Dear Comrade

＜ Chapter 25. Won Gyo Geun Gong (1) ＞

Chapter 25. Won-gyo-geun-gong

Considering that the Soviet Union was collapsing and the Cold War was coming to an end, the first US president’s visit to North Korea was a shocking decision, and it caused a lot of ripples around the world.

However, to this extent, there was still some uneasiness among Americans as to whether it would be possible to send a commander-in-chief with a nuclear bag to a place that until recently was known only as a bizarre communist country on the outskirts of Asia.

Some military officials, including Dick Cheney, also issued blatantly sinister warnings such as ‘the Soviet Union may make one last mad move just before collapse,’ saying that it should not be forgotten that General Secretary Kim Jeong-hwan came to power with the help of Soviet officers.

There were two major ways to dispel this crucible of distrust, which was the biggest enemy that blocked the first US president’s state visit to Pyongyang.

First of all, it was the mediation of the British Ambassador to the UK, specifically, Heywood, who received the request of Kim Jung-hwan.

– Fellow Americans. Look at me, do I look like I’m being oppressed? Do you look like you’re saying this because you’ve been kidnapped or threatened? I and the British government got to know General Secretary Kim before you, and I can assure you that he is a trustworthy person who respects the promises between nations.

The promise of Britain, which had been one of America’s closest allies in World War II and throughout the Cold War, primarily quelled anxiety about the president’s visit to North Korea.

And the second was the audacity of the President of the United States himself, George Herbert Walker Bush himself.

– Friends, don’t worry. Should I go and die? My son has already grown up, and in the Pacific War, I was almost eaten alive by the Japanese Japs, but then came back to life. I mean, he doesn’t die easily.

– Your Excellency, though…

– Besides, isn’t there a re-election soon? The most important thing in today’s elections are photos and images. Dukakis, do you know what happened after the wrong photo was taken of that friend riding a tank? If I step into that Asian version of Red Square and wave my hand, I’m sure the painting will be very good.

– ……………

When the re-election story came out, the staff, who were worried about his well-being, had no choice but to keep their mouths shut.

Already in the Gulf War, the world learned two things.

First, the Cold War is over. to the complete victory of the United States. So don’t be rude to America.

Second, there is a world where you can sit in your home in Europe or North America and watch the missiles drop in Baghdad on the other side of the world live.

It was an era in which the influence of the media was growing incomparably more than before thanks to advanced information and communication technology.

Jeong-hwan was well aware that a wave of a hand from the US president would tell much better that North Korea had been incorporated into a free market economy than the banquets and boring agreements and treaties in any international organization.

At the same time, Bush had no doubts that this state visit would add momentum to his rocket-like approval ratings boosted by victory in the Gulf War.

In the end, President Bush’s state visit to North Korea was completed after two months of preparation on the condition that American reporters were allowed to accompany and report on.

Finally, in April of that year, the world saw an unprecedented sight of Air Force One landing at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.

“Salute to President Bush!”

‘As I live, I see these kinds of sights.’

As he was escorted by the security guard motorcycle procession, Jung-hwan couldn’t help but laugh inwardly as he saw the US presidential escort vehicle passing through Kim Il-sung Square and entering the Workers’ Party of Korea No. 1 Building.

It was a scene he had created, but he even heard the impression that it was very unrealistic.

But at the same time, I felt proud.

‘North America established diplomatic ties in the 1990s… In less than three years after taking power, this is an achievement that will be published in a textbook for the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy.’

Thinking that what will happen here today will be written in bold type in the column of ‘Comrade Kim Jeong-hwan’s achievements’ in the textbooks for future generations to learn, Jung-hwan already had a satisfied smile on his lips.

‘Now, shall we go see the Emperor of Cheonjo Guk? He was also someone I wanted to meet personally and learn about international politics. Except for child education.’

“Mr President, welcome to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

“It is really nice to meet you too. General Secretary. People’s welcome…it’s amazing.”

Seeing the cheers of the people who filled Kim Il-sung Square, Bush made a surprised expression as if it was unexpected, Jung-hwan showed him a meaningful smile as he guided him to the guesthouse.

“Because in Joseon, people who are bold and courageous are highly valued. The Korean people responded to the President’s distribution.”

“ha ha ha. Is that so? To be honest, the opposition stopped me from coming here.”

“Will the Democrats and Governor Clinton compete against President Clinton? A person who has never been to war and is even suspected of evading military service, which one would the American voters prefer compared to the president who won two wars, once on the front line and once at the White House? Veterans always have an advantage in elections.”

“…The General Secretary seems to know a lot about America.”

Bush found a surprising side to Jung-hwan once again and was deeply surprised.

As a hereditary communist country leader, I thought that there would be limits to how openly they were, because, aside from their smooth English, they seemed to have a very good understanding of the American election system and physiology.

This thought was further strengthened when an aide informed him that the North Korean soldiers who had met him when he got off Air Force One earlier were also selected as veterans of the Gulf War in Iraq.

