Free Web NovelChairman Song Chanwoo stepped into the room and swallowed hard.
Sitting side by side with President Yoon Changho and Chairman Jang Songthaek—rulers of the South and the North—there was no way he couldn’t be nervous.
“Daehyeon Group is a southern company with fairly deep ties to our Republic. I believe it’s time we properly bring to completion the relationship that has continued since your late chairman’s days.”
At Jang Songthaek’s words, Song Chanwoo lowered his head slightly, expressing his gratitude.
“Yes, Chairman. If you entrust it to us, Daehyeon will mobilize every ounce of our capabilities to achieve North Korea’s economic growth. It was also my father’s lifelong wish. That North and South would become one and build an economic powerhouse.”
Jang Songthaek nodded and smiled.
“In North Korea, there aren’t businessmen like Chairman Song. A country becomes prosperous only when its enterprises thrive.”
“It’ll be different now. The late chairman built Daehyeon into a major conglomerate in a Korea that once had nothing. Why would North Korea be any different? We’re the same Han people with the same blood.”
With a pleased expression, Yoon Changho lifted the teacup in front of him and took a sip.
Jang Songthaek glanced at Yoon Changho, then continued.
“I’d like the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kaesong Industrial Complex to be held after the summit ends. It hasn’t changed that Daehyeon Group will be building Kaesong, correct?”
“Yes. Daehyeon Group is already concentrating all of the group’s capabilities on the Kaesong Industrial Complex construction and our move-in preparations. If the political elements are all resolved, we can hold the groundbreaking ceremony at any time. I think we can finish all construction within one year.”
“Oh! Is that true? You can build the entire Kaesong Industrial Complex within a year?”
Jang Songthaek welcomed Chairman Song Chanwoo’s statement.
“If construction can proceed according to our projections, I believe we can complete it within a year and hold the completion ceremony as well.”
“I’ll help with everything I can. So build it as quickly as possible. Daehyeon Group’s construction capability is considered among the best in the world, isn’t it? My expectations are high.”
Then Song Chanwoo cautiously added,
“However, all of that is only possible if the political compromise is properly reached. At the summit held in Pyongyang last time, we already reached an agreement on constructing Kaesong—but it never turned into an actual groundbreaking.”
Jang Songthaek, who wasn’t unaware of Song Chanwoo’s concerns, nodded.
“I know it well, because I attended when that agreement was reached. But then and now are different. You can trust it and proceed with the work. Isn’t that right, President Yoon Changho?”
When Jang Songthaek asked, Yoon Changho set down his teacup and nodded.
“Of course. Then and now are different. However, I can’t not mention the losses Daehyeon Group suffered when the Kaesong project and the Mount Kumgang tourism business collapsed. What do you intend to do? Are you planning to pretend you don’t know and just move on?”
Yoon Changho dug into Jang Songthaek’s—no, North Korea’s—weak spot.
Daehyeon Group, which had thrown itself into North Korea-related projects, suffered enormous losses when North Korea changed its mind, and the result was the entire group nearly collapsing.
Thankfully, they’d gotten through the crisis with Kim Muhyuk’s help. But there had also been the Joongwoo Group situation—if even Daehyeon had fallen, the Korean economy would’ve struggled to recover again.
“That’s all in the past. Can we move forward by dragging it back up?”
“If we’re going to move forward, we need assurance that past mistakes won’t be repeated.”
“Don’t worry. That is precisely why I personally came to Seoul. On the way to Seoul, I brought many gifts for you, President.”
When Jang Songthaek spoke with emphasis, President Yoon Changho nodded.
“And that’s why our government already agreed to shoulder all construction costs for Kaesong and all repair and renovation costs for the expressway connecting Korea and Kaesong, didn’t we? And that was a promise from state to state. Daehyeon Group is not a state. We can’t simply tell them to swallow the losses, can we?”
Chairman Song Chanwoo was sitting on pins and needles.
Two heads of state were talking about Daehyeon Group’s losses with him sitting right in front of them—how could # Nоvеlight # it not be uncomfortable?
“Well, our Republic plans to pursue various other projects together with Daehyeon Group. So Daehyeon will be able to take profits greater than the losses it suffered because of our Republic.”
Just as President Yoon Changho was about to say something, there was a knock at the door.
The door opened, and the Chief of Staff came in.
Yoon Changho furrowed his brow.
“I told you not to let anyone in.”
The Chief of Staff bowed his head as he answered.
“I apologize. President Kim Muhyuk is waiting in front, saying he intends to enter.”
“President Kim?”
When Yoon Changho looked over, Jang Songthaek nodded, signaling agreement.
“Let him in.”
* * *
I left Cheon Jiyoung behind and headed toward the room where Yoon Changho and Jang Songthaek had disappeared.
Then someone grabbed me—Takano Toshiyaki, the Japanese ambassador.
“President Kim Muhyuk.”
I stopped at his awkward Korean, so typical of a Japanese speaker.
“Did you call for me, Ambassador?”
“Yes, I would like to speak with you for a moment.”
“A conversation? Was there something we needed to talk about separately?”
“Please don’t be like that......”
