Free Web NovelWe sat around a round table where we could all see one another.
Before getting into the real negotiations, we were making small talk to loosen up the stiff atmosphere.
As I listened to their conversation, I looked at the Russian chief representative.
So this man is the face of Russia.
Lavrov was still a deputy minister, serving as the head representative for this negotiation.
But he was a diplomat who would soon be appointed as a full minister by the Kremlin’s choice.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Noticing my gaze, Sergei Lavrov asked.
I smiled and answered his question.
“It’s because Chief of Staff Medvedev praised you so highly that you don’t feel unfamiliar to me.”
“He praised me?”
“Yes. He said that among all the Russian diplomats he knows, you are the best.”
“Did Chief of Staff Medvedev really say that?”
A faint note of expectation crept into Lavrov’s voice. I shrugged as I replied.
“Yes. It was the first time I’d ever heard him praise someone like that. Maybe that’s why my eyes kept drifting to you. If that was rude, I apologize. Ah, but please don’t misunderstand.”
Everyone burst into loud laughter at the joke I tossed out to lighten the mood.
When the laughter died down, Kissinger opened his mouth.
“All right, that’s enough small talk. Let’s get down to business. We’re all busy people, aren’t we? Let’s talk about what each country wants.”
As Kissinger opened the discussion, the air suddenly turned cold, as if the warmth from before had never existed.
Everyone fixed their serious gazes on Kissinger.
“What’s said here must never leak outside. So hide nothing and speak frankly. Charlie and I—Kissinger—will serve as witnesses.”
Why did my name come up there? Without realizing it, I shifted my gaze toward Kissinger.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You and I will be taking the position of observers in this negotiation.”
“Is that really all right? Aren’t you someone who would do anything for America’s interests?”
“Representing America’s interests is Chief Representative Christopher’s job. I’m here to draw out a final agreement.”
Kissinger finished speaking and smiled with a genial expression.
But I could sense the sharp blade hidden behind that smile.
It felt like Kissinger was determined to produce an agreement today.
If an agreement wasn’t reached today...
Just like it always had, America would move in its own way.
Kissinger looked back at the Chinese and Russian chief representatives and said,
“Now, let’s discuss.”
And so the negotiations began.
The longer the talks dragged on, the more strongly it felt like China and Russia had already coordinated behind the scenes.
The two of them continuously pressured the United States, while Christopher sweated as he defended America’s position.
Whenever things felt too heated, Kissinger would step in to calm the atmosphere, but he never jumped directly into the debate.
The discussion, which had run parallel lines for about two hours, only came to an end when I stepped in.
“At this point, it seems everyone has said what they want. Shouldn’t we start drafting an agreement? Let’s begin making concessions and securing what we can. At this rate, it doesn’t look like we’ll finish today.”
At my suggestion, Kissinger nodded as well.
“You’re right. There doesn’t seem to be anything new coming out. Then, as Charlie says, let’s start aligning our positions.”
I spoke to organize the flow, but from here on out was the real battle.
Up until now, everyone had simply maintained their own national stances. From this point forward, we had to take what the other side offered, cut what needed to be cut, add what needed to be added, and create an agreement that everyone could accept.
Another two hours of push and pull followed.
From this point on, I led the negotiations proactively. I had to shape the deal in the most favorable way possible for us.
“Let’s summarize. After the inter-Korean summit scheduled for next month, a five-party meeting will be held in Seoul, including the countries gathered here. Everyone agrees, correct?”
Everyone nodded.
“After North Korea abandons nuclear development, the light-water reactor project that was halted will be resumed. The construction costs will be borne as follows: South Korea 40%, China 20%, Russia 20%, and the United States 20%. Agreed?”
Again, everyone nodded.
In truth, China’s demand was simple. They were worried that massive U.S. economic support would pull North Korea out of China’s sphere of influence. frёewebηovel.cѳm
So they wanted the costs of the economic support North Korea would receive in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program to be shared evenly at a 4:2:2:2 ratio.
That way, no one country could wield free aid as a weapon to control North Korea.
This was a significant concession by the United States.
America wanted South Korea to bear all the costs of economic support, but South Korea couldn’t accept that.
We can’t place such an excessive burden on the Korean government.
If I hadn’t been here, it was obvious that South Korea would have ended up agreeing to shoulder everything.
This economic support wasn’t a loan that could be repaid—it was unconditional aid given in exchange for denuclearization.
In addition, we reached agreements on various forms of economic cooperation.
Trade delegations would be dispatched to North Korea, a joint trade office with representatives from each country would be established, and North Korea’s accession to the WTO would be pursued.
We also secured [N O V E L I G H T] agreement to grant most-favored-nation treatment to North Korean products for the time being. They would enjoy substantial tariff reductions.
Furthermore, several regions would be designated as special economic zones and developed.
This was where China and Russia first diverged in opinion.
China wanted to develop Rason first, but Russia firmly refused to yield.
As the two glared at each other, I stepped in to mediate.
“Instead of that, let China develop Sinuiju, and Russia develop Rason. That would be the natural arrangement.”
Rason was close to Russia, and Sinuiju bordered China.
In the end, China designated Sinuiju as a special economic zone and agreed to develop it, while Russia took charge of developing the Rason special economic zone.
“The United States, China, South Korea, and Russia—these four countries—will guarantee annual support to North Korea of between three and five billion dollars over the next ten years. The costs will be jointly borne by the four countries mentioned earlier and European nations, with South Korea contributing the largest share. Everyone agrees?”
