Chapter 820: Tensions Rise Between China and North Korea

The world’s eyes, aware of the conflict between China and North Korea, were focused on Pyongyang.

“Welcome, Prime Minister.”

Jang Seong-taek greeted Wen Jiabao as he stepped off the plane.

Wen Jiabao, equally pleased, returned the greeting.

“It’s been a while, Chairman.”

The scene of their handshake and embrace was captured by the invited media from various countries.

After completing all the scheduled formalities, Jang Seong-taek and Wen Jiabao were finally able to hold their talks.

“Hah… this is quite the chore.”

“Now that your position as Chairman has changed, it’s unavoidable, wouldn’t you agree?”

As Wen Jiabao stated, Jang Seong-taek was now the supreme leader in charge of North Korea.

Nodding, Jang Seong-taek looked at Wen Jiabao.

“Although my position has changed, I still think of you as a decent person, Prime Minister. We have had a relationship for a long time. However, I cannot forgive what your country did to our Republic this time. To instigate and support a coup from behind…”

“… That was not the will of our government. Didn’t Chairman Hu Jintao publicly state that he supports you?”

“Even if he says he supports me after the fact, it doesn’t erase what happened, does it?”

Wen Jiabao frowned at Jang Seong-taek’s harsh reaction.

But he quickly composed himself and continued to speak calmly.

“Our government supports you, Chairman, and intends to provide your country with the maximum aid as a friendly ally.”

“An ally. You may think so, Prime Minister, but does Chairman Hu Jintao think the same? I cannot trust Chairman Hu Jintao. Of course, I know the situation. That Chairman Hu Jintao is in hiding due to an assassination threat. But that’s just an excuse.”

“Hey! Chairman, that’s crossing the line.”

“Am I crossing the line? It’s not our Republic that crossed the line first, but your country.”

Even with Wen Jiabao’s words, Jang Seong-taek remained unyielding.

As the atmosphere tensed, all the participants from both countries who were at the meeting also stiffened their expressions.

“We have already conveyed our apologies several times through the ambassador.”

“Anyone can offer a verbal apology.”

The conversation between the two continued to go nowhere.

“Chairman. Let’s talk just the two of us.”

Feeling that nothing could be accomplished this way, Wen Jiabao sighed and made a proposal.

Surprisingly, Jang Seong-taek accepted the proposal without hesitation.

Jang Seong-taek spoke to the stiff-faced Foreign Minister.

“Foreign Minister Baek Nam-soon, please guide the diplomatic corps from China separately. Please go enjoy the party at the banquet hall.”

“Yes, Comrade Chairman.”

Bowing his head, Baek Nam-soon followed Jang Seong-taek’s orders and led the other diplomatic envoys out of the conference room.

Only Jang Seong-taek and Wen Jiabao remained in the conference room to continue their discussion.

“Chairman, now that it’s just the two of us, let’s speak frankly.”

“Very well.”

“What do you want? What exactly do you want, Chairman?”

“That’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself, Prime Minister.”

It seemed they had created a tense atmosphere because of prying eyes, but even alone their reactions weren’t much different from before.

Wen Jiabao sighed deeply and met Jang Seong-taek’s eyes.

“Are you saying you won’t restore relations with us? Do you think that’s helpful for North Korea?”

“I cannot trust China. Of course, I trust you, Prime Minister, as a friend. An old friend. But, I can no longer trust the Chinese government.”

The problem was that Jang Seong-taek’s distrust of China was too deep-seated.

Finally, Wen Jiabao decided to bring up the name.

“…Did Kim Mu-hyeok say anything?”

“I received a call. He told me to resolve things amicably.”

“Since we share a border, our government needs to restore relations with North Korea. We will concede a lot, so let’s talk. We’ve already been warned by Kim Mu-hyeok that we would have to concede quite a lot. It’s not you, but us that are in a tough position.”

Only then did Jang Seong-taek’s hardened face soften slightly.

During Kim Jong-il’s reign, North Korea had no choice but to be dragged around by China.

But now, having solidified relationships with South Korea, Russia, and Japan, and engaged in major joint ventures, their reliance on China had greatly decreased.

