Free Web NovelTo hold the Six-Party Talks, the delegations from each country began arriving at the venue one by one.
The first to arrive was Lee Myungsoo. The reporters waiting in front of the conference hall spotted him and immediately started firing off questions.
“Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo! What are the main agenda items of this meeting? And the representatives from the six countries are quite an impressive lineup—what is the significance of you becoming the South Korean representative?”
Lee Myungsoo smiled and answered the reporter’s question.
“I can’t disclose the main agenda. After the meeting concludes, once a joint agreement is issued by all six countries, there will be time to explain things separately. However, depending on today’s outcome, the situation on the Korean Peninsula—and in Northeast Asia as a whole—will change drastically from the past.”
After answering the first question, Lee Myungsoo addressed the second.
“And as for why I was appointed as the South Korean representative... there is no special meaning. I have personally handled everything from the inter-Korean summit to these Six-Party Talks, and President Yoon Changho judged that I was the most suitable person for this meeting. Because I understand the importance of this conference better than anyone, I will engrave this heavy responsibility into my bones and approach the talks with utmost sincerity. I will repay the people and the President with good results.”
After finishing his calm statement, Lee Myungsoo bowed lightly.
The reporters continued to ask various questions, but Lee Myungsoo did not give any clear answers.
“With less than a month left until the general election, there’s growing dissatisfaction in ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) your district because you’re focusing on various matters instead of campaigning. Do you have anything you’d like to say to your constituents about this?”
Lee Myungsoo was both the party’s Secretary-General and a politician facing an election.
It was a time when he should have been campaigning, but because he was coordinating the summit and the Six-Party Talks, he hadn’t been able to conduct a proper campaign.
Complaints had begun circulating in his district, and the reporter had pointedly brought that up.
Lee Myungsoo erased the smile from his face and replied with a solemn expression.
“As you said, I am a member of the National Assembly. Of course, I want to campaign as well. But it’s also true that a lawmaker is someone who must pursue the public good. I am attending this meeting with the belief that I am contributing to the nation and to the people. Even if this causes me to lose the election, I will have no regrets.”
At his firm and weighty words, the murmuring reporters all fell silent.
Although Lee Myungsoo hadn’t been able to campaign at all, he was still maintaining more than twice the gap over the Progressive Party candidate.
It was the very picture of confidence—a young lawmaker who could afford to carry himself that way.
“Then I’ll head inside now.”
After greeting them, Lee Myungsoo went in, and soon after, the delegations from each country arrived in succession.
They ignored the reporters’ questions and entered the conference hall directly.
A heavy silence filled the hall, where a long table had been set.
With the South Korean representative seated at the center, the U.S. representative sat to the left and the Japanese representative to the right.
Directly opposite, the North Korean representative took the center seat, with the Russian representative on his left and the Chinese representative on his right.
They didn’t even bring interpreters; all conversations were conducted in English.
“Thank you all for the trouble of coming to Seoul.”
It was Lee Myungsoo who opened the meeting.
“I hope we can reach a good agreement today.”
Smiling gently, Lee Myungsoo looked at each country’s representative in turn.
The United States was represented by Secretary of State Powell in person, Japan by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda Hiroyuki, Russia by Chief of Staff Medvedev, and China by Premier Wen Jiabao.
Just by looking at who had attended, it was clear that every country was taking this meeting seriously.
“Since Japan’s participation was decided rather suddenly, I think we need to first coordinate on the agenda.”
At Lee Myungsoo’s words, Wen Jiabao did not hide his discomfort.
“We accepted this because both the South Korean and North Korean governments requested it, but was there really a need to include Japan?”
Choe Ryonghae replied with an awkward smile.
He himself didn’t fully understand Jang Songthaek’s request, but since it had come from the Supreme Leader, he had no choice but to apologize to China.
“The Chairman of the State Affairs Commission said that it wouldn’t be a proper meeting unless the Japanese government also participated. I offer my apologies on his behalf.”
As Choe Ryonghae slightly bowed his head, Wen Jiabao gave a small cough.
It was a gesture meant to show displeasure to everyone present, without much real significance.
“If the Director of the General Political Bureau says so, we’ll let it slide.”
At that moment, Medvedev spoke up.
“Japan is also a country close to the Korean Peninsula, so I don’t object to calling them a party to the issue. However, I also think there’s a problem with the way this was handled.”
Medvedev finished speaking in a dry voice with no discernible inflection.
Powell picked up on Medvedev’s words.
“The United States insisted on Japan’s participation from the beginning. But since both the South Korean and North Korean governments opposed it, we had no justification to push it through. Still, if the parties involved want Japan to attend, what justification do we have to block it?”
“That may be so, but isn’t it too sudden? With all the behind-the-scenes negotiations already completed, Japan’s participation will only cause confusion.”
“Japan will not comment on matters that have already been agreed upon.”
“Well... if that’s the case.”
This too was a mere formality, meant to show that all negotiations were already complete and that Japan had come only to fill an empty seat.
Medvedev nodded in agreement.
Watching this, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda Hiroyuki kept wiping sweat from his brow. He looked as if he were sitting on a bed of thorns.
Powell turned to Hiroyuki and asked,
“Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda. You have no objections, correct?”
“Huh? Yes. That’s correct. Regarding matters that have already been agreed upon, the Japanese government will raise no objections.”
Once Hosoda Hiroyuki finished speaking, the Six-Party Talks officially began in earnest.
* * *
I was waiting for news in my study, reading through the information gathered on Kim Seokhun.
“He’s got a pretty interesting past.”
Kim Seokhun had no criminal record, but he did have a history of being sent to juvenile detention when he was younger.
