Free Web Novel— What do you mean by that? Are you saying we separately proposed negotiations to Kim Jongil? What on earth are you talking about?
At his words, which sounded like he truly had no idea what was going on, I let out a short sigh.
So it doesn’t seem like the Kremlin pulled any tricks.
To be honest, I hadn’t strongly suspected them in the first place. I just wanted to confirm that the Kremlin wasn’t involved.
Rather than secretly negotiating with Kim Jongil behind my back, Russia stood to gain far more by joining hands with me. There was no reason for them to harbor ulterior motives.
“I met Kim Jongil today. And he told me something interesting. He said someone from the Russian embassy requested a private meeting with him.”
— I have no idea what you’re talking about... Please explain in a way I can understand.
“Apparently, a man named Andrei Solomatin, a second secretary who had been dispatched to Pyongyang, proposed negotiations to Kim Jongil.”
— Andrei Solomatin? Who is that? I don’t even know such a person.
Well, if Medvedev knew the name of a second secretary, that would have been even stranger.
“Who he is isn’t important. What matters is the fact that he met Kim Jongil and made a covert proposal.”
— What kind of proposal are you talking about? Leaving everything else aside, I can’t even understand how a mere second secretary could meet Kim Jongil. Does that make any sense? If it had been Alexei, I might have understood, but...
Medvedev muttered in bewilderment, apparently unable to believe that a low-ranking official like a second secretary could have met Kim Jongil in the first place.
— Perhaps Kim Jongil is trying to drive a wedge between us and you, Chairman Kim.
At first, I did consider that possibility.
But in Kim Jongil’s actions and manner of speech, I saw no intention of deceiving me.
For a moment, the image of Kim Jongil saying he would watch us while exhaling cigarette smoke flashed through my mind.
He had probably told me the truth.
“There’s no particular reason for him to do that. The Kim Jongil I met had already let go of everything.”
— Chairman Kim, power is a strange creature. It’s not a monster you can shake off so easily.
The Russian second-in-command spoke so bitterly that I couldn’t help but smile.
“At first, I thought the same. But Kim Jongil’s love for his family was stronger than I expected. He said he had no intention of gambling when his family’s lives were on the line.”
— If that’s how you saw him, then it’s probably the truth. Still, you mustn’t let your guard down. That’s what power is.
“I’ll be careful. But that’s an issue Vice Chairman Jang Songthaek should handle.”
When I replied so casually, Medvedev seemed embarrassed and cleared his throat softly.
After that brief moment, the conversation, which had strayed off track, soon returned to the main point.
— So, what exactly did he say?
“He said that if Kim Jongil took their hand, they would block the passage of a Security Council resolution.”
Silence flowed through the receiver. The content was so shocking that it seemed to leave him speechless.
“It’s a resolution that the United States, Russia, and China have already agreed upon. And they said they’d block it. A low-ranking official from the Russian embassy, no less. That’s why I asked you, Chief of Staff, whether the Kremlin had approached him without my knowledge.”
— No. Neither the President nor I knew anything about this. We have no reason to do such a thing. We’re risking everything in this matter ourselves—enough to deploy special forces.
“Yes. I know that, which is why it’s so puzzling. Who, and for what reason, would make such a proposal to Kim Jongil?”
— Hmm... Just a moment.
I heard Medvedev calling out to someone.
— Contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring me a man named Andrei Solomatin immediately! ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Medvedev’s stern voice came through the receiver.
After finishing his order, Medvedev addressed me again.
— Chairman Kim. I’ve ordered them to arrest that diplomat Andrei and bring him in. If we interrogate him, won’t we find out who was behind him?
If they could arrest him, things would become easier. But I didn’t think they would be able to.
“There’s a high chance he’s already left Russia. Since the plan failed, he must have realized that word would leak out.”
— That may be so. But even if he’s left Russia, he won’t be safe. We never forgive traitors. Wherever he is, we’ll find him.
Medvedev’s calm voice carried a faint undercurrent of anger.
Looking at Alexei in front of me, I said,
“I don’t know the inner workings of the embassy well, but this isn’t something a second secretary could do alone. He must have had an accomplice.”
Alexei flinched at my words.
— ...An accomplice.
“The ambassador in front of us says he knows nothing about it. And he said that only two people—including himself—could arrange a meeting with Kim Jongil.”
— The ambassador says he doesn’t know? ...I’ll look into this in detail.
“Good. I’ll leave it to you.”
— Of course. I can’t just let this go either. I’ll make sure to find out who planned this, and for what purpose.
“If Kim Jongil had accepted that proposal, everything we prepared would have been tangled from the very beginning.”
The starting point of this plan was to isolate North Korea.
If things had gone wrong from the start, the entire plan would have collapsed, and we wouldn’t even have been able to attempt it.
— Yes, that’s right. It’s fortunate that Kim Jongil didn’t accept it. Ah. How was your visit to Pyongyang, Chairman Kim? It’s been quite some time since I last heard about the situation there.
With practiced ease, Medvedev changed the subject.
“I haven’t gained anything concrete yet, so it’s hard to say. It’s only just begun.”
— I see. I’ll be visiting Pyongyang myself soon as well.
“Personally, Chief of Staff?”
— Yes. There are many matters that need to be discussed, aren’t there?
So Russia intends to move in its own way as well.
“I see. Understood.”
— Aren’t you curious? If you wish, Chairman Kim, we could tell you about the plan we have in mind.
“Well. If it were something I needed to know, you would have given me a heads-up in advance.”
— Haha, that’s true as well.
I checked the clock on the wall and spoke to Medvedev.
“If you get any new information, please contact me.”
— Understood. Please put the ambassador back on the line.
“Very well. I’ll hand him over.”
I passed the receiver to Alexei.
