The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 205

205. Nobel Peace Prize

The Standing Committee of China.

The military chairman pointed to a map and explained.

“We have concentrated the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd corps in the Xinjiang Uyghur region.”

Deng Xiaoping said.

“Wipe them out! It’s okay to eliminate half the population of Urumqi! No, eliminate them all if necessary!”

Having effectively lost the confrontation with Korea, there was no room for mercy. They needed to completely suppress even internal rebellions to justify maintaining power.

However, the commander of the Strategic Forces revealed critical information.

“According to intelligence, the rebellion was not a spontaneous armed uprising. There was external intervention.”

“External? Which country did such a thing?”

“Afghanistan is providing support.”

“Afghanistan!”

“They share the same tribe and religion, so there is a strong bond.”

“That damn religion! Religion is opium! But is the evidence solid?”

“It’s captured in these aerial photos. They are dispatching a large number of weapons, even commandos disguised as partisans, through the corridor to carry out military operations.”

Deng Xiaoping said.

“So, their firepower was strong enough to annihilate the armored units.”

“It’s not just a matter of suppressing Xinjiang Uyghur. It is imperative to block the supply route from Afghanistan.”

“That’s a valid point.”

The military chairman said.

“Chairman, instead of just sealing the border with Afghanistan, how about we strike Afghanistan this time? They will surely continue to incite the separation of Xinjiang Uyghur. Moreover, conducting rebel activities across the border is practically an invasion.”

Deng Xiaoping’s eyes lit up.

The thought of making up for the humiliation on the Korean Peninsula by invading Afghanistan flashed through his mind.

“That’s it, that’s it! There is clear evidence that Afghanistan is supporting the rebels, so let’s attack immediately!”

“Do we retake Xinjiang Uyghur later?”

“The suppression period will be prolonged, but we will suppress Xinjiang Uyghur with some troops, and the main forces must cross the border first. We will gather all one million troops in Afghanistan and Uyghur. What we need is a war between nations! Now, let’s begin the westward advance!”

The main forces heading to Urumqi turned towards the border area with Afghanistan.

*

The people of both North and South Korea approved the Unification Law with over 90% support.

Seoul Government Complex.

The leaders of North and South Korea gathered to draw up a blueprint for balanced development.

“The development gap between North and South Korea is so severe right now that we need to create quality jobs in North Korea to prevent a large-scale southward migration of North Korean residents. We need to carry out a massive reconstruction project and see results within three years to achieve stability.”

“That’s right. We cannot forcibly prevent free movement, so we must reduce the income gap to encourage settlement.”

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy said.

“First, we must remove the barbed wire and clear the landmines from the 155-mile armistice line [the Demilitarized Zone or DMZ]. Then, we must move the North Korean oil pipeline, railways, roads, and ports northward.”

The Minister of Labor said.

“To create jobs in the North, we need to build large-scale heavy and chemical industrial complexes. Wages must also be set at the same level as in the South to prevent unilateral southward migration.”

The Senior Secretary for Public Affairs said.

“Before such industries, we must first unify broadcasting. Seoul and Pyongyang have different transmission methods, which must be unified to the Korean style. We must establish educational programs for homogenization and share cultural homogeneity first.”

“That’s a good point. Because the words are different and the emotions are different, we can’t understand each other, so we need to match our eye levels for three years to become one in heart.”

President Jeong was also present at this meeting.

In fact, he held the most important key.

The enormous unification costs could never be covered by taxes alone, so fund investments were essential for all these blueprints.

President Jeong said.

“Reconstruction and development in North Korea will require astronomical costs. National funds alone are not enough. I will hold an investment briefing on Wall Street to attract investors. I will also request support from the Asian Development Bank fund or the IMF [International Monetary Fund].”

“Please, President Jeong!”

In effect, North Korea’s reconstruction and balanced development depended on President Jeong’s ability to secure investment.

*

China.

The spokesperson for the Central Military Commission read a statement in front of domestic and foreign journalists.

“Afghanistan has supplied weapons and terrorists to Xinjiang Uyghur, inciting armed rebellion and promoting separation and independence! This is a clear act of aggression! Therefore, China resolutely rejects foreign invasion and declares war on Afghanistan to eradicate the origin of the rebels!”

This was largely a venting of frustration over the humiliation on the Korean Peninsula.

The declaration of war by China invading Afghanistan dominated the headlines of news around the world that day.

*

Bang! Bang!

Boom! Kaboom!

The Chinese army initiated the war with a bombardment of the Wakhan Corridor, which borders Afghanistan.

They shelled the land day and night for three days, and bombers circled like flocks of crows in the sky, bombing to secure the entry route.

Roar~

With armored units at the forefront, a million troops surged in like a wave.

Afghanistan resisted desperately, but it could not keep up with the Chinese army in terms of sheer volume.

China, having occupied the capital Kabul within a month of the war’s start, declared victory.

Deng Xiaoping and the leadership were intoxicated with victory, having completely washed away the humiliation on the Korean Peninsula.

But that was a delusion.

The Afghan government forces and the Taliban did not engage in direct confrontation but repeatedly retreated, beginning to employ guerrilla tactics in the mountains and cities.

