George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 206

< Episode 205 >

“W-What is this?”

While the situations in Sudan and China were certainly urgent, nothing could compare to this news in terms of impact and urgency. Not him! This was truly terrible.

‘Kim Jong-il is dead? Am I dreaming? A man who was supposed to die of old age in 2011 dies in 2004?’

It couldn’t be a dream. Bush quickly snapped out of his daze. This was also something that had been foreseen. He knew better than anyone that Kim Jong-il’s health had deteriorated rapidly after Bush’s visit under the guise of a sick call. He was fully aware that it could happen at any moment.

Bush turned his tired, dry eyes to the report. It stated the cause of death and the time. These were facts uncovered by CIA agents embedded within.

“Death by heart disease? Stress-induced cardiomyopathy?”

Frankly, even if Kim Jong-il died now, nothing would change. During Kim Jong-il’s reign, North Korea had already become economically and politically inseparable from South Korea, and Kim Jong-il’s successor had been entirely determined to suit the tastes of South Korea and the United States.

However, Kim Jong-il’s released will was unsettling. Whether he acted as the father of the people or the grandfather, it didn’t matter since the country would collapse voluntarily soon anyway, but the will contained a lengthy message demanding revenge.

The full text is as follows:

– To all party members, soldiers of the People’s Army, and the people. With the most grievous heart, we inform you that the great leader Kim Jong-il, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, passed away in his sickbed at 9:15 AM on July 29, 2004, Juche 93 [Juche is the North Korean ideology of self-reliance].

– Even amidst the terrible pain during his illness, he constantly urged us not to yield to the wicked and evil American imperialists. Though we are now invaded due to a lack of strength, if the people unite under the Juche ideology, the American bastards will not dare to act recklessly. Arise, people! Sacrifice your lives to defend the Juche ideology!

“Oh, dear!”

Communist party members were openly using South Korean standard language instead of the North Korean dialect in preparation for merging with the South Korean government. The release of the will was not their intention. It was secretly carried out by Kim Jong-il’s remaining close aides.

“Still, shouldn’t we at least pretend to attack once?”

Now, the people, except for those who were completely brainwashed, were at the level of ‘Get lost! And screw off!’, but Kim Jong-il’s influence was significant. This was only the story of the common people; the opinions of the ruling class, the Communist Party, which controlled the country, were divided into two main groups.

“Let’s do that. If we notify the United States and South Korea and coordinate, there won’t be any major problems. If we fire some artillery towards an empty field or the sea, things will quiet down.”

This was the side that thought they should at least pretend to do something harmful to South Korea or the United States. The reason was that the will had been broadcasted. The Communist Party members had been deeply tasting the delights of capitalism even before the United States forcibly opened North Korea’s closed doors years ago, so there was no problem. They thought it had become much easier than before. At least they didn’t have to worry about dying.

The problem was that there were still people who supported Kim Jong-il. These were people who revered and deified him not out of fear, but out of awe. The monster created by the Communist Party was now tightening its grip on the Communist Party.

“Now is the chance! Let’s purge them all today!”

The other side was the people who were calling for a purge now. ‘Now that we have to move forward anyway, let’s get rid of all the remnants of the old era that will cause problems in the future!’ This was possible because North Korea still nominally retained its sovereignty. It was something that would never be said in a normal country, but North Korea was not a normal country.

They could easily bury alive about 100,000 to 1 million people who were obstructing their rule. It was not a big deal. They would rise up voluntarily, and all they had to do was suppress them. They didn’t have to worry about South Korea’s reaction. This was only a process of suppressing a popular uprising or a coup, and there would only be some minor losses in the process.

Besides, South Korea wouldn’t particularly stop it. Of course, they would outwardly warn them to stop this inhumane suppression, but if South Korean troops moved, it would be war. South Korea, which absolutely did not want war, could never move. Politically, too, what good would it do to leave behind people who would be a definite threat to them in the future?

However, before the Communist Party moved, the people moved first. This side was largely divided into three factions.

“I told you never to go outside! Get back inside!”

First, there were the people who wanted to wait and see. These people prioritized their safety over riding the tide of the times. They were mostly accustomed to fear politics and would crouch down and wait for the typhoon to pass without ever confronting it. These were mostly the generations who had experienced the Arduous March [a period of famine and economic crisis in North Korea in the mid-1990s]. Therefore, they knew how the world worked and how to take care of themselves and their families, and they had the wisdom to avoid being disliked by those in power.

