The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 41

41. Nukes in Pyongyang? Incoming~

Japanese Self-Defense Forces Headquarters.

It was a national security meeting attended by the military brass and even the Prime Minister of Japan.

Japan had also issued an emergency alert to its entire military.

The Prime Minister sighed after hearing the status report from the Self-Defense Forces Commander.

“If war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula, it’s obvious they’ll attack U.S. military bases in Japan, but you’re saying we can’t launch a preemptive strike? That makes no sense!”

“Due to the pacifist constitution, any attacks outside our territory, other than for territorial defense, are unconstitutional. We should take this opportunity to request the U.S. to amend the constitution to allow for war.”

“Who doesn’t know that! The problem is right now, right now!”

“…….”

“Korea had a war, and Japan profited handsomely as a logistics base, but now we have to stand behind the U.S. and Korea and just watch. It’s frustrating, ugh!”

If the Korean Peninsula were to suddenly become communist or escalate into a war in East Asia, the Self-Defense Forces would be insufficient.

The vulnerability of Japan’s security was fully exposed.

* * *

The White House.

A National Security Council meeting was held at the Pentagon (U.S. Department of Defense).

The Pacific Commander reported.

“North Korea is showing no official or unofficial reaction and is only maintaining maximum alert. The longer the tension continues, the more it favors them. If we drag this out, we’ll get caught up in their intentions. We need a short, sharp shock.”

President Johnson of the United States pondered.

He had been Vice President under John F. Kennedy, but after Kennedy’s assassination, he succeeded to the presidency.

He oversaw relatively smooth domestic politics during the economic boom of the 1960s in the United States, but the excessive expenditure due to participation in the Vietnam War had a significant negative impact on the finances of subsequent governments.

To make up for this, the Johnson administration pursued an excessive fiscal expansion policy, printing dollars recklessly.

As a result, the U.S. economy boomed in the 1960s, but this led to a collapse in the value of the dollar, directly hitting Europe and the Middle East, causing a global economic crisis.

Ultimately, he was criticized as the originator of various global economic problems in the 1970s, such as the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, the oil shock, and stagflation [persistent high inflation combined with high unemployment and stagnant demand in a country’s economy].

Johnson said.

“We have the presidential election at the end of this year. The prolonged Vietnam War is already a drag on the election. If we add an escalation on the Korean Peninsula, it will be fatal. Not only the opposition party but also the ruling party will not approve.”

“If U.S. strategic assets withdraw here without North Korea’s apology, North Korea’s intentions will prevail. The North knows very well that the U.S. won’t attack, and that’s why they’re acting like this.”

“That’s the truth.”

“There’s a Korean saying that if you’ve drawn your sword, you should at least cut a radish [meaning if you’ve started something, you should see it through]. We must show our willingness to go to war. We have enough justification for retaliation now.”

“Alright. The Commander’s words make sense. But politically, I oppose starting a war. Is there a way to get an apology without going to war?”

If he could subdue North Korea without a war on the Korean Peninsula, he could somewhat make up for the unfavorable election prospects.

To prepare for such a situation, the South Korean president had presented Plan B, a clever trick, to the Pacific Commander.

In the future that Chairman Wang had experienced, World War III did not occur, so it was a game where the one who flinched lost, like Seotda [a Korean card game] in a game of Hwatu [Korean playing cards].

“Mr. President, I have a good idea.”

“What kind of idea is it?”

“It might be a clever way to control both North Korea and North Vietnam simultaneously.”

“I’m very curious.”

* * *

The White House.

President Johnson was on the hotline with the Soviet Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General strongly warned.

– If the United States provokes North Korea with weapons of mass destruction, you must be prepared for World War III!

“Don’t worry. We’re just trying to give them a toy as a gift.”

* * *

Whoosh~

Three B-52 strategic bombers, escorted by dozens of F-4s, entered North Korean airspace in broad daylight as if showing off.