China installed pro-China figures as leaders and stationed the People’s Liberation Army, but it was only the prelude to a long war.

The assassination of high-ranking Chinese officials and pro-China figures, and surprise attacks on Chinese military units occurred day and night.

China was unknowingly walking into a deep swamp of destruction, repeating the history of the Soviet Union.

*

Presidential Office.

The Chief of Staff reported with a bright smile.

“Your Excellency, congratulations!”

“So….”

“Your Excellency, you have been selected as this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate! Chairman Jang Seong-taek will also be a co-recipient.”

“Heh heh, how ironic. I developed nuclear weapons, and Chairman Jang killed hundreds of thousands with nuclear weapons, yet we receive the Peace Prize.”

“In international relations, peace is power!”

“In fact, Deng Xiaoping is the biggest contributor to helping me receive this award. He threatened to wage a nuclear war, creating a global fear of the outbreak of World War III.”

“Hahaha, that’s really true. The three of you should receive the award jointly.”

“Chairman Jang will be very happy.”

“He will be. It is very meaningful that the whole world celebrates the unification of the Korean Peninsula together.”

*

Oslo, Norway.

The chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee praised the achievements of the seated President and Chairman Jang.

“In the Korean Peninsula, which was cut off by barbed wire due to the Cold War, the two countries achieved the great task of unification without shedding a drop of blood. This is a great achievement that is more than exemplary for the global community, where conflict and strife are incessant.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

“We also commend you for wisely overcoming the crisis of nuclear war and saving humanity from the threat of nuclear war. We award this Nobel Peace Prize to the two leaders of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The two men stood side by side and received the golden medals in turn.

The President said.

“I understand that these two people are receiving this on behalf of the people of North and South Korea.”

* * *

Presidential Office.

The President stood with his hands behind his back, looking out the window.

“The first snow is falling.”

Heavy snow was falling a few days before the New Year.

The President opened the window and caught the falling snow with his hand.

When he was young, he didn’t realize how time was passing while touching and rolling the snow with his hands, but as he lived his social life, he avoided the snow, so he didn’t remember feeling it directly with his hands.

The cold air tickled the back of his hand.

After staring at the fluttering snowflakes for a while, he sat down at his desk.

A South-North Korea Unification Commemorative Stamp was placed there.

The last remaining page of the calendar weighed heavily on his heart.

The 8th presidential election will be held in the first half of next year.

The time of his retirement was approaching.

He was filled with mixed emotions.

So many events happened during his tenure, and he ran without a break.

The expression “bittersweet” is not enough.

Only those who know how great the loss of presence is, like a retired soldier, know.

Since he started as president as soon as he regressed, the presidency was the life of the regressor itself.

In particular, isn’t the president a regressor who vividly remembers how bitter the end of a life can be?

He knew too well that when he reached the peak of his life and entered the downhill path, a sense of defeat would push his back.

What happens when the regression role is over? Do I die? Do I go back to the future again?

Well, all that awaits me when I return to the future is death.

The more glorious life is, the more painful and terrifying death is.

“Hoo~”

He took a deep breath and steeled his heart.

There are still six months left in his term. He needs a beginner’s mind.

He took out his diary and opened the first page.

There, the pledges he made at the 7th presidential inauguration were written.

– Building a merit-based (Co.) Republic of Korea

– Building three strong nations: a science and technology powerhouse, a cultural powerhouse, and a military powerhouse

– Challenging for a UN Security Council seat

– Balancing welfare and competition

– Creating a national wealth fund

– Amending the constitution to limit the term of the current president, which can be held for life, to within three terms

He completed the UN Security Council seat, the national wealth fund, and the constitutional amendment.

He also achieved a certain level of science and technology and military power through nuclear development.

Welfare has rather regressed due to unification costs.

He was unable to focus on culture due to rapidly changing international affairs. He will have to accelerate during the remaining period.

He is satisfied that the merit-based society is not a complete task, but he has largely shed the past bureaucracy.

Making North and South Korea completely integrated in three years will be the biggest task for the next president.

But who will be the next president?

*

Haeju Expressway construction site.

The construction of the expressway that runs through Seoul, Gaeseong, Haeju, Pyongyang, and Sinuiju was in full swing.

The Saemaul Undong [New Village Movement] flags fluttered here and there.

President Jeong was in charge of North Korea’s infrastructure construction, leading the way.

President Jeong instructed the foremen.

“Speed is good, but let’s be safe first!”

“Yes, President!”

Except for technicians and managers, all North Korean residents were hired.

Two-thirds of North Korean soldiers chose to be discharged and were hired as industrial workers.

Since they were paid the same wages as in South Korea, their income increased more than tenfold, so everyone worked with their lives on the line.

Thanks to the unique diligence of the Korean people, they were diligent without being lazy.

North Korea has many underground resources, so they were building smelters, steel mills, and cement factories.

They were building automobile and train factories in Hamhung and Gaeseong, and shipyards in Nampo and Wonsan.

The world-class reserves of uranium and tungsten invigorated the defense industry and the electronics industry.

President Jeong was able to borrow huge amounts of money by appealing to Wall Street’s major investors.

North Korean residents thought that President Jeong was feeding them.