Dear Comrade the Leader, Episode 283
Chapter 99. Feet on reality, eyes on ideals
“Before and after… … Where do you want to hear from?”
“… … First of all, I would like to know how the US side listened to General Secretary-nim’s unconventional request for membership in Five Eyes. For me, no, not only me, but the entire diplomatic and security line on our side can’t understand it at all.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that.”
“I need to know. As president, wouldn’t it be natural if there was even a slight possibility that he had a card, such as a nuclear weapon, that would alienate us, who have been US allies for 60 years in North Korea, from the ranking of key allies at once? Just like the United States, our Republic of Korea cannot share confidential information with untrusted parties.”
“What if I keep it a secret until the end?”
“Then I will leave this room immediately after judging that the recognition of the mutual existence between the two Koreas, which has been formed since the Great Inter-Korean Agreement in 1998, and the minimum trust relationship that should be held between potential allies who will share information as five Eyes members at the same time has been broken. . And we will mobilize all the tangible and intangible diplomatic assets of the Republic of Korea to prevent North Korea from joining Five Eyes.”
“… … If so, that’s good. However, you must first make a promise that no more than 5 people in South Korea, including the President, know about the incident, that is, treat it as the highest security matter.”
“of course.”
It was only after hearing Noh Yun-hyun’s promise that he and the General Bureau of External Reconnaissance took care of Son Jeong-eui and SoftBank, and that he actually eavesdropped on the entire Japanese Internet, and that he handed over the huge big data accumulated over 10 years to the US NSA and will continue to be a key network in the future. Briefly explained that consent was obtained to join Five Eyes on condition of the right to access.
It was difficult for non-specialists to easily understand how valuable the Internet backbone data of the world’s third-largest country in GDP with a population of 123 million was.
However, Noh Yun-hyeon (like the first Internet politician who had a fan cafe) had been quite interested in IT technology before, and it was not difficult to understand Jung-hwan’s words.
And while listening to the explanation that lasted for about 10 minutes, Noh Yun-hyun’s expression was ‘?’ His expression tilted his head, and then he went pale and then calmed down again, but in the end, the emotion he showed to Jeonghwan was a sigh.
When Junghwan finished explaining, Noh Yunhyeon opened his mouth with a small sigh.
“Really, the international community is a place where you close your eyes and cut your nose. Since taking office as President, I have been proud that I am well aware of how cruel the United States and other Western powers and powers can be to protect their hegemony… … Now that I see, I was a frog in a well.”
Up to now, I thought that Japan (which I hate to look like in many ways) was at the top of the list of allies of the United States, and at the same time, I envy such a ‘status’, and at the same time, self-deprecating that Korea or Japan are competing to see who is more loved by the American master. also did
But now that I see it, isn’t that a story that Japan was also a replaceable ally with the United States that could be a target for trade at any time?
For Yoon-hyeon Noh, who tried to escape from the US-centered Asia-Pacific order by advocating for something like the Northeast Asian balancer theory, it was disappointing and upsetting news.
And at the same time, I couldn’t help but admire the foresight and audacity of the North Korean general secretary who dared to step into the inner circles of such closed Anglo-American Western powers, and that he was almost on the verge of success.
However, the main character, Jung-hwan, was more urgent to listen to Noh Yoon-hyun’s answer than to greet him like that now.
“There is no such thing as too much. It is the common view of experts that South Korea is now fully qualified to become an advanced regional power that cannot be ignored in the Far East, so this discussion was possible. Can it be considered that South Korea’s cooperation and understanding can be obtained on this issue?”
“I would like to ask you a few more questions. First of all, if we join this new intelligence community to keep pace with North Korea, what will be the specific status of our Republic of Korea within that alliance?”
“According to what has been discussed so far, until President McCain fell unconscious, the name of Five Eyes will be renamed the ‘Pacific Intelligence Community’, and that community will consist of our Republic and South Korea as a member in addition to the existing member states. will be You might be wondering what the name has to do with it, but the director of the NSA suggested that it was to eliminate any possible discrimination between new and existing members and to increase a sense of belonging.”
