Dear Comrade

Dear Comrade Leader, Episode 157

Chapter 56. Stranger in Pyongyang

Again, it was an expected story.

Therefore, Park Yi-sam, who had prepared an answer in advance, also euphemistically explained his position with a strong attitude.

“We have already made a formal request to the US side. We have fully explained our position, and I have heard from a high-level person with sufficient weight that we will consider it positively in terms of promoting the ROK-U.S. alliance.”

“… … Can you tell me who that high-ranking person is?”

“This is Vice President Dick Cheney. As a former defense secretary, President Bush can’t just ignore that.”

“… … However, the US will not accept it. Isn’t the US already establishing diplomatic ties with North Korea? It is highly unlikely that the Bush administration will accept our request for joint training, given that US capital has already invested in McDonald’s from Pyongyang to McDonald’s.”

Along with Yu Min-jung and Park Yi-sam, the leader of the democratization movement in Korea and the current leader of the Democratic Party, the main opposition party, seemed unlikely to give up easily.

In general, it was quite contrary to morals and customs for even the leader of the opposition party to ask the incumbent president about state affairs like this, but President Park Yi-sam tolerated it.

It was because the opponent was a lifelong comrade and political rival, Yoo Min-jung, regardless of the position of the opposition leader.

If it were someone other than Min-jung Yu, Park Yi-sam would have given a euphemistic congratulatory order earlier. No, I wouldn’t have tried that in the first place.

“Besides, speaking of capital, modern as well as Korean companies such as Seongsam, Taehwa and LS already have a lot of capital tied up in the North, don’t they? If North Korea does any harm to our companies or expatriates… … .”

“From then on, our cause will become even stronger. Isn’t that a violation of the respect for property rights under the inter-Korean agreement? In addition, the international community’s view of North Korea will become cold again. After all, it is still a communist country, not a capitalist country.

“… … ! There must be some reason for this hard push. May I ask what it is?”

At first, Min-joong Yu was froze for a while at Park Yi-sam’s words that he was willing to take the damage of a Korean company.

After pondering for a while, Park Yi-sam decided to reveal the decisive reason for his decision to take such a tough position.

It was something that would be known sooner or later anyway, and this one was better than breaking out in places like the Goryeo Ilbo (which, after all, began to quickly confront him after the collapse of the Seongsu Bridge).

“Whew… … President Yoo Min-jung… … No, President Yoo. It is unconfirmed information, but the U.S. Department of Defense is considering reducing U.S. forces in Korea.”

“Is that for real?”

“Recently, the Bush administration has begun to withdraw from the Middle East… … It seems that there is an opinion from the inside that there is no reason to be stationed abroad as trade with China is restarting. Moreover, rumors are circulating that they are even considering withdrawing US forces from Korea altogether. More than anything… … .”

“… … This is probably because North Korea, the biggest reason for the existence of the USFK, has now become a pro-American country. It’s a possible story, and if it’s true, it’d be a big deal, but it’s not certain information. Is there any reason to cause tension in inter-Korean relations solely through possibility?”

In response to questions like Yoo Min-jung’s interrogation, Park Yi-sam took out about half of his deep worries and showed them.

In fact, he did not avoid his visit even though he clearly knew what President Yoo Min-jung was going to say today, in part because he shared this concern and launched a united front against this threat.

However, the other half of that worry was not to be shown to his longtime comrade.

Politicians should never show their true feelings to anyone.

“Ah, the possibility becomes true if it is widely reported in newspapers such as the Korea Daily. President Yoo knows the tricks of those friends better than I do. ‘A review of the blitzkrieg withdrawal of US forces in Korea! Is this a sign of rediscovery unification? As you know, have I not already become a national traitor?”

“Huh, even if it’s me… … Are you saying that the Goryeo Ilbo is even pointing a pen at President Park? Well… … So… … I know that you clearly supported the president last time… … .”

‘Last time’ refers to the 14th presidential election in which Yoo Min-jung overturned the candidacy and Park Yi-sam was defeated.

It was expected that Yu Min-jung, who is mostly known as Park Yi-sam’s rival, would be the biggest obstacle to the great power road.

Unlike the original history, Mun-young Jeong did not run for office, so Park Yi-sam’s victory was much more solid.

