Free Web Novel“Let’s move on to discussing North Korea’s compensation claims now.”
If development of the Seventh Continental Shelf succeeded, it would benefit both Korea and Japan.
That was why Koizumi accepted most of my conditions without much resistance.
However, the issue of North Korea’s claims against Japan was politically extremely sensitive.
Koizumi’s face, which had remained relaxed throughout the discussion of the Seventh Continental Shelf, stiffened the moment the topic of compensation came up.
“It’s not compensation. It’s consolation money.”
The moment he acknowledged it as compensation, Koizumi’s political career would effectively be over.
That was the reality in Japan.
“Yes. Whether you call it compensation or consolation money isn’t what matters. Chairman Jang Songthaek said he wouldn’t concern himself with terminology either. Of course, that just means the price has to be higher.”
I checked my watch. Time had already flown by.
“We’ll go into the details once North Korea’s representative arrives, but let’s at least talk about the rough amount.”
“The maximum consolation money we can provide is ten billion dollars.”
“Ten billion dollars? That sounds like you’re saying you don’t want to negotiate.”
If North Korea were going to accept ten billion dollars, they would have taken it long ago.
“That’s the best we can do. It’s more than what we paid Korea.”
“Japan extracted far more from the northern part of Joseon. You developed countless mines and used the extracted resources at will. It’s only natural that North Korea should receive more compensation than South Korea.”
In truth, the compensation Korea had received was also absurdly small.
But with its national treasury depleted, the Korean government had no choice but to reach an agreement with Japan and use that money as seed capital to build the Republic of Korea as it exists today.
North Korea likewise intended to use the compensation from Japan as seed money for economic development.
To do that, they had to extract as much as possible.
“Twenty billion dollars. There will be no agreement below that. There is no room for negotiation on the amount. This is a promise I made to Chairman Jang Songthaek.”
“President Kim Muhyuk, that’s absolutely impossible. Twenty billion dollars... that’s the same as accepting North Korea’s claims wholesale.”
In 2002, North Korea had issued a document calculating its compensation claims against Japan at roughly twenty billion dollars.
Japan, however, had denied that outright.
“I know. Still, wasn’t this what you promised in exchange for their participation in the six-party talks? Japan taking some losses is unavoidable. If you don’t normalize relations with North Korea now, you’ll suffer even greater losses later.”
Koizumi couldn’t answer immediately. The weight of the decision was clearly heavy.
In the short time since he had become prime minister, the situation on the Korean Peninsula had changed drastically.
South Korea and North Korea had joined hands, and Russia had joined them as well.
At this rate, Japan was bound to become isolated in East Asia.
After a long moment of deliberation, Koizumi finally spoke, his voice strained.
“No matter what, twenty billion dollars is too much. Let’s make it fifteen billion. If I push myself, I can get that through. At twenty billion, there will be considerable backlash even within the LDP.”
Having witnessed his power struggle with Hiroyuki firsthand, I understood exactly what he was worried about.
Koizumi’s position was understandable—but even so, we needed the full twenty billion.
Just then, the phone beside Koizumi rang.
— Prime Minister. The North Korean special envoy has arrived.
“Show him in.”
Perfect timing. Someone from North Korea had arrived. The door opened, and Mun Gyeongdeok entered.
“Good day, Prime Minister. I am Mun Gyeongdeok, here on the orders of Chairman Jang Songthaek.”
Mun Gyeongdeok gave me a brief nod as well before greeting the prime minister.
Koizumi stood and extended his hand with a smile.
“I received word. Welcome.”
After they finished shaking hands, I also stood and offered my hand to Mun Gyeongdeok.
“It’s good to see you here in Japan.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
After the handshake, Mun Gyeongdeok took the seat beside me.
“You’ve been granted full authority by Chairman Jang Songthaek, correct?”
At my question, Mun Gyeongdeok replied in a blunt voice.