‘What do you mean, there is obviously discrimination.’
Jung-hwan said that it was a clever move to deliberately remove the number five-nimble from the name and give it the vague name of ‘community’.
If you propose an ambiguous form like ‘Five Eyes + 1’ from the beginning, North Korea, who is the ‘1’, or the n member countries that may be added in the future, it is certain that dissatisfaction will arise.
Of course, Jeonghwan wasn’t naive enough to immediately believe that even if the visible grades disappear, even the invisible grades will disappear, but it was only about a month ago that he pretended to agree with the offer.
Once the heads of state sign the agreement stipulating that ‘all member countries are equal’, the binding force that can be proven in writing is created by each country’s internal standards anyway, and for now, that alone was a miraculous achievement.
Everything was put on hold when McCain fell before the revised UKUSA, no, the Pacific Intelligence Community Agreement, passed the Senate.
Therefore, as Jeong-hwan, he had to pass the Senate as soon as possible and put the amendment on the president’s desk before the power of the amendment he had created was lost and scattered in the air.
“FYI, the reason this new community isn’t called Seven Eyes is to clarify which countries the information network is targeting and to open up the possibility of future affiliation with countries in those countries that pose a security threat to those countries. Do you have more questions?”
“… … I know Acting President Condoleezza Rice is a person in the White House who is concerned about me and the anti-American atmosphere in Korea, but won’t that affect me?”
“One more thing, to give you a secret not to leave this room, I have already asked Rice through the hotline for permission. Acting Rice seems to have more trouble with the Senate, who is harassing him at home than President Roh, who is a potential anti-American outside the country.”
“… … So the last question. Actually Five Eyes… … No, according to the general secretary’s words, it is true that joining this Pacific intelligence community is something we should clap our hands and rejoice if it is possible for us, a pro-American nation, to do so. Right now, it seems that the generals and chiefs of the Ministry of National Defense will be happy to embrace the fact that the national dignity and status of the Republic of Korea have been raised by one level, but… … .”
“However… … ?”
“… … At the same time, I can’t help but ask the questions that those friends will seriously ask without cuddling. How do you plan to deal with the backlash from China, which will find out about this sooner or later, General Secretary?”
“… … .”
Junghwan thought that the expected question finally came out in response to Noh Yunhyeon’s worrying question.
And his answer to this question was also prepared.
About 10 years ago, precisely since the Tiananmen massacre in 1989, Jung-hwan’s sincerity, which had been confirmed by predictions and predictions that were difficult to explain, had never been told to anyone in the party, including Kim Yong-gun.
It was ironic that the only person who first came to confide in such a thing was Noh Yun-hyeon, the leader of South Korea, now a potential adversary or competitor.
But now, it was a moment when he had to open his chest and show his heart, rather than just pretending.
Otherwise, at least Jung-hwan did not see a way to convince Noh Yun-hyeon and the Korean government to ask for cooperation like this in the middle of the night.
“It is as you said. If the Republic of Korea’s membership in Five Eyes becomes known to China, relations between the two countries will quickly deteriorate. So much so that I can’t go back to before joining again.”
“So, if you are the general secretary, the countermeasures for such a risk… … .”
Jeonghwan shook his head at Noh Yoon-hyeon, who asked Jung-hwan with eyes believing that there would be a solution.
“I’ll be honest. The fundamental measures that can offset China’s opposition to this level of diplomatic change are… … As far as I know, it doesn’t exist.”
“… … yes?”
“Of course, there is a workaround. Of course, it will take time to sort things out, personal letters, diplomatic investigations, and all kinds of excuses will come and go… … At least, the ‘blood alliance’ relationship before the affiliation will not go back forever. The CCP is not an idiot.”
“No, then why… … ?”
Just as Noh Yun-hyeon was about to say, ‘Why did you do this under the threat of ruining the relationship with China, which you had been so friendly with?’ .
