Chapter 184: The Corruption of the Nation

Kim Jong-il slowly approached me, his gait unsteady.

“Are you Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok? It’s a pleasure. Im Kim Jong-il.”

“Yes, I’m Kim Mu-hyeok. It’s an honor to met you, Chairman Kim Jong-il.”

Nodding, Kim Jong-il brushed past me and plopped down in the seat of honor.

“Please, take a seat, Mr. Kim.”

I carefully sat down, trying not to provoke the soldiers surrounding him.

“Everyone, step back.”

At his command, the guards took a few steps back. Yet, unlike them, Baek Cheol-soo stood still behind Kim Jong-il, like a robot.

While I was glancing at Baek Cheol-soo, Kim Jong-il’s eyes meticulously scanned me.

The awkward silence in the room was shattered when elegantly dressed women entered to prepare the drinks. The reception area was suddenly alive with noise.

As the drink setup was completed, Kim Jong-il poured liquor into his glass.

“Would you care for a drink, Mr. Kim?”

I raised my glass and stepped closer to Kim Jong-il.

But then, Baek Cheol-soo stepped forward, blocking my path.

“Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok, don’t come any cloer until the Chairman says it’s okay.”

Baek Cheol-soo warned me with a stern expression.

As expected, the guards far away reacted in the same manner.

Watching the scene unfold quietly, Kim Jong-il waved his hand, prompting Baek Cheol-soo to step back.

“Mr. Kim, come here.”

I took another step forward, and this time no one stopped me.

Pouring more liquor into my glass, Kim Jong-il remarked.

“Are you fond of drinking?”

“Yes, I can hold my own.”

“Haha, good. A man should have confidence.”

Kim Jong-il laughed loudly, extending his glass toward me while I stood there.

“Let’s drink up!”

I followed suit, downing my drink as Kim Jong-il did.

“Haha, there you go. You’re quite the drinker!”

Chuckling heartily, Kim Jong-il offered me his glass again.

I lifted the liquor bottle and refilled his glass, then once more took a drink myself.

“Please sit down. Let’s drink at our own pace now.”

The distance between where Kim Jong-il sat and my own seat made passing drinks challenging.

As soon as I sat down again, Kim Jong-il raised his glass.

“Come, let’s have another round.”

I’d heard rumors of his fondness for alcohol, but seeing it firsthand was another matter entirely.

After drinking for a while, Kim Jong-il set his glass down and began to speak.

“Mr. Kim, do you know why I called you here?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“Ah, that’s understandable.”

Pausing, Kim Jong-il poured more liquor into his glass.

Without realizing, I swallowed nervously.

What on earth could he possibly want from me?

Kim Jong-il, seemingly amused, examined my expression.

“I heard you’re searching for some citizens of the Republic, am I right?”

“Yes, I’ve requested help from the Chinese side in that regard.”

“I know this from Vice Premier Wen Jiabao. But why do you want to find them? I heard you wish to take them to China.”

It was clear that lying would just result in my words coming back to haunt me later, so I decided to speak a little truth.

“They are family members of someone I know. I wanted to help them reunite. I heard they couldn’t meet even during the separated family reunions, so I asked Vice Premier Wen Jiabao for assistance.”

In response, Kim Jong-il took a swift drink from his glass, then pulled out a cigarette. Baek Cheol-soo expertly lit it for him.

After inhaling deeply, Kim Jong-il continued.

“Our Republic is no one’s vassal. Do you think that we will grant all requests?”

Thick smoke from the cigarette began to fill the room.

“That was never my intention. I just had no connections in the Republic and thought you could assist since I knew some people in China. I mean no disrespect to the Republic.”

“Is that so?”

At that moment, I noticed Kim Jong-il’s hardened expression start to soften.

“Yes, that’s why I came to Pyongyang as requested. If you have anything you need, please let me know. I’ll help as much as I can.”

“Indeed, there needs to be some give and take. Isn’t that how people interact?”

Kim Jong-il extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, his gaze focused on me.