Everyone nodded.
With that, my role was finished.
I looked at Kissinger and said,
“Now it’s your turn.”
All that remained were the military and political agreements.
From that point on, Kissinger stepped in and began organizing things himself.
True to his reputation as the founder of the madman strategy, he alternated fluidly between threats and reassurance as he guided the negotiations.
After the chief representatives of each country departed, only Kissinger and I remained.
“Earlier—was that real? Didn’t you say you would deploy nuclear weapons in South Korea?”
China had argued that since North Korea was pursuing reform and opening policies, abandoning nuclear development and moving toward peace, the United States should withdraw U.S. forces stationed in Korea.
In response, Christopher countered with the card of redeploying nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula.
At my question, Kissinger raised one corner of his mouth slightly.
“Whether it’s real or fake is something you only find out by taking it to the end, isn’t it? I learned today what kind of card Christopher brought with him.”
As if. Brinkmanship was Kissinger’s specialty. He must have already known everything.
In 1991, under an agreement with the Soviet Union, all nuclear weapons deployed in South Korea had been withdrawn.
Since then, U.S. policy had been the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, including South Korea.
“Because of that, the entire negotiation almost collapsed. If China hadn’t eventually raised the white flag, we’d have been in trouble.”
Li Zhaoxing had countered the nuclear redeployment card by declaring that China would give nuclear weapons to North Korea.
“China putting nuclear weapons in North Korea’s hands? Ridiculous. China fears North Korea having nuclear weapons even more than the United States does.”
That was also true. According to a report by President Fulner of the Heritage Foundation, even without U.S. intervention, China would move to stop North Korea’s nuclear development for the sake of its own interests.
“Maybe so. But can you be certain of anything? North Korea’s sudden upheaval happened because China joined the sanctions. If China hadn’t participated in sanctions against North Korea... Jang Songthaek wouldn’t have come to power.”
“Wasn’t it you who engineered that? You knew the Chinese Communist Party didn’t like Kim Jongil, who threatened their national interests, and you planned this accordingly.”
It wasn’t even surprising anymore. As expected, Kissinger’s intelligence analysis was exceptional.
Still, aside from that, I didn’t like how he dodged the question, so I deliberately spoke irritably.
“Why is answering something that simple so difficult that you have to dance around it like this?”
He leaned closer toward me and spoke in a low voice.
“If I answer, will you answer my question as well? If so, I’ll tell you.”
“Forget it. I already know what you’re going to ask. You should go now. I have to report today’s agreement to the Korean government.”
Despite my rude dismissal, Kissinger rose from his seat with an affable smile. freewebnoveℓ.com
“Then you take care of conveying it to South and North Korea. I hope they accept this agreement as it is. Make sure neither the South nor the North opposes it. I believe you can do that.”
After Kissinger left the hotel room, I let out a deep sigh.
I sank deep into the chair and pressed my temples firmly.
We’d reached an agreement on economic matters without major disagreement, but the subsequent military negotiations had been so painful that a headache surged in.
“Boss, please take this.”
Sensing my condition, Manager Ma quickly brought over headache medicine and bottled water.
I took them, tossed the pills into my mouth, and drained the entire bottle in one go.
“Did you review the agreement?”
I crushed the empty bottle in my hand and nodded.
“Well, more or less. Now we have to present this agreement to South and North Korea. This is the persuasion stage. First, contact Jang Songthaek.”
“Yes. I’ll call him right away.”
While Manager Ma called Jang Songthaek, I picked up my phone and called Myungsoo.
—What is it, Muhyuk?
“Where are you? Come up to my room.”
—Now?
“Yeah. Now. Why? What are you doing?”
—I was having a drink with Choi Ryonghae.
“Really? And he wasn’t spouting nonsense?”
At Myungsoo’s words, I recalled Choi Ryonghae, whom I’d met a few days earlier.
—Well, he just kept repeating like a parrot that the South Korean government needs to provide more aid to the North. You’d think we’d deposited money with them or something. Oh, and he asked what kind of person you are.
“What a ridiculous man. All right. Let’s talk details when we meet. When can you come?”
—Hard to say. If I wrap things up here, maybe an hour or two.
“Okay. I’ll wait.”
The moment I hung up, Manager Ma handed me the phone.
Jang Songthaek’s voice came through the receiver.
—President Kim. This is Jang Songthaek.
“Congratulations, Chairman.”
Jang Songthaek laughed loudly before replying.
—Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to come this far. But why are you contacting me? Did something happen in Singapore?
“No. I thought it would be more appropriate to inform you directly rather than relaying it through the Director of the General Political Bureau.”
—Hmm... What is it?
I explained the circumstances under which the agreement with the three countries had been reached and conveyed its contents.
After listening in silence for a long while, Jang Songthaek asked,
—Are you saying that the United States, China, and Russia reached an agreement while excluding the South and the Republic?
“Yes. It’s unlikely to change much from here. At least because I was present, I was able to ensure that the agreement didn’t disadvantage North Korea too severely.”
—......Excluding the parties directly involved, reaching an agreement and then notifying me afterward—don’t you think that’s a bit much?
I wondered why it had taken him so long to say that. I gave a bitter smile.
“That’s international politics. South Korea wasn’t treated any differently from the North.”
