＜ Chapter 36. Wolf and Tiger (1) ＞
Chapter 36. Wolf and Tiger (1)
While the winds of change were slowly blowing inside North Korea so that the people’s lives could be directly felt, the world outside the republic was becoming noisy for other reasons.
It was because of the strengthening of Namsun at the beginning of that year and the tragic death of Deng Xiaoping as a result, and above all, the attitude of the Chinese Communist Party leaders in the process.
Although the Standing Members of the Politburo and the Party Public Affairs Office, who were conscious of the views of the people and the international community, officially expressed their condolences and condolences, their attitude was like that of a person who was trying to get rid of outdated and inappropriate clothes to one side of the wardrobe. There was no one who didn’t notice.
Chinese experts, diplomatic officials, and ambassadors from each country quickly read this Beijing air and sent these messages to their home countries.
‘Deng Xiaoping has been pushed aside, now China is dominated by a coalition government between the conservatives and businessmen centered on Jiang Zemin’s Shanghai Bang and Yang Sang-kun.’
And it didn’t take long for these diplomats’ rumors to be published through the papers and to rise and fall in the cubicles of the luxuries.
– Deng Xiaoping is dead! Are you the general architect of reform and opening up? Or is it the butcher of Tiananmen?
– Deng Xiaoping, who could not escape the responsibility of the Tiananmen massacre… Most experts said, ‘It is only the result of a power struggle within the Communist Party, and there is little chance that China will change its course… Rather, it will become more hardline conservative.’
– The Communist Party of China, spokesman and the state-run People’s Daily announced that ‘another of the early revolutionary elders has passed away’. In contrast, efforts to lift economic sanctions are urgently under water.
“Look at this expression, ‘one of the revolutionaries’ passed away? You treat me like an old man in the back room went to the goal. In addition, would you rather indirectly kill Deng Xiaoping, who actually led China to a market economy, lift trade sanctions and restore the most-favoured country treatment? What is this?”
“Hey man, what is it, they are going to put all responsibility for the Tiananmen massacre on Deng Xiaoping and they will get out. I don’t know the details because the information control is so severe, but when I hear the stories of the Chinese who fled to Taiwan or Hong Kong, they said that most of the people who led the crackdown at that time are still in their place? So what is this? It’s just a power struggle…”
“I will put economic growth first, but I will make sure that the Communist Party rules China… In the end, Deng Xiaoping China without Deng Xiaoping. Yes.”
Actually, that point was correct.
Jiang Zemin, who abandoned his political gift, Deng Xiaoping, and joined forces with the conservatives, was immediately appointed general secretary of the Communist Party.
It goes without saying that his close associates, the businessmen and real estate developers who were the first to benefit from China’s reform and opening up, also held key positions in central politics.
The United States, to be precise, President George Herbert Walker Bush and the White House he led, struggled with this change, not China’s.
Around that time, there were two major opinions within the White House regarding the death of Deng Xiaoping and the reorganization of the power structure in China.
– Face saved since Deng Xiaoping, who was ultimately responsible for the Tiananmen Massacre, died. Now it is necessary to improve relations with China, even for the sake of the economy. As the world trade system deepens in the future, it is most important to reduce labor costs and secure price competitiveness. China’s cheap labor is indispensable for American companies. Have you forgotten that you have given up both domestic and foreign markets to the high-quality and low-price offensive of Japanese companies that are still a bit sluggish but still strong?
– The sanctions have not yet been lifted. As Japan was hit hard by the collapse of the real estate bubble, the global market will be dominated by American companies again. The role of subcontracting bases for US companies can be entrusted to other countries, including North Korea, where labor is cheap and close to the Asian market. In particular, in order to continuously contain Japan, it is necessary to foster a long-term force to contain Japan in the Far East, including Korea.
Unfortunately for the anti-communist Chinese who dropped their cranes at the Tiananmen Massacre and fled to Taiwan and Singapore, the opinion of the American political family (though it was difficult to say outright) prevailed in the former.
First of all, it was a well-known fact that the era of ideological confrontation was over, and at this point in time, the main enemy in the minds of most Americans is the recently collapsed Great Demon King, the Soviet Union, the country with the most nuclear warheads, or East Asia (even though it suffered a major blow recently). It was economic samurai Japan, not a shoe factory that subcontracted Nike, or China, which had only an image of the birthplace of kung fu.
Most of all, in American politics, most politicians, regardless of Republican and Democrat, were either sponsored by multinational corporations or had deep relationships with the business world, such as serving as a former or current director.
And it goes without saying that the multinational corporations that will be the biggest beneficiaries of the coming globalism and the think tanks that connect them with Washington politicians exerted a strong influence on the demand for improvement in relations with China.