“What do you think about our Republic’s economy, Mr. Kim? Speak plainly, not sugar-coated.”

The economy… If I spoke honestly, wouldn’t I provoke Kim Jong-il’s wrath?

As I hesitated, Kim Jong-il added.

“You can speak frankly. I’m not a narrow-minded person.”

Fine, if he insists, I should speak up.

Finally, I said it.

“I don’t know exactly what answer you want to hear. But to put it bluntly, the Republic’s economy is in such dire straits that it seems impossible to get worse.”

Kim Jong-il quietly poured liquor into his glass.

“Outside of Pyongyang, it’s well known that people are starving.”

“…”

“With distributions from the party having already stopped, people are forming their own markets, trying to survive, but…”

As I pondered how to phrase my next words, Kim Jong-il gestured for me to continue.

“Go ahead. Don’t hold back.”

“…I understand it’s also quite difficult. The Ministry of People’s Security and the National Security Agency exploit the citizens. There are children wandering around without parents, exposed to various crimes.”

I spoke plainly about the reality of North Korea as I understood it.

“The biggest issue, though, is the nonsensical policy called the Military-First Economic Construction.”

“That’s just our means of survival.”

Kim Jong-il, who had shown little reaction to my earlier comments, immediately countered at the mention of the Military-First Economic Construction.

His response was understandable, but I couldn’t agree with it.

“Yes, I understand that it’s a choice made to maintain the system. But I will only discuss the economy, excluding political issues. This conversation may become uncomfortable, but is this enough?”

“It’s fine, keep talking.”

Though he still looked uncomfortable, Kim Jong-il took another drag of his cigarette and gestured for me to continue.

“…Trying to aggressively expand military industries without resolving immediate survival issues is a surefire way to ruin the state’s economy. This has been an issue for all past and present communist nations.”

My throat was dry from talking so much, so I took a small sip from my glass.

“Just look at China; they are doing everything possible to revive their economy through opening up. Russia is doing the same, after all.”

“The two countries are different from our Republic.”

I nodded slightly at Kim Jong-il’s stiff voice.

“Yes, there is a difference. North Korea has gone through hardships and since the 90s has recorded negative growth, but the rise back to positive growth largely relies on the markets that have emerged.”

I pointed out that the markets created for the people to survive were now a crucial pillar of North Korea’s economy.

Kim Jong-il couldn’t refute that.

“Activating the markets would solve some immediate survival issues, but that’s just an emergency measure.”

There are indeed economic experts in North Korea who studied in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

However, due to political elements, they were thoroughly ignored.

“You need to reduce spending on military industries and redirect surplus personnel to light industry.”

North Korean citizens had to spend ten valuable years in the military during their late teens to mid-twenties. Wasting that manpower solely on military training was foolish.

Just like the South Korea Army utilizes soldiers under the pretext of civil aid during farming seasons.

“There are certainly limits to the domestic market. You need to open up the economy.”

I suspected that the reason Kim Jong-il was asking me all this was that he was searching for ways to break free from the current economic dependence on China.

“The more you depend on China economically, the more you’ll have to watch your step around them. Haven’t you already given away mineral rights in the Republic to Chinese companies for pennies on the dollar?”

While South Korea has none, North Korea’s vast underground resources might be the only way to revive its economy.

Yet, North Korea, lacking mining capabilities, was selling those rights at a loss. That would undoubtedly lead to substantial losses in the long run.

“That’s simply because there were no other options available. You should open up the economy and get what it’s worth. Eventually, you should learn the mining techniques from them, mine it yourself, and then sell it.”

Given North Korea’s economic conditions that couldn’t afford many infrastructure investments, for now, the only option was to sell off the valuable underground resources.

“And…”

I hesitated, looking at Kim Jong-il. With the situation as it was, there was something I simply had to say. Kim Jong-il nodded.

“Go on.”

“…this country is incredibly corrupt.”

“What?”

Kim Jong-il shot me a sharp glare.

