Chapter 459: I Wish It Hadn’t Come to This

There was no need to use democracy as justification.

All they needed to do was oust Kim Jong-il, force him to step down as a symbolic figure and restructure the political system into a collective leadership under Jang Seong-taek.

“You want to remove Kim Jong-il?”

“Yes. Kim Jong-il is always the variable when trying to do business with North Korea. I’ve met with him multiple times for discussions and tried persuading him through friendly means. But he’s the type to change his mind on a whim. You can’t progress with someone like that.”

“But in North Korea the Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il family are known as the Mount Paektu bloodline. To the North Korean people they’re practically a religion. Surely we considered this too? The risks outweigh any potential benefits.”

So China had been considering various options too. I nodded as I observed Wen Jiabao’s gloomy expression.

“You’re right. The chances of failure are higher. There’s a lot to lose. However Jang Seong-taek would accept it. You know his ambitions better than I do Premier.”

“…True. He does want a collective leadership system like ours. But North Korea is different from us.”

I internally scoffed. Different my ass.

The Soviets made Lenin into a divine figure and China did the same with Mao Zedong.

They all used their leaders as tools to maintain their systems.

Even now Lenin and Mao Zedong’s bodies remain unburied displayed in permanent preservation for the masses to view.

This was the fate and destiny of communist nation leaders.

Even in death they couldn’t rest peacefully being used by their successors to strengthen their power.

Kim Il-sung’s body was also permanently preserved and worshipped in what they called the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

“What if Mao Zedong had passed power to his bloodline like Kim Il-sung did?”

“That would never happen! The Chairman would never do such a thing.”

Wen Jiabao responded firmly his voice rising slightly at the mention of Mao Zedong.

I shook my head and said:

“That’s why I posed it as a hypothetical. If Mao Zedong had decided to pass power to his bloodline would the Chinese people have opposed it?”

“…”

Wen Jiabao couldn’t answer readily.

He knew the people wouldn’t have opposed it.

“They probably would have accepted it. That’s how revered Mao Zedong was by the people.”

“…Are you saying North Korea is the same as us?”

Wen Jiabao openly displayed his discomfort.

No matter how rational this man was he was still Chinese through and through.

He too was a typical Chinese person who believed China was a great power and Chinese people were the center of the world.

“No. You’re different. But there are many similarities too. For example when Mao Zedong died he requested cremation but his successors preserved his body to use it to strengthen their power didn’t they? North Korea saw that and did the same with Kim Il-sung’s body.”

“That’s…”

Wen Jiabao trailed off.

“I’m not trying to criticize. That’s just how communist nations operate. Politics is all theater isn’t it? But Premier you know as well as I do how much damage was done when all power was concentrated in Mao Zedong’s hands.”

“…Since Chairman Mao we no longer concentrate power in one person.”

Though things would change again with time currently power was divided between three factions.

“I know. That’s why we should change North Korea the same way. Even if they maintain a communist state let’s open up their economy like China and put someone we can reason with at the top. You handle the political aspects while I’ll handle the economic benefits.”

“…But is it possible? The U.S. and Russia won’t sit idly by.”

“This venture doesn’t go against Russia’s interests. The U.S. and Japan will oppose it but we can handle that somehow.”

If this went according to my plans there would be substantial gains.

A continental railway stretching from South Korea through North Korea to China and Russia.

Once connected all cargo could be transported by rail all the way to Europe.

This needed to be dealt with before China grew any larger.

The moment China became large enough to threaten the U.S. containment would inevitably follow.

No matter how I looked at it now was the perfect timing.

South Korea had a new president and China had a new chairman.

The U.S. was pouring all its national power into the Middle East and Russia had no reason to oppose only reasons to welcome it.

“Think about it. A train departing from Korea passing through North Korea connecting to Russia and China and ultimately reaching Europe? This would surely benefit China too. But as long as Kim Jong-il remains in Pyongyang nobody will venture into this project. Starting with me.”

“…Are you talking about the Eurasian Continental Railway?”

When I nodded Wen Jiabao’s expression became subtle.

“Do you think that’s possible? It’s a project that’s been dragged on for decades. It’s only been discussed but always fizzled out due to national interests.”

The railway project connecting Asia and Europe was a venture with huge interests at stake.

However until now only a minimal number of inter-country railway connections had been established.

Though they talked about rail gauge problems and such the real issues were the watchful eyes of hegemonic powers and money.

“Europe is already connected by a single railway system. It’s just a matter of connecting that through Russia and China. With transport times reduced by over ten days who wouldn’t want to do it?”

Since I couldn’t overthrow the North Korean regime alone I had to share information with Wen Jiabao even at a loss.

Wen Jiabao was visibly deep in thought sighing heavily. I decided to give him some time.

After finishing his contemplation Wen Jiabao spoke:

“…I’ll discuss this with Hu Jintao when I return home.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

I don’t fully trust Hu Jintao.

Who knows what someone so deeply ingrained with self-preservation might do? There was no need to take unnecessary risks.

“But I can’t do anything without Hu Jintao’s permission.”

“We can discuss this after Jang Seong-taek has secured control of North Korea. Security is crucial right now.”

