George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 80

< Episode 79 >

Though it was just a single battalion, they used the site of the exploded light-water reactor as a camp and made it their temporary base.

Only four countries protested against this: North Korea, China, Russia, and South Korea.

North Korea, predictably, voiced strong objections. China protested because North Korea was essentially its vassal state and had been invaded. Russia, seeing American troops stationed near its border, reacted with alarm, calling it a ‘second American Cuban Missile Crisis.’ South Korea was furious simply because what they considered a symbol of peace had been destroyed.

With these four countries united in opposition, even the mighty United States couldn’t simply ignore the situation. The carefully constructed narrative wasn’t unfolding as the White House intended.

“We will take charge of the investigation.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), already suspicious of the U.S. military’s unusually proactive involvement in South Korea – especially given the destruction of the peace symbol championed by the Kim Ji-hoon government – intervened to determine the cause of the explosion.

Surprisingly, the White House, which one might expect to resist such intervention, readily granted permission for the investigation. On reflection, there was nothing to hide on-site, at least not within the executive branch.

That’s because the disaster was engineered by someone ‘educated in North Korea for over a decade,’ using ‘dynamite from a North Korean weapons factory,’ and ‘installed in the style of a North Korean operative.’ The fact that this person was born in South Korea and was a North Korean operative working for the CIA was a detail they hoped would be overlooked.

Thus, with the U.S. President’s approval, a message was subtly disseminated to those harboring suspicions about the incident:

「See for yourselves. Anyone who wants to can investigate this in North Korea.」

Thanks to the U.S. military’s efforts, the site was significantly damaged, but it would have seemed suspicious if the explosion site was perfectly intact. For the moment, suspicion was deflected, and the matter moved forward. However, given the gravity of the situation, a large number of North Korean experts from both Korea and the United States were mobilized, almost excessively so, unlike typical accident investigations.

“First of all, it’s not an accident. A large amount of dynamite exploded, and it is certain that the origin of this dynamite is North Korean.”

After employing everything from basic deduction to advanced technology, the IAEA and the Korean investigation team jointly reached this initial conclusion. Whether it was due to the marvels of modern science or their exceptional investigative skills, it was remarkable that they found anything at all, considering the U.S. military had been deployed to ‘clean up’ the site.

But that was the extent of their success. The fabricated scene was now being interpreted as North Korea attempting to destroy evidence of its own actions.

While the U.S. military’s unusually quick response had initially raised suspicions, it was soon dismissed as a conspiracy theory in the U.S. The American yellow press, which typically would have been all over this story, was strangely subdued. Furthermore, the upcoming 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, just a month away, also diverted public attention.

Unless there was a juicy scandal to exploit, the American public remained largely indifferent to the North Korean light-water reactor explosion, as they had a bigger, more appealing story to focus on. Some uninformed individuals feared a second Chernobyl, but of course, there could be no radiation leak from a construction site where only the foundation was being laid.

However, those who believed the U.S. was behind the incident were few and far between. This was partly due to a surge in patriotism and partly because the country involved was North Korea, the most isolated nation in the world.

And most importantly, North Korea itself was deeply troubled.

Regardless of what others said, it was unsettling that the country directly affected couldn’t conduct its own investigation freely. After some initial disagreements, they were eventually allowed to participate in the investigation alongside the IAEA and the South Korean investigation teams.

The problem was that their findings mirrored those of the other investigation teams. The North Korean team, aware that this wasn’t Kim Jong-il’s plan, directed insults at the U.S. Marines guarding the site, only to be met with a barrage of equally colorful insults in return.

In short, the word ‘panic’ perfectly encapsulated North Korea’s situation.

How could they possibly accept the presence of U.S. Marines on what they considered their territory?

What people often misunderstand is that North Korea has never truly antagonized the South Korean people. To be precise, they have always opposed the ‘Republic of Korea government,’ but they have never targeted the South Korean people themselves.

Even in the 1980s, when North Korea was relatively prosperous, they viewed South Koreans as people in need of rescue. Even now, in 2002, that policy remained unchanged.

So, who is North Korea’s primary enemy? It is the United States. Their slogans, such as ‘Liberate South Korea, eradicate the American imperialists,’ are not empty rhetoric. The North Korean regime has always used Korean ethnicity as a rallying point to control its people, while externally, they advocate for defeating the American imperialist ‘jackals’.

Even their socialist morality textbooks depict ‘Seoul girls selling their eyeballs to Americans to make a living,’ and they are shown wearing hanboks [traditional Korean clothing] that look like they are straight out of the 1950s.

After enduring the Arduous March [a period of famine and economic crisis in North Korea in the 1990s], North Koreans are more aware of the world, but the idea that South Korea is a U.S. colony remains appealing to many. A little critical thinking would reveal the contradictions, but this perception is reinforced by their closed environment and the pervasive fear.

