How much did North Korea owe us?”
“By my estimate, about ten billion dollars. It could be more, or it could be less. For now, roughly ten billion. With further verification, the amount could increase.”
“That’s quite a lot.”
“We’ve been supporting North Korea continuously since the Soviet Union days.”
“Rason City, huh......”
Murmuring to himself, the president gave Medvedev an instruction.
“Do we have a map of North Korea?”
“Yes.” ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Medvedev immediately stood up and brought a map of North Korea.
Spreading it out on the table, the president located Rason City and tapped it with his finger.
“The location is optimal. Will North Korea really give it up so easily?”
“According to President Kim Muhyuk, if we ask to lease the Rason City economic and trade zone, they’ll welcome it with open arms. What Jang Songthaek wants is reform and openness. They have no choice but to resolve the sovereign debt issue one way or another.”
Medvedev pointed to the economic and trade zone where Rason Port was located.
“It’s a better location than Vladivostok. It’s connected to Russia by rail as well.”
“Hm...... Very well. Let’s think this over for now.”
“Yes. I’ll bring it up again next time.”
* * *
“Unofficial support, you say. In international society, there’s nothing more hollow than a promise like that.”
I smiled as if amused.
“Do you truly believe the United States would genuinely guarantee North Korea’s system? That United States, which cries out for freedom and human rights? No. Not now. Absolutely not.”
“Still......”
“If you aim for too much from the start, things fall apart. There’s a saying: even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. First, lift the economic sanctions, and consistently show signs of reform and openness. Then the United States will change its thinking.”
Jang Songthaek seemed to agree with this.
“If you give up nuclear weapons, you’ll be able to receive U.S. loans under fairly good terms. In the end, you need money to do anything, don’t you?”
Ultimately, the issue was money.
No matter how much you want economic development, without money, nothing can be done.
South Korea itself had once had its president travel from country to country during the era of military rule, personally asking for financial assistance.
As a result, it had gone from being a country that received economic aid to one that now provides it to others.
“U.S. loans, huh......”
“We could start with the light-water reactor project that was once suspended, then move on to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, Mount Kumgang tourism—there’s plenty we could do.”
Jang Songthaek nodded.
They weren’t starving to death right now, but in a situation where every penny mattered, they couldn’t afford to demand too much.
“Very well. Then we’ll drop the demand for regime guarantees. But in exchange, economic support must be firm and certain.”
“Discuss that directly with the United States.”
Jang Songthaek frowned.
“Every time I talk to those people, I get angry. They label the Republic as part of an ‘axis of evil’ and look down on us.”
“What country does the United States not look down on?”
The United States wiretaps not only its allies like the United Kingdom and France, but all countries, collecting their information.
They have power—and that power allows them to be arrogant.
“That may be so, but......”
“Instead of that, why don’t you come to Seoul once? How about holding a trilateral meeting with multiple countries gathered together?”
“In Seoul?”
“Yes. You came once before, didn’t you? Back then, it was as a special envoy. But now you’re the de facto head of state—the weight is entirely different.”
“......Kim Jongil, Comrade Chairman, is still the head of state.”
“However it looks externally, everyone who matters already knows the truth. What does that matter? The decision-maker personally visits Seoul. And through dialogue, brings tangible benefits to North Korea. Focus on that.”
Holding an inter-Korean summit in Seoul, followed by a trilateral meeting extending to the United States, and producing good results—that would be the ideal scenario.
“I’ll take responsibility for security.”
“I can’t leave Pyongyang vacant just yet.”
“Are you uneasy?”
With a heavy expression, Jang Songthaek nodded.
“If I leave my seat, I don’t know what someone might be thinking. Kim Jongil, Comrade Chairman, could make a move as well.”
I shook my head.
“Kim Jongil is already a toothless tiger.”
“Even so, going all the way to Seoul is a bit......”
“The longer you delay, the less you’ll gain, Vice Chairman. Now is the optimal time. South Korea is approaching a National Assembly election, and the United States has its presidential election this year. If you draw people who have something to gain politically into dialogue, you’ll gain even more.”
Even so, Jang Songthaek hesitated, unable to answer right away.
Suppressing my frustration and putting on a polite expression, I spoke.
“I’ll meet Kim Jongil once.”
“President Kim Muhyuk, you mean?”
“Yes. I’d like to meet him and talk.”