“…You don’t trust Hu Jintao?”

Looking directly into Wen Jiabao’s eyes I replied firmly:

“No. I trust you Premier not Hu Jintao. If I hadn’t connected with you first I might have allied with Jiang Zemin instead.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was quite amusing that while claiming to trust me he naturally assumed I was capable of murder.

“Alright. I won’t tell anyone for now.”

“Yes. And please keep pressuring them to send Jang Seong-taek. Given North Korea’s current economic situation they’ll starve if relations with China sour. With strong pressure they won’t be able to refuse.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Then when the three of us meet we can decide how to proceed. Discussions among multiple parties might yield better ideas.”

Though I’d already planned everything out I couldn’t reveal that now.

I checked my wristwatch and said:

“We should start moving now. We don’t want to be late for the banquet.”

Wen Jiabao checked the time too and nodded.

“It’s already this late? Time flew by. Let’s go Mr. Kim.”

Until we reached the Blue House from the hotel we discussed many things.

When we arrived many people had already gathered at the Blue House Guest House.

We headed straight to the second floor of the Guest House used for the banquet.

The place was elaborately decorated with bay laurel and mugunghwa flowers.

I said to Wen Jiabao:

“Then I’ll see you later Premier.”

“Yes. See you next month in Beijing.”

After parting with Wen Jiabao I looked for Medvedev.

Finding him wasn’t difficult. I spotted Medvedev sitting at a round table with others and walked toward him.

But before I could reach Medvedev Secretary of State Powell caught me.

“Charlie.”

“Secretary Powell.”

I stopped and approached the round table where Powell was seated.

“You called?”

“Going to Medvedev?”

“Haha yes. He’s probably the closest friend I have here.”

This was a fact Powell knew well.

After all I was the one who negotiated Russia’s abstention from the UN Security Council resolution on the Iraq War through Powell.

Powell nodded.

“I envy Medvedev. Mr. Kim could you spare me some time before the banquet starts?”

I checked my watch. There was still some time left before the official start of the banquet.

“Alright let’s do that.”

As I sat next to Powell he glanced around briefly before getting straight to the point:

“Washington is keeping a close eye on the Patrick Vice President murder case.”

I figured as much. Valtiche’s dog had already come sniffing around too so I’d suspected this.

“Of course. Patrick was killed in Korea and the suspect is practically the head of a major Korean corporation.”

“Some people are raising suspicions about you too. Though those who know you firmly believe that’s impossible.”

I smiled at Powell’s words.

“What do you think Secretary Powell?”

“I feel the same. If you had killed him you wouldn’t have handled it so sloppily.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was quite amusing that while claiming to trust me he naturally assumed I was capable of murder.

“Indeed. Recently the CIA Korea branch chief came to pressure me. Are you aware of this?”

“That happened?”

Powell asked back instead. So even the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State didn’t know.

Information must have been blocked somewhere.

“As you know I maintain a friendly stance toward the U.S. Though I’m Korean by nationality. If this continues I might have to reconsider my position.”

“…I apologize for that. Let me apologize on their behalf. The CIA as an organization is just like that.”

Powell expressed his apology first. This would be difficult to pursue further.

But I had no intention of letting it slide completely.

“I’ll accept the apology. However I’d like the CIA Korea branch chief replaced. This kind of pressure makes me uncomfortable.”

“Understood. I’ll discuss it with Bush when I return to Washington and make a decision.”

Having used the stick it was time to offer the carrot.

“Thank you for your consideration. You may already know but Dream High has just acquired control of Ilseong Electronics. Once things stabilize we plan to build factories in the U.S. Depending on how the U.S. responds we might even move our headquarters there.”

“Is that true?”

Nothing was certain yet. But some expectation building was necessary so I avoided giving a definite answer.

“It’s being discussed. Anyway we’re thinking of separating the mobile device and home appliance businesses from semiconductors and moving the newly established semiconductor division to the U.S.”

“Oh? Semiconductors?”

“There’s a lot of overlap with Jungwoo Electronics which I own. We need to avoid monopoly concerns don’t we?”

The semiconductor business wasn’t about the present but the future.

Building factories that could create many jobs was practically a national project.

Powell nodded slightly at the mention of monopoly.

“True we need to be careful about that. There’s already talk about regulation. The aftershocks of this semiconductor chicken game have swept through the U.S. economy.”

The U.S. which supported free markets would strike hard with strong regulations when its interests were threatened.

“If you really have such plans we’ll provide various benefits including tax breaks.”

“That would be appreciated.”

“By the way is it really true that Seo Jae-hoon killed Patrick? No matter how I think about it I can’t understand how he could kill someone with his own hands… and an American at that.”

“The trial will start soon. You can judge after seeing the trial results. But as someone who was at the scene I can tell you that man is definitely the culprit.”

Powell’s face hardened at my confident statement. While rubbing his chin to compose himself Powell spoke again:

“This issue will come up in today’s meeting with the President.”

“The President will promise strong punishment.”

“He better. Otherwise we might have to take him ourselves for investigation.”

Though it would violate sovereignty America could do it if they set their mind to it.

While his words were unpleasant I could only nod in agreement.