Episode 137: The Price of Patriotism
“Welcome, Mr. Wu.”
“Yes, it’s been a while. Chief Secretary.”
what? What’s the mood like?
Why is the gritty chief secretary coming to the door to greet me?
“I know you’re busy, but I told you to come because it was urgent.”
It felt like nothing out of the ordinary.
You can’t come out so politely, can you?
Are you telling me to throw up all the money I earned this time?
Goddamn… Are the foreign exchange reserves empty again?
I had to hold on as much as possible and reduce the ripping off.
“No matter how busy you are, you have to come. The Olympics were already over, so I wanted to report it to the president.”
“Your Excellency always takes care of the export performance, so is there any need to report it separately? The Ministry of Commerce and Industry or the Economic Planning Board would have reported only the general performance.”
Well, as the CEO of Korea Co., Ltd., I can clearly see how much my sales and net profit are.
“It worked so well that we were able to penetrate Mexico. Although the US joint venture company stepped in, it was possible because the government is using an export promotion policy.”
I gave everyone compliments.
To be honest, the fact that the state guarantees unlimited amounts of exports and construction orders has played a big role in increasing the reliability of contracts for Korean entrepreneurs.
“His Excellency was also very happy. He said that he would be able to go into the defense industry now that Daesei would have enough money to run.”
Yeah, I knew something like this would come out.
It was expected, but I was confused.
It was annoying not being able to invest the money I had earned the way I wanted, but on the other hand, national security had to come first.
Let’s listen first.
“I can take a little break now. By the way, which defense industry are you talking about? Didn’t the Korean machinery side decide to take the M16?”
Although the newspaper made a headline that Hankook Machinery paid preferential treatment to Shinjin Motors, I heard that it somehow decided to produce M16 parts.
“Let’s eat inside and talk.”
“I see.”
After talking at the door for a long time, the chief secretary moved into the office.
‘Hello, Mr. Wu.’
‘yes? Major Taeyang Yoon?’
Inside the Blue House secretary’s office, Major Yoon Tae-yang was standing at attention.
I couldn’t figure out why the naval officer was here.
I quickly exchanged eye greetings with Major Yoon.
I was honestly embarrassed because I couldn’t understand the situation.
“It’s M16, it’s enough if a Korean machine does it. The trend is that you should take care of the sea a little more than that.”
What bullshit… No, it was like a thunderclap.
Are you telling me to build a warship now?
No matter how much the Blue House reigned in the 1960s, isn’t it too much?
“Are you talking about building warships? There is no shipyard to build it yet, and the technology is premature.”
“Even if it is difficult, you have to do it. Let me explain a little bit about the situation. Major Yoon Taeyang, please begin.”
“Yes, I understand.”
When I asked why Major Yoon Taeyang was here, he opened the chart.
“Major Yoon…”
It’s been a long time since I saw you, but I couldn’t express my joy.
As in Quy Nhon, he still looked neat, but his expression was so serious that it was not appropriate to say hello.
「Measures to respond to the hijacking of a naval broadcast ship」
Major Yoon turned the first page, and as soon as I saw the title, I immediately thought that this is not an ordinary thing.
“Yesterday at 17:20 pm, a naval broadcasting ship engaged in a 15-minute battle with a North Korean coastal patrol ship off Yeonpyeong Island, territorial waters of the Republic of Korea, resulted in some of the 20 crew members being injured and kidnapped.”
It was said calmly, but the resentment came out.
“Chief Woo, it is called a Navy broadcasting ship, but it is a 120-ton gunboat that was carrying out a mission to protect our fishing fleet. In other words, this is an obvious military provocation.”
The chief of staff added comments to Major Yoon’s briefing.
“No, wait a minute. I can not understand. At the end of last year, didn’t you also receive a destroyer from the United States due to negotiations in Canberra, Australia? No matter how old the ship is, it can’t stand up to the North Korean coast guard ship.”
At my words, Major Yoon put on a puzzled expression, but he had to ask.
“The naval broadcast ship is 120 tons, has a maximum speed of 12 knots, and is armed with one 40mm cannon and one cannon each. On the other hand, the North Korean coastal patrol ship weighs 250 tons, has a maximum speed of 25 knots, and is armed with one 75mm cannon and an autocannon. Immediately after the engagement, a Korean Navy destroyer was dispatched, but it failed to sink as it had already captured the Korean Navy broadcasting ship and escaped.”