This information must have been reported live on American TV by CNN reporters who accompanied the visiting group and were looking for an opportunity to spy on them.

It was clear that this was a measure to quietly persuade the American people who still have a reluctance to North Korea by highlighting the Gulf War, which served as a pretext for improving relations between the United States and North Korea, in the media as much as possible.

‘Your friend, you prepared for today’s meeting with great care. I really don’t know what to say from now on.’

Eventually, the two leaders who entered the guesthouse were left alone to complete the first schedule prepared by the North Korean side.

Unlike usual visits like this, which begin with a dinner or a reading of a welcome speech, the first meeting, unexpectedly, was a garden walk meeting between the two leaders.

“Because I hate pretentiousness. I have full control over the media in my country, but not the foreign press.”

“General Secretary Kim is very honest. I can say this because I don’t have a camera, but I like it.”

“It is said that freedom of expression is important, but sometimes we lose a war to be won because of it. President Bush would have known…”

‘President Bush is a former CIA director. He spent his youth in the intelligence service at the end of the Nixon administration, when he was embroiled in anti-war public opinion in the country because he failed to control information in the Vietnam War.’

Jeonghwan’s intentions were right.

Bush was the president of the United States who valued freedom of expression above all else, but this time he smiled bitterly with an expression of empathy.

“Hahaha… you did a good job keeping the reporters away. As a leader of a democratic country, I can once again say that I do not have a camera… but personally, I really sympathize with you. It seems that the power of the private media is growing more than the government these days…”

‘Slowly, the consensus building work is coming to an end, so let’s get to the point.’

Junghwan made a decision and blew a rice cake.

“Ah, I also agree with freedom of expression in a principled sense. But the press and freedom are what we have to win the war. What good is freedom of the press if a country that does not agree with those values wins and takes over the world?”

“The Cold War is already coming to an end. But will there be another war?”

“there is. No, maybe a bigger war has begun. There are already signs of that.”

“…Hmm, that’s interesting. By telling me this, does that mean that North Korea will stand on our side in that war? like this war? Then, who will we, me and General Secretary Kim, be the common enemy?”

‘See what you ask when you know everything, if no one else knows, but you know better, right? Say this with my mouth?’

It was a seemingly casual question, but from the look of George Bush, he realized that this question was actually his purpose for this visit.

Bush had exactly the same thoughts as he did, and he is now asking Junghwan if he is willing to perform ‘that role’.

But I can’t believe Junghwan yet, so I guess he’s trying to make up his mind.

I felt dirty inside as a new employee who had to go through a pressure interview at a company, but now I have no choice.

Junghwan immediately answered the question.

“Of course it is China. Isn’t it obvious?”

There was silence between the two for a moment.

It is imperative to avoid directly exposing one’s inner feelings and true goals in negotiations between countries in general, and especially in negotiations with countries such as North Korea.

But Junghwan decided that the situation was different now.

In this age when the tensions of nuclear war have not yet completely subsided, there are not many people other than George Herbert Walker Bush who are serious about China’s potential and dangers, even after the bloodshed at Tiananmen Square.

For most Americans today, the ‘enemies’ were the Soviet Union, or Russia, and most politicians did not differ too much.

However, the father Bush, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and the head of the liaison office in China during Richard Nixon’s visit to Beijing, would have foreseen China’s potential and that they would emerge as a major enemy of the United States within 20 years at the most.

‘It’s lucky for me. Because he knows what value North Korea can have in the future US global strategy. It feels bad, but for now, we have to approach it with the idea of sharing and understanding the strategic goals rather than exposing them.’

From an objective point of view, the present North Korea is in a position like a beginner who has just started reform and opening up and is taking the first step towards social advancement, and the opponent is a world empire holding the hegemony of this earth.

It is natural that the positions are not the same, and it is not unusual to beg for employment.

In such a situation, Jeonghwan judged that only needlessly concealing his inner feelings would only amplify the opponent’s vigilance.

“……It’s surprising. I thought North Korea was a friendly country with China in the past.”

“There are no permanent enemies or permanent friends in diplomacy. President. Especially when it comes to countries that are close to each other.”

‘Pretending not to know, I didn’t come here directly knowing that there would be a backlash in Korea because you have the same intention. Of course, there was the thought of being re-elected…’

When he thought of re-election, Junghwan shook his head for a moment with a different thought.

If Clinton, who was relatively accommodating to China, became US president, it would have been clear that sanctions on China would be lifted much sooner.

And that meant that the validity period of the role or position that North Korea could play in the US global strategy as a substitute for China and a checker at the same time was shortened much faster.

It is said that the number of ground troops dispatched significantly decreased due to the participation of the two Koreas in the Gulf War at the same time, but how do you prevent this father Bush from being knocked down by Clinton’s ‘The problem is the economy’ attack?

“President, there is a saying in East Asia called ‘Wonkyo Geun Gong (遠交近攻)’. Do you know what this means ?”