“Father! Are you saying you’re going to ignore the grace of General Kim Jong-il! I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, so don’t make me report you as a reactionary and become an unfilial son!”

Another faction believed that they should attack the United States right now in accordance with the will of General Kim Jong-il in heaven. These were mainly the new generation who had received thorough brainwashing education since they were babies. As soon as the broadcast went out nationwide except for Pyongyang, uprisings occurred simultaneously, but the vicinity of Nampo Port was quiet to the point of being silent. Those who had already tasted capitalism enough to eat three bowls of rice with meat soup and even sweet desserts as a snack, let alone Pyongyang, would not care about Kim Jong-il.

Moreover, perhaps because they had watched the training in person, they realized that even though they had received training during their time in the People’s Army, they had only farmed diligently and the training was only a formality, so even if an unorganized and unarmed people revolted, it would be suppressed in an instant. Rather, because they had received training, they could understand the overwhelming difference in power.

“What has the Kim family done for us! We must overthrow the Communist Party and establish a new regime now! Let’s drive out those pigs and dogs of the Kim family!”

Finally, there were those who were trying to revolt altogether. Of course, the Communist Party did not welcome either side, except for those who were staying put. Either side was trying to overthrow the current ruling class, the Communist Party.

“It’s so fortunate that the military is on our side.”

The military was much smaller than it had been a few years ago. Thanks to this, the current military was a well-fed, well-clothed, and well-trained elite force. These were the troops that would actually be operated after North and South Korea were unified. They had dismantled thousands of tanks and armored vehicles and turned them all into spare parts, and they were reorganized around the remaining properly functioning armored forces and mechanized divisions, and they belonged to the Pyongyang Defense Command.

In addition, there were infantry units in each province with the concept of a defense force for the sake of defense. The size had decreased to the point where it could not be compared to the past, but as much as it had decreased, supplies could be more than sufficient. There was no such thing as putting a drop of sesame oil on seaweed soup and eating it with triangular, square, or hexagonal pickled radishes [referring to the past when food was scarce and of poor quality].

“What should we do?”

On the surface, they were talking about the grace of the General, but everyone from the lower ranks to the generals knew that this came from capitalism. However, the military, which could not dare to praise the American imperialists, officially attributed it to the merits of the great General and the Communist Party. In any case, the military’s loyalty seemed to pierce the sky, and now that Kim Jong-il had passed away, they would only go where the Communist Party pointed.

“What do you mean, what should we do? We only follow the orders of the superiors. Those who move without orders are all reactionaries!”

While discussions were taking place in the Communist Party, time was flowing. The people were gathering and moving towards Pyongyang, and in South Korea, all the military soldiers were waiting with their mouths tightly shut without even uttering a common curse word in the actual situation that had been issued.

And in the United States, a slightly different story was being told.

“This is a big problem.”

Karl Rove muttered quietly as he watched the situation unfold. This was by no means good for the President.

“The presidential election is scheduled for November. If something like this happens, the President’s achievements may be shaken, and his approval ratings may also be shaken.”

It could be a big problem for his re-election. Bush’s re-election was virtually certain, but there was a problem if the North Korean issue, which was being praised as his greatest achievement, fell apart.

When Bush refused the Nobel Prize, he replied, ‘I will accept it when North and South Korea are truly unified. Whether that is one year or ten years from now.’ Bush’s aides were all embarrassed, but now it seems that not receiving the Nobel Prize was the answer. Who would have known that something like this would happen?

“As the President emphasizes every time, there is no ‘absolute’ in the world. Something needs to be done.”

Karl Rove muttered like that and arrived in front of the President’s office. A mess was already happening inside, but how would Karl Rove know that? When he knocked and entered, it was a complete mess. The mountain of documents had collapsed and was scattered haphazardly on the floor, and the President was looking at the ceiling as if he were attending a funeral. The Chief of Staff and one aide were diligently writing something on blank paper.

The only peaceful creature was the President’s beloved cat, White.

‘What is this? Did I open the gates of hell instead of the President’s office?’

He seriously considered whether to put his foot in or pull it back, but he regained his reason and took a step forward.

“Deputy Chief of Staff. You’re just in time. I was about to call you anyway. Speak of the devil.”

Cold sweat flowed down Karl Rove’s back without him realizing it. It was not reason but instinct that felt it. The President, whom he respected, felt strangely scary that day.

“What’s the matter?”

White, who was watching the scene, wagged its tail and yawned leisurely.