If things continued this way, China’s influence on the Republic would almost disappear.

Knowing better than anyone that it was China, not North Korea, who was in a rush, Jang Seong-taek was holding out like this.

And after holding out, a nibble finally came.

—Rather than receiving a formal apology, focus on getting things that will benefit the North Korean economy. What North Korea needs now is the economy, not some empty apology. Remember. First is the economy, and second is also the economy. North Korea cannot exist if it cuts ties with China forever. And this applies to China as well. However, China also has its bottom line so come to an agreement within reasonable limits.

That was the request Kim Mu-hyeok made in a call from Seoul before Wen Jiabao visited Pyongyang.

“Then…”

Following Kim Mu-hyeok’s advice, Jang Seong-taek began to list the things he wanted to gain from China in exchange for normalizing diplomatic relations.

The more Jang Seong-taek listed his demands, the more Wen Jiabao’s expression hardened.

“Aren’t those demands excessive?”

“If you think my life is worth less than that, then there’s nothing more to say. From now on, I will treat you as a friend, Prime Minister, but don’t expect more from me than that.”

What Jang Seong-taek demanded from China was mostly economic aid.

But he wanted a scale several times larger than what China had originally agreed to.

“It wasn’t our Republic that unilaterally broke the agreement between countries, it was China. Am I making excessive demands?”

“If you put it that way, wasn’t it North Korea that stopped the Sinuiju development that we agreed to?”

“Since China struck first, we simply made a reasonable counterattack.”

Not giving an inch, sharp answers kept coming back.

Wen Jiabao sighed deeply and spoke.

“I will talk to Chairman Hu Jintao. If we accept all those demands, can we start the Sinuiju development again?”

“If you accept all the demands, our Republic will consider China our ally again.”

The two continued their talks, reaching several agreements.

While they negotiated, the night deepened.

Jang Seong-taek checked the clock on the wall and stood up.

“Let’s head to the banquet hall for now. We can discuss the details again tomorrow. You also need Chairman Hu Jintao’s permission to give me a definite answer, right, Prime Minister?”

Although Wen Jiabao had the authority, he still needed permission from Hu Jintao.

Wen Jiabao and Jang Seong-taek opened the doors to the banquet hall.

The jovial atmosphere filled with drinks and food vanished instantly as if it were a lie.

Jang Seong-taek gave a gentle wave of his hand with a friendly smile.

“Why is everyone so stiff on this fine day? Everyone should enjoy the banquet. Isn’t that right, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao?”

Nodding, Wen Jiabao and Jang Seong-taek walked together through the center.

They reached the round table at the very front. The two of them raised their wine glasses and spoke.

“To the friendship between our Republic and China!”

“Cheers!”

The music that had been paused filled the banquet hall again, and the first day of talks ended.

* * *

Tension gripped China following Tian Liangyu’s downfall.

The Shanghai Party Committee and government called for stability and reform, while the central government and media declared rooting out corruption to be their top priority.

The Shanghai Communist Party’s mouthpiece, the Liberation Daily, laid low by issuing a commentary supporting the central government’s decision regarding Shanghai.

At the same time, rumors spread in Beijing that Chairman Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s political faction had taken over Jiang Zemin’s Shanghai faction.

It was only natural that the tension was even greater in Shanghai, the source of the rumors.

Xu Guanchang, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Politburo, was urgently dispatched to Shanghai on the day Tian Liangyu was dismissed and arrested.

He participated in an enlarged Shanghai meeting, presided over by Han Jung, the acting temporary Shanghai Party Secretary. He emphasized the integrity of party officials and declared war on the rampant corruption throughout Shanghai.

Then, Han Jung, the Shanghai Mayor from the Shanghai faction, stepped forward to support the decision, officially marking the surrender of the Shanghai faction.

Meanwhile, news spread throughout China through the state-run media that Bo Xilai had been appointed as the new Shanghai Party Secretary.

“It feels like a long time since I’ve been to Shanghai.”

I arrived at Hongqiao International Airport to attend Bo Xilai’s inauguration party.

After Pudong International Airport was completed, most international routes were moved to Pudong Airport, while Hongqiao Airport was repurposed as a domestic-only airport.