“I know. Economic retaliation is natural, and it is a dangerous thing that could lead to war. Well, if you really want to mobilize force from the other side, instead of colonizing the republic, you will try to make a satellite state with a puppet… … In any case, the question President Roh should have asked just before should not be ‘how do you deal with China’s backlash’, but ‘why do you dare to do such a crazy thing when you know there will be such a backlash?'”
“Yes, but… … .”
“In summary, I think it is because I think about the Republic 20 years from now rather than my personal future 5 years from now.”
For the first time since he became general secretary, or no, since he set foot in North Korea 25 years ago, Jung Hwan spoke of ‘ideal’ rather than ‘reality’.
He has always been a realist, and he has always ridiculed fools like Hak Chong-ryeon and Ri Kyung-soo who turn away from reality and pursue only ideals, and even now, his philosophy has not changed.
But that did not mean that he was a cynic who concluded that ideals were not worth a penny in politics and in running the country.
He just didn’t want his ideals and goals to end up being just one glamorous nonsense, so he prepared with blood and sweat over the past 25 years to bring his ideals closer to reality.
In fact, the moment when Junghwan first wanted to seize power was based on an ideal that could not be achieved.
“From a short-term geopolitical point of view, the diplomatic pro-China line is not an option but a necessity for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In fact, since civilization first entered the Korean peninsula, almost all countries have lived under the inevitable interference or influence of continental powers. When a regime that rebels against them came into power, the continent would always try to invade, or at least change the regime to put a regime loyal to them and promote stability in the periphery of the empire.”
“… … It is an undeniable historical fact. In fact, it still is.”
“… … So it’s humiliating, but for me, it’s the smartest way. As always, dictators hate to take risks. It causes instability in the power that has been hard-earned. In fact, so am I.”
“But why… … ?”
“I can live like that in my generation. If only considering one’s own safety and power preservation, it is appropriate to take a step toward pro-China between China and the United States, enjoy the diplomatic premium of being the head of a buffer country between the USFK in South Korea and the Chinese border, and enjoy stable and undisputed power until death. I mean, living on the street. If I live like that, at least the Chinese side will never touch me.”
After speaking up to this point, Jeonghwan kept his mouth shut for a while, and then spoke to Noh Yunhyeon, as if drawing a conclusion to himself.
“But I’m not going to do that. because… … Because that means a de facto permanent division.”
“Until now, the opinion of political scientists in Korea and around the world about General Secretary Kim was that he was a realistic politician who was not interested in national propaganda such as unification… … It must have been the wrong opinion.”
“Actually, it still is. I have never been, and will never be, an idealist unificationist who screams sensitive slogans like the reunion of the Korean people or the achievement of the nation’s long-cherished dreams when I open my mouth.”
“… … .”
“… … However, it has always been believed that politics, and the mission of politicians, should contribute to the progress of history, regardless of age and age and system. And from my point of view… … Maintaining a permanent division between the two Koreas can only be seen as a kind of regression, not progress or change.”
There was a moment of silence between the two.
But soon, Noh Yun-hyeon carefully opened his mouth as if to contemplate Jung-hwan’s thoughts again.
“… … Have you thought of another way? Achieving unification by obtaining diplomatic approval for unification from both the United States and China and neighboring powers… … .”
“If you don’t know about other countries, it’s absolutely impossible for China. Basically, China will do everything in its power to prevent the creation of another great power, or a country that has the potential to become a great power, in the land bordering with them. It’s the last option in situations where there’s absolutely no way to do it. for example… … .”
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Noh Yun-hyeon thought that Jung-hwan’s eyes as he said these words seemed to be looking far into the past instead of in this secretary’s office right now.However, even Noh Yun-hyun did not know that the past he guesses now and the past that Jung-hwan remembers now are of a completely different kind.
“… … That is, the leaders who put their power above the existence of the state, like Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung, will get rid of all potential candidates for the next republican leader other than themselves, and in order to maintain such a hereditary system, all other national capabilities, competitiveness, and even members of the state. Or that they are willing to give up even the minimum right to live that they deserve. In fact, even in such a case, it would be very difficult to obtain consent from China for unification.”
I know this part very well because I’ve seen it myself,” Jeonghwan murmured in his mind.