Free Web NovelJang Songthaek visibly flinched at my proposal to build the Ryugyong Hotel.
“Rather than something like the West Sea Barrage, shouldn’t we first deal with that eyesore standing like a monstrosity in the very heart of Pyongyang—the Ryugyong Hotel—so we can save face?”
The Ryugyong Hotel project had begun out of Kim Jongil’s ambition. Externally, however, it was known as a construction ordered by Kim Ilsung.
“You’re saying you’ll build the Ryugyong Hotel for us?”
I nodded. Then I deliberately said something that would poke directly at Jang Songthaek’s greed.
“This is the center of North Korea. You can’t just leave something like that eyesore standing in the middle of Pyongyang, can you? The international community will be watching.”
“······But it’s a project that requires an enormous amount of money. At present, the Republic doesn’t have the capacity to complete the Ryugyong Hotel.”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying I’ll do it for you. At a time when the Republic is taking a grand step forward, I should at least give a gift of that magnitude. Ownership will belong to the North Korean government, but the operating rights will go to a company I designate.”
“Is that truly the case?”
“When have I ever spoken nonsense? Once I say something out loud, I always take responsibility for it. You of all people should know that, Vice Chairman.”
Jang Songthaek’s face immediately brightened.
“If we could complete the Ryugyong Hotel, and show it to the people of Pyongyang······.”
Murmuring to himself, Jang Songthaek tapped his fingers and sank into thought.
He was probably furiously working the numbers in his head.
I waited for him, finishing my vodka.
The burning sensation sliding down my throat cleared my tangled thoughts.
‘I didn’t expect Kim Ilsung’s symbolism to be this powerful. This is beyond my calculations.’
It had already been ten years since Kim Ilsung’s death. I hadn’t expected a ruler dead for a decade to still command this level of stature.
And yet, just from suggesting the dismantling of a single building he had ordered, such an intense reaction came back.
Well, it was likely because Kim Jongil, for the sake of his own legitimacy, had not diminished Kim Ilsung but instead elevated him even further, almost to divinity.
“President Kim Muhyuk.”
How much time had passed? Jang Songthaek ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) finally seemed to have sorted out his thoughts and called out to me.
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
“Do you truly have to dismantle the West Sea Barrage?”
“Yes. Aside from its function as a tidal barrage, it’s practically useless.”
“But it also serves as an important land route connecting Hwanghae South Province and Nampo. If you dismantle it immediately, transportation problems will arise at once. To cross the Taedong River, you’d have to go all the way up to the Chungseong Bridge in Pyongyang. You know how inefficient that is, don’t you?”
Jang Songthaek brought up the West Sea Barrage’s role as a land route.
Of course, in North Korea—where land transportation infrastructure was weak—that role was quite important. The more Nampo Port developed, the more critical the bridges became.
But that was a problem that could be solved by building a few bridges.
In the first place, it made no sense that a river comparable in scale to the Han River had only a single bridge like the Chungseong Bridge.
“That can be solved by building a few bridges.”
“······That all costs money. With the Republic’s current financial condition, the reality is that even building a single bridge is difficult.”
“Is the national treasury really in such bad shape? To the point where even a single bridge is something to worry about?”
“There’s nowhere for money to come in. Our main sources of foreign currency were trade with China, and sending workers to Russia and China to earn it. But all of that has been cut off, hasn’t it?”
North Korea, which once had far greater economic power than South Korea, had been completely ruined after a series of failed economic policies and the Arduous March.
The lineage of power from Kim Ilsung to Kim Jongil had prioritized regime maintenance over economic growth.
They had at least earned foreign currency through trade with China, but as China pursued reform and opening, it could no longer properly support North Korea.
In the end, Kim Jongil shouted about self-reliance and left countless people floundering in poverty.
Once my thoughts reached that point, I had a good idea of what Jang Songthaek was about to say.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to ask me to build the bridges too.”
“Could you do that for us?”
This was exactly why you shouldn’t show goodwill for no reason. ƒreewebɳovel.com
“No. The gift I’m offering goes only as far as the Ryugyong Hotel. The construction costs alone will run into hundreds of millions of dollars. And now you’re asking me to build bridges as well? Isn’t that a bit shameless?”
There is no such thing as something free in a deal. What I could do and what I couldn’t had to be clearly distinguished.
Doing something without receiving anything in return was the work of a philanthropist, not a businessman.
And besides, it wasn’t as if there was absolutely no money in North Korea—they were exaggerating.
“I’ve heard rumors that there’s an enormous amount of money in Kim Jongil’s slush fund accounts. Haven’t you been able to find them?”
The exact amount of Kim Jongil’s slush funds was unknown.
However, U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies estimated that it was at least one billion dollars, possibly as much as five billion.
“Khmm······.”
Jang Songthaek cleared his throat and looked away.
“If you used that money for economic development, it would immediately relieve the pressure. What is it? You still haven’t found it? Didn’t Kim Jongil tell you?”
“······.”
“The ‘Office 39 slush funds’ deposited in Swiss banks. Isn’t Ri Cheol in Bern managing them? Call him in and take custody of the funds.”
When I even brought up Kim Jongil’s treasurer, Jang Songthaek finally looked back at me and spoke.
“That slush fund must be used as political funds. Without money, we cannot fully control the Party and the military.”
“Politics that rely on slush funds like this have clear limits when it comes to achieving an open economy. Ultimately, true reform is political reform.”
“I know. You know that I went to the South as part of an economic inspection group, don’t you, President Kim?”