However, with the permission of the Chinese government, I was exceptionally allowed to land my private jet at Hongqiao Airport.

As soon as I exited the airport, I couldn’t help but click my tongue. The number of guards surrounding me was excessive.

There were dozens of guards visible to my eyes alone.

“Isn’t this too much?”

Although the security level had been raised to the highest, this was too conspicuous.

“Black Bear and I both believe it’s not enough.”

I couldn’t help but nod at Manager Ma’s firm tone.

They were doing it for my safety, so there was nothing more I could say.

I got into the prepared car and departed for the location where the inauguration party was being held.

“Did you tell all the representatives of the Chinese companies we invested in to come to the party? What did they say?”

“They all contacted us saying they would attend.”

After Wen Jiabao visited North Korea, the pressure on the companies I invested in vanished at once, as promised.

I had summoned them all to Shanghai.

Among them, some had tried to stay loyal to me until the end, while others had tried to cut ties with me as the Chinese government requested.

“That’s fortunate. Let’s sort things out today.”

Manager Ma nodded when I spoke with a chilling smile.

I had no intention of letting those who had turned their backs on me when I was struggling to go unpunished.

Thanks to landing at Hongqiao Airport, we were able to reach the party location quickly.

The location of the party was being controlled by the Armed Police and the People’s Liberation Army.

As a number of vehicles, including the one I was in, approached the barricades, the Armed Police aimed their guns at us.

“We’ll need to verify your identities. Please get out of the cars.”

“Boss, I’ll sort it out.”

I nodded at Manager Ma’s words.

Manager Ma got out of the car and started talking to the soldiers.

“We came from Korea.”

The commander, visibly nervous, asked after Manager Ma spoke.

“Are you perhaps Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok?”

“The boss is inside. The other vehicles are full of guards to protect him. I believe this has been discussed already.”

“Yes, I was informed. Still, we need to verify your faces…”

Before the man could finish his sentence, Manager Ma cut him off coldly.

“Are you telling the boss to get out of the car right now?”

“That, that’s the principle…”

They were going to get someone killed at this rate. Before the conversation dragged on, I rolled down the window and called for Manager Ma.

“It’s fine, Manager Ma. It’s their job. Let them check.”

The Armed Police, looking delighted, turned their heads toward me.

Having already memorized my face, they recognized me through the open window and saluted with disciplined posture.

“Welcome, Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok!”

Manager Ma, glaring indifferently at the highly disciplined Armed Police, got back into the car, and the barricades opened immediately.

We went through the opened barricades and further inside.

I couldn’t help but be surprised to see that the entire downtown area of Shanghai was under control to hold the Party Secretary’s inauguration party.

Bo Xilai was an unfamiliar figure to the citizens of Shanghai.

That seemed to be the reason why the inauguration ceremony was prepared in such a lavish manner.

A man wearing a party uniform approached us as we parked the car.

“Are you Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok?”

I nodded and the man led me with a bright smile.

The stage for the Party Secretary was built on a massive platform.

The stage was filled with the Chinese national flag and Communist Party flags.

Following the man’s guidance, I arrived at the designated seat directly in front of the stage.

It seemed like the area around me was prepared so even the guards could sit.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

I expressed my gratitude to the party member who guided me, and he waved his hand and left.

While sitting in my seat, I looked around and made eye contact with Jiang Zemin, who was sitting in the VIP seats on the stage.

He also looked at me and was glaring at me with fierce eyes.

I raised one corner of my mouth and gave him a winner’s smile.

But that confrontation didn’t last long.

“The protagonist of this inauguration ceremony, Shanghai Party Secretary Bo Xilai, will now make his entrance.”

Traditional Chinese music began to play, and Bo Xilai, dressed in traditional Chinese attire, walked towards the stage across the guest seating area.

While walking, he glanced in my direction, bowed his head slightly, and then ascended onto the stage.

“Bo Xilai. Congratulations.”

Jiang Zemin congratulated Bo Xilai on his inauguration and embraced him.

Starting with him, the inauguration ceremony for Bo Xilai began with congratulatory speeches from high-ranking officials of the Chinese Communist Party, including Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.