And although Yu Min-jung, who had a sense of defeat, did not run away from running for office at all, there were still gritty memories of that time between the two giants of the past, who almost had a revenge match of the three parties and a confrontation of the century.

This is the reason why President Min-jung Yoo deliberately did not explicitly mention the election and said it was the last time.

“Isn’t it because I was more suited to their inclinations than President Yoo at that time? But now these friends are slowly changing into other people… … You’re looking at the liver. I’m sure you already know who the transfer target is.”

At those words, there was a name that popped into Yu Min-jung’s mind.

He was a former chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection and served as prime minister in the current government, and was a conservative politician with the same image as the one who left after a conflict with President Park Yi-sam.

From the recent collapse of Seongsu Bridge to the story of kinship politics centered on his son in a series of accidents, the Korea Ilbo has already been pouring out articles highlighting Park Yi-sam, who has an image differentiated from him.

Of course, he didn’t say he was going into politics in earnest yet, but Yoo Min-joong knew very well how many political retirements in Yeouido that turned up his non-candidates.

Clearly, he was a candidate to be promoted by transferring from the so-called ‘sweetened’ Park Yi-sam by the Goryeo Ilbo, the defender and last bastion of the conservative party in Korea.

“But still, President Park is the incumbent president. Even if you have suffered a major political blow recently, and even the Korea Daily, the largest daily newspaper in Korea, it is easy to understand why you decide to make diplomatic decisions with the US and North Korea because you are afraid of only a few articles… … .”

For the first time, Park Yi-sam, who had been calm at Yu Min-jung’s words, showed emotion or sincerity for the first time.

And that sincerity was clearly anger.

Park Yi-sam’s voice, which was suppressed, but answered with a clear expression of passion, contained anger that could not be hidden.

“Why do we have to look at North Korea so much? I don’t know if they join hands with us and move towards unification, why should we do that to those who have ignored us and only communicated with the United States? Has the author, the general secretary, ever sent an official congratulatory message to me and the Korean government since taking office? My conclusion so far is that they, that Kim Jeong-hwan, have no intention of making friendships or improving relations with us!”

“But even so, that doesn’t mean you have to be hostile to the North… … .”

“and! When the Seongsu Bridge collapsed not long ago, the North actually made fun of us! The words were comforting, but what is this other than using the sacrifices of our innocent people to propagate and strengthen their own internal system? To say that we have to take care of inter-Korean relations even while giving political consideration to these people, Lee Sam-yi, Park Yi-sam, can’t quite comprehend! Do you know?”

After a brief shouting, Park Yi-sam, realizing that he was excited, soon returned to his original calm expression and voice.

But still, deep in his eyes, he could not hide his dissatisfaction and anger.

“Even if it is not the North Korean issue, strengthening military cooperation with the United States through the resumption of Team Spirit and emphasizing the ROK-U.S. alliance is a clear benefit to the security of the Republic of Korea. Still, the country’s armed forces are still too dependent on the capabilities of the US military. I am saying this because I know very well that President Yoo is not an anti-American who is not as ignorant as the gossips of the Korea Daily.”

“… … I am grateful for that.”

“And as for why the incumbent president is afraid of articles earlier… … .”

Park Yi-sam, who had spoken up to this point, swallowed one saliva, then leaned slightly toward Yu Min-jung and said.

“… … I am afraid because I am the incumbent president, President Yoo. Half of my five years in office are now over. Although the most urgent and important things were accomplished, accidents have occurred in various parts of Korea since the beginning of his tenure, and there are already sayings like this that Park Yi-sam’s civilian government is an accident republic. The approval rating is dropping like a rainy summer, so what kind of power will you use to drive the government for the next two and a half years?”

“… … .”

“President Yoo, no longer can any politician win anything by fighting with a headband on the street anymore. I am an elected politician, and politicians in real life are sensitive to self-support and support-based management, that is, votes. Only ivory-tower visionaries who have never put mud on their bodies, and who have said that politics is dirty, are the only ones who deny this.”

When Park Yi-sam spoke in a tone that said, ‘You don’t know other people, don’t you know?’, Yu Min-joong did not answer.