“Yes. Chairman Jang said that our republic would follow exactly whatever agreement President Kim Muhyuk reaches.”
I nodded and turned my gaze back to Koizumi.
“Special Envoy Mun Gyeongdeok is Chairman Jang Songthaek's closest aide. Today’s agreement is informal, but what we agree on here will be maintained exactly in the official setting as well. There won’t be any changes.”
At the words “closest aide,” Koizumi looked at Mun Gyeongdeok with renewed interest.
There was a hint of welcome in his expression, but distrust lay beneath it.
“If he’s an envoy with full authority, then he’s welcome. Negotiations with North Korea always tend to change midstream.”
As Koizumi pointed out North Korea’s history of shifting positions, Mun Gyeongdeok let out a small chuckle.
“Chairman Jang Songthaek is not that kind of man. And as for changing one’s word, Japan has always been the first to do so—more than our republic.”
Mun Gyeongdeok didn’t back down even in front of Koizumi, saying exactly what he wanted.
We hadn’t even started properly yet, and they were already testing each other.
Smiling, I stepped between the two men, who were glaring at each other.
“We all need to move forward together. There’s nothing to be gained by bringing up the past unnecessarily. The past is the past, and the present is the present. Haven’t both North Korea and Japan changed a great deal? Let’s set past grievances aside for now and talk about the future.”
Mun Gyeongdeok looked displeased, but soon nodded and fell silent.
Koizumi also frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied, but said nothing more.
Since neither of them showed any sign of speaking, I had no choice but to break the silence.
“North Korea’s position is that if this compensation issue with Japan is resolved, diplomatic normalization between Japan and North Korea is also possible.”
Apparently caught off guard, Koizumi’s eyes widened.
“......You’re considering normalization as well? Is that true?”
Instead of answering, I looked at Mun Gyeongdeok. As North Korea’s envoy, it would be far more effective for him to deliver the rest.
Catching my intent, Mun Gyeongdeok nodded and spoke.
“Yes. Chairman Jang Songthaek has said that if the issue of compensation for the period of Japanese colonial rule is resolved, there would be no reason not to establish diplomatic relations with Japan.”
“Oh. That’s quite a bold decision.”
For North Korea to step onto the international stage, it needed to establish diplomatic relations with multiple countries.
At the same time, immediately normalizing relations with the United States or South Korea would have been burdensome.
So Jang Songthaek had chosen Japan.
To Koizumi, who didn’t know Jang Songthaek's true intentions, it would sound like a very attractive proposal.
It wouldn’t be easy to give up the symbolism of Japan being the first country with which North Korea normalized relations after opening a long-closed door.
“It’s an enticing offer, but there are many hurdles Japan would have to overcome to normalize relations with North Korea.”
He phrased it indirectly, but Koizumi was referring to the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.
Japan had already acknowledged those abductions and, whenever holding high-level talks with North Korea, had demanded the return of the abductees.
North Korea, however, had never once acknowledged the abductions.
As North Korea had always done, Mun Gyeongdeok feigned ignorance and asked back,
“Does Japan have demands of us?”
“The abductions of Japanese citizens by the North Korean government. Without resolving those, there can be no progress of any kind.”
“......Our republic has already answered the Japanese government many times that such incidents never occurred.”
“That was during the eras of Kim Ilsung and Kim Jongil. Isn’t this now the era of Chairman Jang Songthaek? You need to show us that Chairman Jang is different from his predecessors.”
Mun Gyeongdeok looked at me with a troubled expression. I shrugged and said to Koizumi,
“Wouldn’t it be difficult to include the abduction issue in this negotiation? Officially acknowledging it would be hard even for Chairman Jang Songthaek.”
“But normalization requires resolving it. Only then will the compensation issue be resolved as well.”
Just as I expected, the conversation was flowing that way. I looked at Mun Gyeongdeok and asked,
“Are there survivors?”
“.......”