“Damn, if I didn’t have this year’s election…”
George Herbert Walker Bush was so annoyed at the pressure to improve relations with China through the mouths of aides and editorials of pro-business economic newspapers, but there was no other way.
In any case, if Clinton, an Arkansas country peasant who has already established himself as the presidential candidate in the Democratic Party and is already slowly preparing for the presidential election, sits in his seat now, it was not something he would be able to endure.
Eventually, through the mouth of the Secretary of State, Bush issued a statement saying, ‘The United States expresses its deepest condolences to the death of Deng Xiaoping.’
The words were a sign of condolences, but considering that the United States was at the forefront of the so far cold US-China relations and economic sanctions against China, and that Deng Xiaoping provided the cause, it was practically a diplomatic gesture of reconciliation.
Of course, neither George W. Bush himself nor the White House press spokesman, but that statement was in fact a foreshadowing that the cold US-China relationship and, most importantly, economic sanctions would be lifted soon.
Of course, there will be diplomatic investigations exploring each other, and there will be a few empty speeches at international conferences blaming the human rights and liberal democratic values that were violated at Tiananmen Square, but all experts say that the sanctions will be lifted at most, two years at the most, and at the shortest, one year. was expecting
And that meant that the subcontracting base enjoyed by North Korea as a substitute for China in East Asia, the ‘premium’ as an investment destination, and the return of profits were reaped too quickly.
“I thought this was going to happen someday, but it was sooner than I expected. Do I have to hurry to get the expiration date renewed by the American owner?”
In response to this national crisis, the supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim Jeong-hwan, was looking for a collaborator in the United States who could ‘share a will’.
But before that, the wolf that came to the front door had to be appeased first and chased away.
“Chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Yong-nam? Wasn’t the Kitajousen Shogun directly from the show?”
“Hey. Yes, Minister. Perhaps this is also not a strategy to delay negotiations…”
“No, the water supply is not right. Isn’t it a bit difficult to come out in person in a place like this? In fact, even if you come, you are more likely to be treated poorly.”
‘This is a league of rich white people. There’s no reason why a young leader from a country that is still treated as a marginal country comes out and is ignored. In fact, it’s been less than 10 years since we, Japan, started speaking out here.’
Japan’s ‘foreign minister’ Eiichi Nakao waved his hand at the secretary’s words and thought to himself.
In fact, what he said is not completely wrong, the conference he is currently attending, the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, was a reunion of established interests, that is, British and American capitalists and politicians, to the extent that there was even a conspiracy theory that it was a modern version of the annual general meeting of Freemasons.
Held in Davos, Switzerland since 1981, this gathering, also known as the Davos Forum, brings together leaders, diplomats, business leaders, and prominent academics in a grand and abstract quest to ‘improve the world’s condition’. It was a popular perception that it was a place for discussion under a goal.
The reason I said popular perception here is that Nakao said that this forum is actually a big name. Western Europeans and white influential people gathered to discuss how well they are controlling global hegemony and how to take better control of it in the future. It was because he knew that it was an arrogant feast of words that was devoted to building things up.
However, starting this year, since the US State Department announced the condolences to Deng Xiaoping not long ago, that seems to have changed little by little.
‘I think the prediction that this general assembly was held a little late was to invite Chinese people is correct. Perhaps you came here for a reason similar to ours?’
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Nakao thought as he looked at the Chinese diplomats on the other side of the table where he was seated, hurriedly wandering around, not even pretending to listen to the keynote speech.Since the Tiananmen Square incident, China has lived through years of humiliation rather than the humiliation suffered in Gyeongwon-si at numerous international organizations and conferences.
In fact, this Davos forum had another purpose other than giving businessmen and politicians hugging each other’s buttocks. The real reason I was sent to this forum was for that purpose.
“The place has been taken. Minister. This is the suite on the top floor of the resort.”
“Okay, get up.”
After the boring speech, Nakao got up and headed for the exit of the ceremony, along with a group of secretaries and members of the House of Representatives of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
In the first place, he came here for an informal discussion about the Japanese government’s special mission, ‘the issue of abductees and colonial reparations, which are obstacles to establishing diplomatic relations between North Korea and Japan.’
Since President Bush’s visit to North Korea in 1991, Kitajosen and North Korea have ambitiously established diplomatic relations with many countries in the world, that is, Western countries that have been semi-hostile to be precise.
A number of embassies were soon established in Pyongyang, as the majority of those countries now had no particular reason to refuse.
Last month, Australia dispatched an ambassador to North Korea, and last month, Singapore officially began the process of establishing diplomatic ties.
However, strangely enough, there was no contact with Japan to the extent that it was strange, but instead of the cabinet and prime minister, who had been attached to the issue of the abduction victim, Nakao swore like this.