In fact, the reason was that he knew the weight of the years and agony in those words better than anyone, and he thought that if he opened his mouth, he would unknowingly agree with him.

“And my conclusion is that this Team Spirit training serves both the unity of my support base as a Conservative politician and the national interest of this Republic of Korea, so there is no reason not to.”

“… … I understand the president’s intentions. I think today’s meeting should end here.”

Feeling that Park Yi-sam’s will was firm, Yu Min-joong sighed and got up from his seat.

Seeing him heading towards the door, Park Yi-sam also let out a small sigh in his heart.

At the end, his emotions were shaken and he almost revealed his intentions without knowing it, but luckily he didn’t get caught.

However, this reassurance of Park Yi-sam was immediately shattered by one question that Min-jung Yoo posed as if passing by right before he opened the door to the reception room.

“President, just in case I ask… … You have set the expected date of Team Spirit quite early. Regardless of whether the U.S. side will accept the agreement, the preparation period is too short.”

“It is. Because I have to show the North Korean bastards who don’t know this habit as soon as possible that this Republic of Korea isn’t easy… … .”

“… … Are you talking only two weeks before the first national local election in June of this year? As far as I know, the ruling party made a prediction that this election will be difficult… … Do you think that fact has influenced the president’s decision to resume training?”

“… … .”

This time, Park Yi-sam kept her mouth shut.

There was only silence in the reception room again, but Minjoong Yu smiled bitterly as if he had already heard the answer.

“Today, I am learning from the President in many ways. It was the same in the three-party union.”

“… … President Yoo, remember what I said earlier. We are the people who make politics our business. You can swear no matter what you say, and you can kill Park Yi-sam like the merchants in the fortress market, but even if the dog barks, the train has to go.”

“I am not blaming the President. It’s just because I don’t think I would have made a very different choice even if I had been in a similar position and a similar situation as you. Then come on.”

Minjoong Yu lightly bowed his head, closed the reception room door, and disappeared.

However, even after he disappeared, Park Yi-sam was staring at the seat where Min-jung Yoo was sitting for a long time.

* * *

“First of all, let’s take a hard-line response, so let’s exclude the forceful demonstrations that seem to fire back and forth. Because that’s not wise.”

“… … Is it okay if I ask the reason, Comrade General Secretary?”

The main character of the voice asking Jeong-hwan with a voice of dissatisfaction was, of course, Baek Seung-cheol, an officer of the People’s Army.

In these days, when Hong Gye-seong, the first leader of the Korean People’s Army in official rank, is in full swing, the ‘ban on the use of force’ for him, the de facto general in charge of the Korean People’s Army, was unsatisfying.

Already, the organization was shrinking day by day.

The fact that the opportunity to prove the reason for the existence of the People’s Army flew away early gave Baek Seung-cheol the courage to express his dissatisfaction, albeit weakly, to the absolute ruler Jeong-hwan.

“Isn’t that obvious? Invasion training with the South Korean army… … Who is opening Team Spirit with?”

“… … It’s the US military.”

“I know you well, then tell me, Comrade Baek. You don’t want to be hostile to the U.S. military, even if it’s virtual, right?”

“… … .”

Of course it wasn’t.

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No matter how much the Korean People’s Army reduced its size and moved to an elite and technical force, Baek Seung-cheol was not unaware of the fact that there was still a difference between an elephant and a termite compared to the American army.

It’s just that I was so proud of myself to say that out loud.

“But you can’t stay still, can you? Those South Korean puppets still can’t give up their ambitions to invade, and they’re arguing around in front of the gates of our republic… … .”

Perhaps it was not only Baek Seung-cheol who was dissatisfied, but Hyun Young-suk, who was listening to the announcement of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense spokesman in the secretariat with him, also said a word.

“That’s right, Comrade Baek. I think… … Wouldn’t it be the most appropriate response for the general secretary to publicly announce his complaints to the international community? Even if we do not have direct communication with others, we have a common ally, the United States, and we cannot open our eyes to watching such aggression drills.”

“… … .”

“If there is a view from countries around the world, and if we take this opportunity to justify an attempt to invade a sovereign state on the Korean peninsula with military training and inform South Korea that it is the subject that aggravates regional instability, the United States will have no choice but to reconsider Park Yi-sam’s plea. Will.”