At 25 knots, it is a fairly fast high-speed boat.
“Is it true that the destroyer immediately dispatched? The speed of the destroyer would have been enough to catch up.”
“Although the destroyer has a top speed of 35 knots, it takes 40 minutes to warm up the steam turbine to reach that speed. However, the engagement lasted only 15 minutes. It was force majeure.”
Was the destroyer driven only by steam turbines at this time?
Could it be that there was no gas turbine?
“Boss Wu, that doesn’t matter. Even if you could have chased it, you shouldn’t have chased it. That’s why the North Korean army is now fucking in and out of my front yard like this.”
“What are you talking about? Chief Secretary.”
“This is top secret, but the Israeli Navy’s newest destroyer was hit and sunk by an Egyptian Navy Styx missile. The Egyptian ship that launched the missile was a Soviet-made Coma-type patrol boat, but a 3,000-ton destroyer was sunk by a small ship weighing less than 75 tons.”
“What does that have to do with this incident… Are the North Korean ships equipped with Styx missiles?”
It was an absurd question, but both men nodded simultaneously at my question.
“That’s right. North Korea has four Coma-type patrol boats equipped with two Styx missiles. It could be a trap trying to lure out and sink our destroyer.”
“Is that possible? Major Yoon, is the Navy also judging that?”
“It is a possible scenario. Styx missiles have an effective range of 40 km, which is greater than the range of a destroyer’s 5-inch guns. Besides, the speed of the Coma-type patrol boat is 40 knots, which is faster than our destroyer. Hit-and-run tactical maneuvers are possible.”
“Is that word true?”
“Woo boss!”
“Oh, sorry. It’s too surprising. Of course, I came up with the idea that our navy is overwhelming the North Korean navy.”
Without realizing it, I asked if it was real.
Even if we live in the 1960s, since we are 21st century human beings, we never imagined that our naval power would fall behind North Korea.
“Our navy is focused on giant ships, including 3 destroyers, 3 escort destroyers, 4 frigates, and 10 LSTs. On the other hand, the North Korean Navy has four submarines, four missile patrol boats, and 50 high-speed torpedo boats.
Hearing from the Navy that they were being pushed back by the North Korean Navy, I let out a sigh.
At this time, we did not have a military advantage.
I knew it roughly in my head, but when I actually experienced it, the feeling was completely different.
Well, I was sleeping, but wasn’t it the era when a siren suddenly sounded and an emergency broadcast came out saying that armed communists had attacked Seoul?
‘This is why… This is why, when I said I would build a warship, the president reacted that way. The president must have been very proud of me.’
I unintentionally said something that scratched the President’s itch.
“The situation is like this. First of all, media reports were controlled, and His Excellency only gave an urgent order to prepare countermeasures, but did not order an armed demonstration. The U.S. military is currently negotiating… with the Pueblo incident… haa… it’s a difficult situation.”
“How can I, as a civilian, help you?”
What the hell are you telling me military secrets so kindly to get him to do something?
Come on tell me, I’m curious too.
“As I said earlier, the warship sunk by the Soviet-made Styx missile is an Israeli destroyer. Since the 3rd Middle East War, Korea, like other countries, is temporarily suspending diplomatic relations with Israel. Because there is no reason to stimulate Arab countries, which are oil producing countries. However, President Woo can naturally enter Israel because of the Jordan construction project.”
“I’m going to go in. Even so, what exactly is the information you want?”
“I would like you to find out what kind of missile the Israeli warship was hit by and how it was sunk, and what countermeasures might be available.”
what? Are you crazy?
You mean to know Israeli military secrets.
It is an act of espionage to obtain such information.
“Will Israel reveal such a top military secret?”
“So, why don’t you ask Mr. Wu? If you do state-to-state contact, they’ll want something in return, and they’ll definitely tell you to support Israel externally. Even then, there is no guarantee that you will get the information you want.”
Yeah, even diplomatically it’s very tricky to get information about national security.
The government has to worry too.
Somehow, he came out to meet me, so he must have been trying to say something regretful like this.
However, this is not just a request.
“I could be accused of being a spy. Is there any remedy for that?”
“The situation is very urgent. We only have about two weeks.”
‘You crazy bastard! Two days to go!’
At last, curses almost came out.