With a length of 48m, a width of 56.4m, a weight of 221.35t, a maximum range of 20,000km, a practical ceiling of 18,000m, and a maximum speed of Mach 0.95, it was a high-altitude bomber equipped with eight engines.

North Korea was in a state of extreme emergency due to the strategic bomber’s airspace intrusion.

Wee-ooh! Wee-ooh!

“The American bastards are attacking!”

Bullets were loaded into every chamber.

“Shoot them down!”

Tu-ta-ta-ta-

The anti-aircraft guns defending Pyongyang’s airspace spewed fire.

Boom-

Boom-

Shells exploded in the sky, decorating it with fist-shaped clouds.

However, shooting down the B-52 with the range of the anti-aircraft guns was impossible.

The MiG fighters couldn’t approach because of the F-4s.

The B-52 descended to a point beyond the reach of the anti-aircraft guns and searched for its target.

The appearance of the American strategic bomber in broad daylight reminded the citizens of Pyongyang of the nightmare of the B-29 bombing during the Korean War, causing them to panic.

Whoosh~

The B-52 conspicuously took positions over Pyongyang, Hamhung, and Wonsan, respectively.

The B-52 pilot reported to the mainland.

“We are over the target. Commencing Operation Freedom Drop 2, over.”

– Approved.

The captain ordered.

“Drop Big Boy!”

The bomb bay opened, and a massive 70-ton nuclear bomb was dropped.

Phew-oong~

The bomb pierced through Earth’s gravity, whistling as it descended vertically.

They expected dozens of shells to scatter and fall, but when only one giant shell fell, the North’s command was even more terrified.

“Ah, it’s a nuclear bomb!”

The North Korean command in Pyongyang had taken refuge in underground tunnels.

However, Kim Il-sung’s jaw trembled when he received reports that nuclear bombs had been dropped simultaneously in three locations.

“The, the American bastards are really going to drop a nuke!”

He thought the U.S. would stop at a show of strategic assets, but their first response was immediately a nuke. He had been completely caught off guard.

“We’re trying to save Vietnam, but North Korea is about to be destroyed!”

He sent urgent reports to the Soviet Union and China, but what good would their intervention do after being devastated by a nuke?

The anti-aircraft gunners defending Pyongyang had to witness the scene of the massive streamlined shell falling with their own eyes.

Phew-oong~

The heavy bomb plunged into the roof of the Workers’ Party building in North Korea.

Thud, Bang!

“Agh!”

Just seeing the nuclear explosion’s skull cloud and flash would blind you, but if a nuke exploded within visual range, your body would be charred black and scattered into the air as black ash.

“Huh?”

The anti-aircraft gunner, who had instinctively buried his head, doubted his ears at the silent stillness.

“Am I dead?”

He cautiously raised his head.

There was no skull cloud of terror.

The middle of the Workers’ Party building was caved in and collapsing as if hit by a sledgehammer.

“A dud!”

The People’s Army soldiers cheered.

Wow!

The B-52 circled Pyongyang once and disappeared into the East Sea.

Whoosh~

Kim Il-sung received the report in the underground bunker.

“The nuclear bombs dropped on Pyongyang, Hamhung, and Wonsan are all duds.”

“Duds?”

“Heaven is helping our Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

“Hmm, is that so? Are there any additional movements?”

“The bomber has left our territory, and there are no foreign enemies invading our territory. It seems the American bastards have completely minimized their invasion since the nuclear bombs were duds.”

“Really? Hmm, something feels off.”

Meanwhile, the bomb disposal squad gathered near the Workers’ Party building.

They carefully lifted the shell with a crane from among the collapsed buildings.

“There are some letters written on the shell’s body.”

Indeed, the following was written in English with paint on the surface of the nuclear bomb.

– Apologize and you will live!

The same phrase was written on the nuclear bombs that fell on Wonsan and Hamhung.

The leadership, sensing something strange, disassembled the nuclear bomb.