Toshiyaki pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
I could roughly predict what he wanted to say, given he was Japan’s ambassador.
“Hm...... I actually have somewhere I need to be right now. Let’s set a separate appointment next time.”
“I won’t take much of your time.”
Toshiyaki kept bowing as he pleaded. I couldn’t very well refuse again, so I let out a deep sigh.
“Let’s move somewhere else and talk. Too many eyes here.”
Other people were already starting to show interest in this direction.
With so many attendees, it wasn’t drawing too much attention yet, but just the fact that I was talking with the Japanese ambassador was more than enough to attract eyes.
“Follow me.”
I led Toshiyaki out of the banquet hall. free𝑤ebnovel.com
Security guards and secretariat staff who were stationed at the entrance approached.
“Where are you going?”
“The ambassador said he wanted to talk for a bit. Is there somewhere quiet we can speak?”
A secretariat staffer asked, looking at Toshiyaki.
“A quiet place to talk, you mean?”
Toshiyaki answered.
“Yes. I have a matter I must discuss with President Kim Muhyuk.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Leaving us standing there, he contacted someone.
A short while later, the staffer returned and guided us into a small room beside the banquet hall.
“You may speak here.”
As soon as Toshiyaki and I went inside, the staffer closed the door and left.
Judging by the lack of footsteps, he seemed to be standing outside the door.
“Then let’s sit and talk.”
When I offered him a seat, Toshiyaki sat down with an anxious expression.
“In three days, there will be a five-party talk between the United States, China, Russia, Korea, and North Korea. Please allow Japan to attend as well.”
Maybe he was pressed for time—he went straight to the point.
Just as I expected.
“Ambassador Toshiyaki. Aren’t you looking for the wrong person? I’m merely a businessman.”
“I already requested it from the Korean government and the American government, but I was rejected. They said Japan has no qualification to attend. Does that make any sense? To say Japan has no qualification to attend something this important.”
Toshiyaki’s voice grew more heated.
“If it’s you, President Kim Muhyuk, couldn’t you persuade the Korean government? If the Korean government wants Japan’s participation, the United States won’t oppose it. Since China and Russia—and North Korea—are participating, Japan must join as well for the scale to balance.”
I’d already expected him to bring out that logic.
He wanted to emphasize the Korea–U.S.–Japan alliance and use it to keep other countries in check.
But I had no reason whatsoever to entertain him.
I nodded and said,
“I could try persuading them that it would be better for Japan to participate. But why should I? It doesn’t benefit me in the slightest.”
“Aren’t you and Japan friends, President Kim Muhyuk?”
Friends?
What a ridiculous thing to say.
“Friends? I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Me and Japan?”
Do you have any idea how much I suffered because of Japan?
“I heard you’re close with Prime Minister Koizumi. About that incident that happened in Japan before......”
“I helped Prime Minister Koizumi because it benefited me too. The starting point was dealing with the pro-Japanese collaborators in Korea. I do regret that the fire spread to Japan, but.”
“......”
Toshiyaki looked thoroughly shaken.
“Did Prime Minister Koizumi tell you to try persuading me with the word ‘friends’? If so, he should call me himself—why send the ambassador to say it? This is Japan’s karma. If Japan had delivered a sincere apology for the past and maintained good relations with Korea and North Korea, there would be no reason to exclude Japan from the talks.”
“This is not the time to talk about the past. This is about Japan, as a developed Northeast Asian country, having a seat at the table regarding North Korea’s sudden crisis.”
When an uncomfortable topic comes up, they always try to blur the issue—does that really run in this country’s blood?
“Can a button that was fastened wrong back then be fastened correctly now? Neither the Korean government nor the North Korean government welcomes Japan’s participation. That’s why the United States, China, and Russia can only oppose Japan attending.”
As if he was suffocating with frustration, Toshiyaki let out a deep sigh.
“That’s why I’m asking you like this, isn’t it? Japan’s domestic situation isn’t very good. If this continues, the far right could gain momentum in the election that’s coming soon. Is that what you want?”
Is this bastard threatening me right now?
Japan’s domestic situation is chaotic. It’s probably a bluff, but it was unexpected that it could be chaotic enough for the far right to rise again. Koizumi had purged them clean, hadn’t he.
“It doesn’t sound like you mean well.”
“What other meaning could there be? If Prime Minister Koizumi, who is friendly to Korea, falls from power, it won’t be good for Korea either.”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
“It means it won’t have a good effect on President Kim Muhyuk’s business either.”
“Are you threatening me right now?”
Toshiyaki gave a greasy smile.
“Of course not. But if you drive us into a corner like this, what choice do we have? We have to think of ways to protect ourselves.”
Was this Prime Minister Koizumi’s instruction?
“Did Prime Minister Koizumi tell you to say that to me? Or is this your personal judgment, Ambassador?”
“I am Japan’s ambassador to Korea. I have that much discretion.”
Bullshit. Without Koizumi’s instruction, you can’t do anything on your own.
“Call Prime Minister Koizumi right now. Tell him I want to speak with him. Otherwise, I’m standing up and leaving right now.”
I’d indulged this nonsense far enough.
“So—will you stand up? Or will you call?”