“Did Chairman Jang Songthaek not tell you that the abduction issue would come up?”
“He did.”
“Then you must have come prepared. There’s no way he would send you to the negotiating table empty-handed.”
In my previous life, even Kim Jongil had proactively acknowledged the abductions and apologized in order to resolve the compensation issue with Japan.
Remembering that, I had demanded in advance that Jang Songthaek address the abduction issue.
Jang Songthaek hadn’t answered lightly, saying he needed time to think it over.
But I had warned him that without resolving it, he wouldn’t be able to extract the compensation he wanted—so he must have prepared a solution.
“President Kim, may I speak with you privately for a moment?”
Mun Gyeongdeok asked to speak with me alone.
I sought Koizumi’s permission.
“May I have a brief discussion with Special Envoy Mun Gyeongdeok?”
Koizumi hesitated briefly, then nodded.
Gesturing toward a door connected to the office, he said,
“You can use the lounge.”
“Thank you.”
I took Mun Gyeongdeok into the adjoining lounge.
The moment the door closed, Mun Gyeongdeok spoke.
“President Kim Muhyuk. Acknowledging the abduction of Japanese citizens could pose a major risk to Chairman Jang Songthaek.”
“Is that Chairman Jang’s view?”
“.......”
Mun Gyeongdeok pressed his lips shut.
Seeing that, I understood he was acting out of concern for Jang Songthaek.
Excessive loyalty can sometimes become poison.
“What is Chairman Jang Songthaek's position?”
“......The Chairman has said he will acknowledge it and apologize.”
“And you’re acting against that.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Did you tell Chairman Jang Songthaek that as well?”
“Yes. I advised him against it many times. But he did not change his mind.”
Mun Gyeongdeok spoke in a voice filled with worry.
But for Jang Songthaek, the twenty billion dollars from Japan mattered more than domestic backlash.
“Do you think Chairman Jang hasn’t considered that? I understand exactly what you’re worried about.”
“.......”
“But even if you avoid acknowledging it now, you won’t be able to hide it forever. North Korea has already begun its opening policy. Shallow secrets will be exposed quickly. Even if it hasn’t been officially acknowledged, everyone already knows.”
The abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea, once mere rumors, had been revealed to the world through the perpetrator of the KAL airliner bombing.
After that, defectors and North Korean agents who had sought asylum disclosed detailed information.
Even the Japanese government, which had never once acknowledged the abductions, eventually officially announced that its citizens had indeed been abducted by North Korea.
“It can’t be hidden forever. In the past, when North Korea was a closed state, you could deny everything to the end. But now, that’s no longer possible.” freёwebnovel.com
“.......”
Mun Gyeongdeok merely bit his lip, saying nothing.
“I know how deep your loyalty is, Mr. Mun Gyeongdeok. But if you truly care about Chairman Jang Songthaek, then follow his will. That is the path that serves him best.”
“Hoo......”
Mun Gyeongdeok let out a deep sigh. His reluctance was plain to see.
“What will you do? Pretend ignorance to the end and accept losses on the compensation, or acknowledge it, apologize, and extract the maximum?”
“Chairman Jang Songthaek was not personally involved in the abductions of Japanese citizens.”
“I know. No one will think that Chairman Jang himself carried out such acts.”
“All right. We’ll do it that way.”
I patted Mun Gyeongdeok’s shoulder in reassurance.
“A clean ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) break from the past will make Chairman Jang Songthaek shine in the international community. Let’s go back now. It wouldn’t be polite to leave Prime Minister Koizumi alone for too long.”
I brought Mun Gyeongdeok back with me.
Koizumi met my eyes, and I nodded.
The moment we sat down again, I got straight to the point.
“Prime Minister. Let’s do this. Japan promises to pay the twenty billion dollars North Korea demands. In return, North Korea will not only acknowledge the abductions of Japanese citizens, but also return the survivors and establish diplomatic relations with Japan.”