And they made an astonishing report to the Chairman.

“The inside of the nuclear bomb is empty.”

“What? Empty?”

“There were no devices inside.”

“What? It was just a lump of scrap metal?”

“That’s right.”

A messenger ran in and reported.

“An urgent message has been received from Panmunjom [the Joint Security Area between North and South Korea] in the name of the U.S. Pacific Commander.”

“Really? What does it say?”

“If you do not immediately apologize for this Pueblo incident and the January 21st Blue House raid, you will experience a real nuclear bomb. That’s what it says.”

Immediately after the two incidents, it was a request that the Armistice Commission and the United States had made countless times, but it had never felt so real as it did now.

* * *

A few days later, an urgent telegram arrived in Washington from Pyongyang with the following content:

– To the esteemed President Johnson of the United States,

We express our deepest regret and sincere apology for the recent Pueblo incident.

Although it was an accidental incident caused by the excessive loyalty of some radical elements, we take full responsibility as the chief responsible party and promise the United States that we will prevent a recurrence.

In addition, we will compensate for human and material damages and will implement specific details through negotiations.

– Chairman Kim Il-sung of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea –

The effect of the fake nuclear bomb was nuclear bomb-level.

Since it was not an actual air raid, it blocked the justification for the Soviet Union and China to intervene, and North Korea was given a sufficient nuclear bomb experience learning.

Thus, North Korea’s support for North Vietnam ended in a short period with North Korea’s apology, contrary to Chairman Wang’s era.

However, the North never apologized for the January 21st Blue House raid.

* * *

There were many changes in South Korea after January 21st.

A resident identification card proving Korean citizenship was created.

The reserve forces system and military training subjects were newly established.

The discharge of military soldiers was postponed by six months, and guerrilla training was created with the goal of promoting strong physical fitness to suppress the armed spies.

The 3rd Military Academy was established in addition to the Military Academy as a commander’s school.

The Ulchi-Freedom Guardian exercise, aimed at actual combat, was also decided to be held every year.

The Counterintelligence Corps changed its name to the Defense Security Command in September of that year.

The President held two people accountable for the failure to prevent enemy forces from infiltrating near the Blue House.

* * *

Ministry of National Defense.

Noh Tae-woo, the commander of the Capital Defense Command, bowed his head in front of the President sitting on the sofa.

The President asked.

“What is the mission of the Capital Defense Command?”

“To defend the capital!”

This time, he asked the Minister of National Defense.

“What is the duty of the Minister of National Defense?”

“To defend the territory!”

The President said.

“The armistice line has been breached, and the capital has been breached. You know what I’m trying to say, right?”

“I will take responsibility!”

“Return to being an ordinary person.”

The President accepted their resignations on the spot.

* * *

The President’s office.

Chief of Security Jang Tae-hwan rushed in.

“Your Excellency, did you call for me?”

“Welcome, Chief of Security.”

“What’s the matter?”

“The Chief of Security has worked hard, but I need to make some changes to your position this time.”

“A change of position?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency. I haven’t been able to fully ensure security, and there have been many shortcomings.”

The Chief of Security was taking it as a demotion.

The President said.

“You’ll have to go to the Minister of National Defense.”

“Yes? Did you say the Ministry of National Defense?”

“I held them responsible for the January 21st incident and dismissed the current Minister of National Defense and Noh Tae-woo, the commander of the Capital Defense Command.”

“Ah! But would I be fit for such a position?”

“I had already decided on you as the Minister of National Defense from the beginning. I deliberately put you in the position of Chief of Security, which didn’t suit your aptitude, to add experience to your resume. Now that someone from the Blue House is the Minister of National Defense, who would say anything.”

“Your Excellency….”

He couldn’t finish his sentence, overwhelmed with emotion.

This time, the Chief of Staff and Deputy Prime Minister came in.

The President said.

“We should cancel the 1970 Seoul Asian Games.”