Jang Songthaek lowered his voice as he brought up his visit to South Korea as part of an economic inspection group.
“Of course I know. You personally pushed for it.”
“There was something I felt then—do you know what it was? When I saw the astonishing economic development of the South, I was shocked. South Korea has a solid economy that doesn’t lag behind China, Russia, or even any European country. And the faces of the people enjoying those benefits were always filled with smiles.”
What was he building up to with such a long preamble?
“I envied that deeply. And I vowed that one day, the Republic must become like that as well. But the Republic cannot imitate the South. This is due to the Republic’s inherent limitations.”
This issue wasn’t about choosing communism or advocating democracy.
The Soviet Union had already collapsed, and Russia had transitioned to democracy while proclaiming a free economy.
Yet even they had failed at democracy. In the end, Russia produced a dictator wearing the mask of democracy.
“So the problem is the core, then.”
“Exactly. No matter how enthusiastic I am about reform, if I turn every vested interest holder into an enemy, I will ultimately fail. To secure their loyalty, enormous political funds are required. Without slush funds, governance is impossible.”
So that was it. He was saying he had no intention of giving up the slush funds.
And yet, the sight of him boldly demanding money from me made me swallow a laugh.
“Even so, the slush fund should amount to tens of billions of dollars.”
“We haven’t been able to ascertain the exact amount yet.”
If the slush funds couldn’t be used, then economic support would have to come from another country.
In that case, there was one method that worked perfectly—the very method South Korea had used for its own economic development.
“Then demand reparations from Japan for colonial rule.”
Japan’s compensation under the claims agreement had played a major role in South Korea’s Miracle on the Han River.
The problem was that the South Korean government at the time had accepted far too little.
The Philippines, which had been under Japanese rule for three years, received 550 million dollars. Korea, despite 36 years of rule, settled for only 300 million dollars in grants, 200 million in loans, and 100 million in private credit.
There was still much debate about the amount, but the Republic of Korea had used its claims against Japan as seed money for economic development.
North Korea, however, had not received a single cent in compensation from Japan.
“You’re talking about claims against Japan?”
“Yes. South Korea already used them in 1965 as seed money for economic development. Even though it’s still criticized as a rushed or humiliating negotiation, no one can deny that the money became the cornerstone of economic growth.”
The Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, South Vietnam, and many other countries that suffered colonial rule had funneled most of their compensation into the pockets of those in power.
South Korea, however, did not waste that money, and ultimately achieved dazzling economic growth.
“If North Korea were to demand claims against Japan now, the Japanese side would likely propose around 20 billion dollars.”
“20 billion dollars?”
Jang Songthaek’s eyes widened at the scale of the compensation, larger than he had expected.
In my view, even that wasn’t enough—but to him, it was a tempting sum.
“If negotiations go well, it would be possible to demand more than 30 billion dollars.”
“30 billion dollars······.”
North Korea’s current GDP was around 10 billion dollars.
At the prospect of securing three times that amount, Jang Songthaek’s eyes gleamed.
“I’ll handle the behind-the-scenes negotiations for you.”
“You’ll negotiate on our behalf?”
“Haven’t there been previous attempts to negotiate claims against Japan? It’s a shame those didn’t go well.”
Kim Jongil himself had made several attempts to negotiate for compensation. At my words, Jang Songthaek nodded with a grim expression.
“That’s right. We had several meetings, and when that failed, we even held a summit.”
The problem was that the gap between the two countries’ positions was too wide.
Japan, as it had with South Korea, did not acknowledge colonial rule, while North Korea demanded an unreasonably large sum.
“There was no progress because the differences in positions were so clear. I’ll mediate that.”
“Hmm······.”
“I’ll say this for certain. If I handle the negotiations, I can secure at least 30 billion dollars.”
“Let’s discuss that again another time.”
Jang Songthaek seemed reluctant to let me get involved in this matter.
If he negotiated directly without me, it would be difficult to secure more than 20 billion dollars.
It was obvious that he would eventually come looking for me, but I let it pass.
“Understood. But remember this—there is no better option than claims against Japan. North Korea’s national credit is practically nonexistent.”
“I acknowledge that. It’s karma.”
“However, if you abandon nuclear weapons, the United States and South Korea will provide economic aid. It will likely be limited to extinguishing the immediate fire, though.”
Jang Songthaek nodded. There were clear limits to unconditional aid.
“And China and Russia will also provide economic support. They won’t want U.S. influence in North Korea to grow stronger.”
China and Russia couldn’t just stand by and watch North Korea fall into America’s hands.
In the end, they would have no choice but to promise economic support on a level similar to that of the U.S.
That would at least create some seed money for economic development.
Starting from there, I explained to Jang Songthaek the rough flow of events that would follow from the moment he gave up nuclear development.
We talked for a long time, tilting our glasses.
Jang Songthaek asked questions from time to time, and I thoroughly explained whatever he was curious about.
After quite a lengthy discussion, we reached a conclusion.
“Very well. Let’s dismantle the West Sea Barrage and build a new port.”
In the end, Jang Songthaek agreed to dismantle the West Sea Barrage.
“But I will decide the timing.”
“It must not take too long.”
“After the summit in Seoul, once the sanctions against the Republic are lifted, I’ll let you know. It won’t take that long.”
That was good enough. I nodded. Still, it was safer to take out some insurance.
“Fine. But if it’s delayed too much, I’ll dismantle it unilaterally.”
Once the biggest issue was resolved, the remaining conversation flowed smoothly.
By the time our discussion finally wrapped up, the sun was rising outside the window.