As soon as he turned twenty, he enlisted as a non-commissioned officer and served for four years.
After his discharge, he was immediately hired as Cheon Jiyoung’s road manager and followed her schedule everywhere.
While the actual schedule management was handled by the senior chief manager, the person who spent the most time by Cheon Jiyoung’s side was Kim Seokhun.
“Is he considered a decent person?”
“Yes. I’ve heard he had a good reputation even within the 707 unit. He consistently ranked at the top in all training, and when he said he was leaving the service, his superiors even tried to dissuade him.”
The 707 unit wasn’t widely known to the public, but it was the best special forces unit in the country.
“Does he seem trustworthy?”
After a moment of thought, Manager Ma answered my question.
“It’s still difficult to judge whether he’s someone we can fully trust. However, he seems more than capable of fulfilling the role of protecting Miss Cheon Jiyoung.”
Black Secret was already providing security for Cheon Jiyoung, but they couldn’t stay right by her side.
Their purpose was to protect her from a distance.
Because of that, I’d been worried that their response might be lacking if an emergency arose...
But now that a former special forces manager was constantly with her, I felt somewhat reassured.
“What kind of relationship does he have with Director—no, CEO Lee Seokgi?”
“They were neighborhood seniors and juniors who knew each other from childhood.”
From childhood? Did CEO Lee Seokgi get into trouble back then too?
“Did CEO Lee Seokgi also go to juvenile detention?”
“No. CEO Lee Seokgi followed an elite path. He also came from a fairly good family. We don’t know exactly how the two became close, but after Kim Seokhun was released from juvenile detention, Lee Seokgi helped him study until he went into the military. Thanks to that, he was able to pass the equivalency exam and enlist as a non-commissioned officer.”
“Is that so?”
I tapped the desk and fell into thought. Since these were people who stayed close to Cheon Jiyoung, it was only natural to be cautious.
“CEO Lee Seokgi...”
I stopped tapping the desk and spoke.
“I should meet CEO Lee Seokgi once. Set up an appointment for after all the summit schedules are finished.”
“Understood, boss.”
After giving my instructions, I checked my wristwatch.
“It’s taking longer than expected. The results should be coming out soon...”
The meeting that had started in the morning continued through the afternoon after lunch.
If most things had already been agreed upon behind the scenes, the only reason for it to drag on would be that something had gone wrong...
What kind of variable popped up? I’d need to contact Myungsoo as soon as it ended to find out.
“For now, you can step out.”
Manager Ma bowed and left the study. After sending him out, I checked the calendar.
“Grandma’s birthday isn’t far off.”
I wondered what kind of birthday present to give her, then decided to hold a big eightieth birthday banquet for her this year.
I hadn’t been able to celebrate her sixtieth or seventieth properly, so I should at least do something big for her eightieth.
The calendar was packed with schedules right up to the day before her birthday.
After staring at the calendar for a long while, I stood up and moved over to the sofa.
I set my phone down on the table, sat back comfortably, and rubbed my eyes. My eyelids felt hot.
“I’m tired. I should get some rest.”
I closed my eyes just like that.
How much time had passed? The phone on the table rang loudly.
I quickly opened my eyes, checked the screen, and answered the call.
“Hey, Myungsoo. Is it over?”
A long sigh came through the receiver, and Myungsoo spoke in a heavy voice.
— Whew... it just ended. We’re drafting the joint agreement right now. Once it’s finalized, we’ll issue a statement to the media in the name of all six countries.
“The agreement will follow the original draft, right?”
— Yeah. Nothing major changed. Some of the detailed clauses were adjusted, but in the big picture, there’s no real difference.
At that, I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.
Good. Once this agreement is released as a joint statement, the biggest obstacle to economic cooperation between the South and the North will be gone.
Of course, things could change depending on domestic political circumstances, but that would be a small issue we could deal with when the time came.
— But Secretary Powell was really sharpening his knife. He absolutely wanted the agreement finalized today.
“Of all countries, the U.S. has the most at stake in this agreement. That figures.”
— If North Korea permanently dismantles its nuclear facilities and proper monitoring of its nuclear program is implemented, the U.S. will remove it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. In addition, the five countries will jointly provide energy aid, including one million tons of heavy fuel oil.
If it gave up its nuclear weapons, North Korea would gain something enormous.
Jang Songthaek must be grinning ear to ear.
“And most of the burden falls on South Korea, right?”
— Right. But surprisingly, Japan asked to increase its share. I almost got tempted for a moment.
I burst out laughing.
Japan must really be desperate, asking to raise its own contribution.
“So? Did you accept it?”
— Are you crazy? Of course not. Ah, I need to go back in. Looks like we’re wrapping up. Let’s talk later. They’ll probably announce the joint statement soon, so check the news.
Myungsoo hung up hurriedly.
I set my phone down and called out to Manager Ma.
“Manager, let’s sit and watch together. They’re about to announce the joint statement. Depending on what’s included, the direction of our future projects will be decided.”
Manager Ma turned on the TV and took a seat.
A special broadcast was already airing live footage from the scene.
After about ten minutes, the representatives of all six countries appeared in front of the reporters.
Representing them, Lee Myungsoo spoke.
— Today’s meeting was a productive time that allowed us to narrow the major differences between our countries...
Lee Myungsoo continued speaking. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
— The joint statement adopted at this meeting is a milestone encompassing the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, solutions to North Korea’s nuclear issue, and economic cooperation between South and North Korea. We will now announce the joint statement.
Lee Myungsoo began reading the joint statement aloud, while the representatives of the other five countries stood behind him.