How do you extract top military secrets in two weeks?
“That is an unreasonable demand.”
“This is a case in which a member of our navy was taken away. There is a possibility that they will return safely in the midst of requesting mediation from the United States and at least demonstrating force at the Military Demarcation Line. If we hold our breath, the dragged soldier faces only hell. Please help.”
yes, they were there
Forgetting such an idiot, an abducted ROK soldier.
Major Yoon sent me to the town hall.
It was understandable not only as the same navy, but also as the same people.
“For a show of force, we must first prepare means of defense against the Styx missile and send in troops. If you don’t care, it’s a suicidal act in a major disaster. We need information.”
‘Ha, this is what happens…’
This was an area I was unfamiliar with.
Although I had been in the heavy industry for a long time, I was a plant specialist, and the defense industry was all I could see over my shoulder.
There must have been a reason why my classmates grabbed their heads and struggled alone on a fictional day.
I know you need information, but it’s so hard to gather it.
In addition, if you fall deeply into this business, it may be difficult to do business in the Middle East.
I can’t say I don’t know…
“Phew, I see. Then, with all due respect, what price can I get?”
I seriously asked the chief secretary for the price.
Honestly, even when I entered the secretary’s office, I thought it would be okay if I took care of my slush fund.
I thought about how much of the money I earned would become cotton, but it wasn’t like that.
This was more than ripping off.
I wish I could spy on you…
Moreover, it was impossible to deny it.
“The ROK Navy needs new high-speed boats. First of all, we are going to build about 3 ships, but the government will support 50% of the money.”
‘Such an asshole!’
In fact, all kinds of curses passed through my mind.
Are you going to rip off the money while making them spy on you?
“…50%?”
“Didn’t you say that you would win orders for warships if you were in the defense industry? Recently, you have been very successful in exporting, so you should contribute to the country. If we collect defense funds from the people, we will be able to support about 50% of the cost of the high-speed boat.”
damn it…
Does it mean that it is a privilege to take a little bit of money?
And were you thinking that if I didn’t spy on you, you’d get 100% of the money?
Wow, the 60’s were really the 60’s.
The matter is extremely serious, and the situation in which he finds himself is absurd.
“Think of it as being patriotic.”
Patriotism was such an expensive thing.
Still, in the meantime, I was happy.
Because the government won’t know the exact price of the high-speed boat. I will try to minimize bleeding by localizing it as much as possible.
“If it is a warship, of course it should be. However, there is no proper shipyard right now. I think it should be considered after finishing the construction and delivering the tanker that was ordered.”
“Didn’t the Ulsan shipyard start partial operations now? Then, the existing Yeongdo shipyard in Busan will have some room, and the government’s judgment is that small warships, high-speed boats, can be built there.”
You did the right research on this.
Civil servants in the 1960s must have worked very hard.
“There is such a trick. We will review how long the high-speed boat will be able to do and report back to you.”
“thank you. And when you go to Israel, join Major Yoon here. On paper, since I was discharged, there should be no problem. He is also an expert on missiles and warships, and he handles personal firearms well, so it will be helpful for his personal safety.”
I know it’s dangerous enough to worry about your own safety.
Now I know why the secretary’s office called me to this job.
If things go wrong, the president will say that he didn’t know, and the secretary’s office will say that he crawled on his own.
It means that no matter what happened to me, the president did not know.
“Let’s wrap it up. It means that I have to get information about the missile, I have to find a countermeasure, and I have to build about 3 high-speed boats to respond to the North Korean navy. Is that correct?”
“You are correct.”
Only then did the chief of staff nod and put on an expression that the conversation went well.
“Then when are you leaving?”
I asked from the start schedule.
It was about getting out as quickly as possible.
“We have to leave right away. Prepare yourself, Major Yoon.”
“I will be with you from now on.”
There was no reason to hesitate since I had decided to do it.
Above all, it was necessary to quickly bring in soldiers from the Armed Forces.
Come to think of it, isn’t it around the end of this year that the crew of the Pueblo will return? I wanted to
Then, I had to bring it with me. If we miss that time, our soldiers could never return.
‘I have to hurry.’
However, I couldn’t leave without any preparation.
Now that the US presidential election has just ended with the victory of the Republican Party, isn’t it time for Nancy to receive the most strength?
Through her, contact with the Israeli military didn’t seem quite possible.