– You are raising the ransom right now. I am sure this means that we will receive even one penny more in reparation from us during the days of Japanese colonial rule. If you don’t want the steamer to be overpowered, you should never contact them first.
– Minister, since when did Kitajosen return to a pro-American country, and the people are already dissatisfied with the question that the abduction issue hasn’t even started, are you really confident?
– Hahaha… Isn’t that urgent over there? In the meantime, Kitajosen has benefited in various ways from China being sanctioned by the Bush Prize, but it is not in the mood to end soon. Perhaps it is still a hermit country, but now that reform and opening have been carried out, economic development is the greatest goal of the Kitajōsen regime and the young shogun. For that, foreign currency and economic support would be desperately needed. Leave this matter to me.
‘I’ve waited too long. But finally, the time has come for the investment in that young man to pay off.’
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Nakao laughed inwardly as he recalled the humiliation he had been subjected to last time.That cheeky young shogun, General Secretary Kim Jeong-hwan, would have thought he would have taken the lead in his relationship with Nakao, but now he is the leader of a nation, not an individual.
The idea of holding hands with the United States and claiming to be a hunting dog by being at the forefront of the front line of containment against China and Russia, which Korea and Japan have been sharing in the past, was good, but there are classes among hunting dogs.
If Japan, South Korea, and North Korea were to rank among the three Asian allies of the United States, North Korea, which had just joined the alliance with the United States, was, of course, last.
It may sound like a lot of talk about compensation for colonial damage at the national level and the right to make individual claims for the victims of conscription, but Nakao was convinced that in the end, North Korea, that is, Jeong Hwan, would agree to an agreement ‘by a triumphant’ like Korea at the time of the Korea-Japan Basic Treaty.
If there is nothing to be done over there, it would be impossible to enact human rights in a situation where they themselves had kidnapped a normal Japanese civilian, and the United States had a limit in its ability to endure in a situation where it was known.
More than anything else, Nakao knew that America never liked to let its hounds keep their hounds, beat each other, bite and bite, and renounce their roles.
Eventually, this problem will be solved by him, and the position of prime minister will be in his hands.
“Chairman, this is Japanese Foreign Minister Eiichi Nakao. Minister Nakao, this is the Chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Yong-nam.”
“haha. nice to see you. It is truly a historic meeting between Korea and Japan.”
“So do I. It would be great if a constructive agreement could be reached at this meeting so that the two countries could develop into a future-oriented relationship.”
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Nakao gave strength to the word ‘future-oriented’ and shook Kim Young-nam’s outstretched hand tightly.I heard that his opponent, Kim Young-nam, is also a veteran in diplomacy, and his first impression of exploring himself while glimmering in his wrinkles was also an impression that was not formidable.
But it will also be unavoidable.
Due to the nature of the Kita Josen, the authority exercised by the authorities in the field was extremely limited, no matter how deep the agreement was, and Kim Jung-hwan is well aware of how stupid it is to go against the US heart in such a sensitive situation.
When Nakao was thinking like that, Kim Young-nam spoke first with a nice smile.
“Hmm, well, before we start the informal meeting… can I have one more person here? He is also attending this Davos forum, and he is sure to listen to us.”
‘One more? What’s this?’
Hearing Kim Young-nam’s words through an interpreter, Nakao frowned at the unexpected situation.
As a general diplomatic practice, it is impossible to suddenly add more people to the meeting on the spot.
Even if it is an informal meeting between the countries that have not established diplomatic ties, it is the same.
“I heard that it was an exclusive meeting between North Korea and Japan, but…”
“Haha, I understand your confusion. However, if you look at the people who have come, I think that Minister Nakao will understand that he is a person closely related to the ‘future’ he was talking about earlier. I do not intend to change the subject of the meeting or change the conditions, so why not invite me to your seat even if you see my face?”
“…………”
The opponent is nominal, but I heard that he is the second-ranking member of the Kitajōsen.
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Nakao nodded, thinking that it was not polite to say no to such a person in such a low-key attitude.‘Anyway, unless you’re a high-ranking US official, it won’t have any impact on the summit.’
“good.”
“thank you. I’ll take you inside.”
When Kim Young-nam accepted, the North Korean entourage opened the door to the suite and let in a new guest.
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Nakao, who accepted Kim Young-nam’s sudden offer with half curiosity and half confidence, was the first to anticipate a UN Human Rights Council official.Perhaps he was trying to use emotional tactics by inviting a third party to highlight the illegality of colonial rule half a century ago or the suffering of conscription victims.
“…After all, such a long international conference doesn’t seem right for me. I’m a person who believes that actions are more important than words… Oh, I know it’s spherical with me, but it’s nice to meet you anyway. Minister Nakao. This is US Secretary of Defense Richard Bruce Cheney .”