In any case, hatred of the United States is the core element of the North Korean control system established by the Kim regime.

Therefore, the stationing of U.S. troops was an unspeakable shock for North Koreans. The North Korean army, which had threatened to retaliate with a barrage of fire for even the slightest violation of their territory, was now confronted with American ‘jackals’ who had effectively invaded North Korean soil. Yet, the army stood by, unable to act. How could they not be shocked?

Does this apply to all North Koreans? Not necessarily. Unlike the lowest class, even low-ranking military officers were aware of the absurdity of North Korea’s propaganda.

So, what is the ‘rightful successor of the Baekdu bloodline’ [a reference to Kim Jong-il, claiming descent from a mythical Korean mountain], who sits at the apex of this rigid class society, doing?

“Is that so?”

He was furious.

“Although we are denying any involvement as much as possible, most of what we say is being ignored in the international arena.”

No matter how much Choi Yong-pal, the head of the North Korean light-water reactor explosion investigation team, tried to appease him, Kim Jong-il remained enraged. He was so angry that he overturned all the food he considered essential to his life and pleasure. If Fujimoto, the sushi chef whom Kim Jong-il adored, had been present, the situation might have been different, but as it was, Kim Jong-il was in a terrible mood, even verbally.

“Heh, heh heh!”

Kim Jong-il laughed. He actually laughed. Choi Yong-pal felt his stomach churn. He vividly imagined his insides rising up his throat and out of his mouth. In reality, it was just stomach acid, but Choi Yong-pal knew that if Kim Jong-il truly wanted it, such a thing could happen instantly.

Kim Jong-il, one of the most ruthless figures in the East and West, only laughed in two situations: when his bipolar disorder flared up and he suddenly felt euphoric, and ‘when he killed someone.’

“Hey, Choi Yong-pal! Is that something you can say in front of me right now? Say it again.”

In essence, he was saying, ‘If it’s not the answer I want, I’ll kill you!’ As if to emphasize the point, Kim Jong-il held a gold-plated Baekdu Mountain pistol in his hand. The gold alone was enough to demonstrate its authority, but the intricate patterns engraved on it were so profound and subtly integrated into the splendor that they inspired awe in those who beheld it.

And now, that exquisite work of art was pointed directly at the head of the investigation team leader.

‘Damn it! Damn it! What do you want me to do!?’

The situation was controlled by the U.S. military, and the only evidence that had surfaced was that ‘North Korean dynamite’ had caused the explosion. What more could he possibly do?

‘No, wait a minute. Republic-made dynamite?’

Now that he thought about it, how did North Korean dynamite end up at the site?

Of course, he had considered it. He had assumed, ‘Some stupid military officer must have traded it for 엿 [a traditional Korean taffy-like candy].’ Such occurrences were common in the provinces, let alone Pyongyang, so it wasn’t anything new.

North Korea was a severely impoverished country, but paradoxically, if you possessed some power and money, you could acquire almost anything you desired, as long as it remained discreet.

“It’s a reactionary.”

“What did you say?”

Kim Jong-il’s face contorted violently at the absurd remark. His expression was so fierce that it resembled an ogre, and his actions were so diabolical that even Satan would be impressed, so the comparison wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

“There must have been reactionaries mixed in with the protesters!”

“Tell me more about it.”

The bobber on the fishing line that Choi Yong-pal had cast was shaking violently. Seeing Kim Jong-il’s hand gradually lowering and the muzzle descending, it seemed that the bait he had thrown out haphazardly, expecting to die anyway, was very appealing to Kim Jong-il.

‘Oh well. I don’t know! What more can I do than die?’

“The dynamite is not fake. It is certain that it came from our Republic’s factory. Therefore, whether it is a person from the Republic or a foreigner, internal cooperation is essential to get their hands on this dynamite.”

In other words, Choi Yong-pal was suggesting that a major investigation was needed into the Korean People’s Army’s military supplies, specifically to determine if any dynamite stocks were missing. However, the Korean People’s Army is the core and foundation of Kim Jong-il’s power. Therefore, this was bound to be a sensitive issue, whether he liked it or not. That was why Choi Yong-pal believed he was facing either death or disgrace.

“Can you be sure of that?”

And the gamble paid off.

‘It’s down!’

The pistol finally left Kim Jong-il’s hand, and a Rothmans cigarette took its place. That fact emboldened Choi Yong-pal somewhat.

“Yes!”

British capitalism entered Kim Jong-il’s lungs and subtly permeated the office as a sigh of North Korean communism.

“No, no.”

“Yes?”

“Investigation team leader Choi Yong-pal. Are you saying you can take responsibility?”

If he didn’t agree at this point, a lead bullet from that splendid pistol would leave an indelible mark on Choi Yong-pal’s forehead.

“Why are you silent? Perhaps….”

As Kim Jong-il showed signs of renewed doubt, Choi Yong-pal steeled his heart.