“It’s not just the high-ranking officials; even the low-level officials and People’s Army exploit the citizens. Reforming that should be a priority.”

“Reform, huh…”

At first glance, that could be an uncomfortable word. Kim Jong-il murmured the word ‘reform’ a few more times.

“If reform doesn’t proceed, any policy will be empty. The fact that South Korea has surpassed the Republic’s economy isn’t coincidence. It’s because the government and people worked together to survive.”

Kim Jong-il’s lips twitched at the mention of South Korea’s economy.

I was cautious, afraid of pricking his pride, so I spoke carefully.

“North and South Korea were originally one nation. We are of the same ethnicity, not a different people. I believe the Republic can do so too.”

“Do you believe South Korea’s system is superior?”

“It’s not about the superiority of the system. As you know, South Korea also went through a political dark age.”

Him saying it’s not a matter of the South’s superiority lightened Kim Jong-il’s previously tense expression.

“Furthermore, that’s not vital. What matters is that the citizens eat well and live well. If that can’t happen, there’s no meaning to a state’s existence.”

I had said everything I could.

North Korea might maintain a positive growth rate for the next few years.

However, due to American-led economic sanctions, the North’s economy would inevitably return to darkness. This was not something I could discuss.

“Reform and opening up…”

As he murmured to himself, Kim Jong-il took another drink. An uncomfortable silence lingered.

‘Did I speak too truthfully?’

I thought this much was something even Kim Jong-il was already aware of, but saying it made me feel a little regretful.

“Maintaining the system while opening up isn’t impossible, is it?”

“It’s difficult. It’s tough, but I believe it’s entirely feasible.”

“Tell me a method that won’t impact the system’s stability.”

In the end, he was someone who prioritized maintaining his power over the people’s welfare. Watching his transparent greed made me stifle a smirk.

“Concentrating all power in one person has drawbacks, but it has its advantages too.”

“Advantages?”

“The advantage is that with a ruler’s determination, anything can be executed. That’s what worries the economic delegation that came with me this time.”

North Korea, with its autocratic system, has basically turned into a lawless area.

“It’s the inability to secure investment guarantees in North Korea. You should start with mechanisms like investment guarantee agreements. If you decide on it, couldn’t you start tomorrow?”

The reasons I wouldn’t invest in North Korea aligned with those of other business leaders.

Investing without safeguards was madness.

“While being hostile to the U.S. can assist in maintaining the regime, if you compromise a little, they will gladly reach out to the Republic.”

Foreign relations have always been thoroughly calculated based on interests. I pointed this out.

“In the end, the U.S. prioritizes its interests, having no true concern for the Republic’s politics or system. If they did, the relationships with other dictatorial states that get along well with the U.S. wouldn’t make sense.”

“Are you suggesting to reach out to the U.S.?”

“Yes, of course, this does come with the basic precondition of halting nuclear development, but if you swap nuclear guarantees for regime security, it wouldn’t be a bad exchange.”

Having listened this far, Kim Jong-il pulled out another cigarette.

“You’re telling me to stop nuclear development…”

As he rotated the glass, Kim Jong-il slowly shut his eyes. His brow furrowed deep in thought.

At that moment, Baek Cheol-soo whispered something to Kim Jong-il. He nodded in response.

“Tell them to come in.”

Baek Cheol-soo stepped back, and as the door opened, Im Dong-ok entered.

Im Dong-ok stepped into the rom, bowing his head without saying a word. Upon closer inspection, his face appeared pale with fear.

“Mr. Kim, do you know about that?”

Kim Jong-il muttered as if to himself.

Baek Cheol-soo walked towards Im Dong-ok. The closer he got,the more terror filled Im Dong-ok’s expression.

“In our Republic, words and actions come with responsibility.”

The moment Kim Jong-il nodded without a care.

Bang!

A gunshot echoed in the room, and Im Dong-ok crumpled to the flor.

With an expressionless face, Baek Cheol-soo stood there, the cold muzzle of the gun letting off wisps of smoke.