Alexei accepted it with a deferential bow and began speaking, and I watched him while sinking into thought.
‘Convincing seven non-permanent members of the Security Council is harder than moving one permanent member. It’s not China, Russia, or the United States.’
If China had made a move, it would have been through the Chinese embassy.
There would have been no reason to use a Russian embassy official.
Unless it was meant to create confusion...
‘Then it has to be a force capable of moving either the UK or France.’
A moment later, Alexei, visibly tense, called out to me.
“Kim Muhyuk.”
“Are you finished with the call?”
“Yes. He told me to help you with whatever you might need.”
“I don’t think there’s anything in particular you need to help with.”
“Still...”
Ignoring Alexei as he trailed off, I stood up.
“Thanks for the sentiment, at least. Then, if the opportunity arises, we’ll meet again.”
We probably wouldn’t meet again, but after smiling and shaking hands, I left the embassy.
“Are you done with your business?”
The man who had been waiting outside asked. When I nodded, he respectfully opened the car door.
“I’ll take you to the hotel. Vice Chairman Jang instructed me to escort you there.”
“We’re not going to see Vice Chairman Jang Songthaek?”
“He’s currently meeting with a special envoy from South Korea. He wishes to see you separately in the evening.”
So the talks were still ongoing. I nodded and got into the car.
The man carefully closed the door and took the driver’s seat.
“Then, we’ll depart.”
Leaving his stiff words behind, I once again sank into my thoughts.
* * *
“Are you suggesting that we begin construction of the Kaesong Industrial Complex as quickly as possible?”
Lee Myungsoo asked back in a troubled voice. Jang Songthaek nodded as if it were obvious.
“That’s right.”
“That’s only possible once the economic sanctions are lifted. We can’t proceed with the Kaesong Industrial Complex project on our own, without the United States’ approval.”
“Who doesn’t know that? That’s precisely why I asked to meet you and make this request.”
As Lee Myungsoo pressed his lips together in discomfort, Jang Songthaek spoke again.
“Even if the United States opposes it, isn’t it something that can be done if one is determined?”
“......It’s politically extremely risky.”
Establishing an industrial complex on North Korean soil while economic sanctions were in place?
Even with U.S. approval, it would be a heavy burden.
“I know. But can only the Republic make concessions? The South Korean government must persuade the United States and get this started quickly.”
Reading the troubled look on Lee Myungsoo’s face, Jang Songthaek spoke firmly.
“This is the minimum measure needed for dialogue. I, too, must show something to the people, mustn’t I?”
“Then let’s start with the food aid you proposed earlier. Wouldn’t that put out the immediate fire?”
After the Geneva negotiations, the United States provided North Korea with more than one hundred thousand tons of food aid annually.
South Korea also provided a substantial amount of food aid.
However, due to North Korea’s nuclear tests and successive provocations, food aid that had been provided on humanitarian grounds by the United States and other countries was completely cut off.
With all aid severed, North Korea suffered from severe food shortages.
Knowing this, the South Korean government brought food aid to the table as a negotiation card.
But Jang Songthaek was not satisfied with that alone.
Food was urgent, but for him, the commencement of the Kaesong Industrial Complex was more important.
“The food aid issue is something we can negotiate with the United States.”
“The South Korean government can provide aid as early as tomorrow, even immediately.”
“I fully understand your desire to avoid political burden. But please consider my circumstances as well. This is not something that can be done slowly right now. I intend to do many things for peace between the Republic and the South. Therefore, the South Korean government must persuade the United States, without worrying about means or methods, and create the Kaesong Industrial Complex.” freēwebnovel.com
“Hm.”
Lee Myungsoo swallowed a groan. He was at a complete loss.
Rather than progressing, the negotiations kept circling back to the Kaesong Industrial Complex. This was beyond his authority.
“If we could do it immediately, we would want to. But the United States will never allow it.”
“I’m starting to wonder whether I’m speaking with a U.S. envoy or a South Korean envoy. This can’t be done, that can’t be done. What exactly can you do?”
“.......”
When Lee Myungsoo couldn’t readily answer, Jang Songthaek let out a deep sigh and spoke again.
“I’ll be frank. Right now, I hold real power in place of the Chairman. But I’m standing on the edge of a cliff. If I don’t produce results in a short period of time, I don’t know what will happen. I understand that the envoy is a friend of Chairman Kim Muhyuk. Is that correct?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Then we’ll be able to speak frankly. Chairman Kim is not a man who takes losses lightly. You, as his friend, know that better than anyone.”
Lee Myungsoo nodded slightly.
“That’s why I called only the envoy. Let’s speak openly. Chairman Kim Muhyuk was the one who first proposed holding inter-Korean talks in Seoul, and I intend to accept that. Isn’t there an important election coming up in the South as well? Before that, I will personally visit Seoul.”
Lee Myungsoo’s eyes widened. The highest leader of North Korea suddenly visiting Seoul?
It had never happened since the division.
“Are you saying you’ll hold a summit?”
Jang Songthaek nodded.
An inter-Korean summit ahead ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) of the general election. Lee Myungsoo narrowed his eyes.
“There are less than three months left until the general election.”
“I already know. Chairman Kim told me as much.”
“The highest leader of North Korea visiting Seoul... Aligning schedules, planning routes... Just coordinating minor matters like security alone would take at least half a year. By then, the election would already be over.”
“I know that too. Let’s shorten it to two months. Wouldn’t that greatly help the National Assembly election?”
Jang Songthaek smiled as he pulled up the corners of his mouth.
He had accepted Kim Muhyuk’s proposal to visit Seoul, but he fully intended to extract everything he could from the South Korean government.
‘Kim Muhyuk is Kim Muhyuk, and the South Korean government is the South Korean government.’
The smile on Jang Songthaek’s lips deepened.
