The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 119

119. Let’s Fix Their Manners!

The North-South Coordination Committee convened at Panmunjom.

The South Korean representative asked,

“Why are you suddenly halting the reunion events?”

“It’s difficult to explain the detailed reasons, but we need to adjust the pace.”

“Adjust the pace?”

“It’s too fast, causing social instability.”

“What social instability can arise from separated families meeting?”

“For example, the enormous gifts from the South are becoming a problem.”

“Gifts? What’s wrong with that?”

“The gifts from the South are severely disrupting our North Korean economic production.”

Gifts included ginseng and deer antlers as basic items, and frequently gold and bundles of dollars.

“I don’t understand. Economic disruption because of gifts.”

“We have a rationing system, so it’s against fairness.”

The reality was that they needed to give benefits to those loyal to the Party to ensure their continued loyalty. However, people with separated families in the South were becoming better off, and they feared the South would become a source of wealth.

“Then why not restrict the gifts?”

“Anyway, we will postpone the schedule indefinitely. Please report that to your superiors as well.”

The propaganda that South Korea was impoverished and starving was proving false, shaking the entire system.

*

Upon receiving the report, the President slammed his fist on his desk.

“Those bastards! Meeting separated families causing ideology and social instability? We should just roll over them with tanks!”

“Your Excellency, please calm down. War is the last resort. North Korea already knows that South Korea has oil and is several times wealthier than them.”

“Hmm, hmm, very well. Firmly convey to the North that if they halt the separated family reunions, all economic cooperation will automatically cease.”

*

Paju Industrial Complex.

The Vice Premier of the North and the Deputy Prime Minister of the South met for talks.

The Deputy Prime Minister asked,

“You still can’t allow it even if we restrict the gifts from the South?”

“Yes, that’s right. It seems that private exchanges need some pacing.”

“The elderly separated families are passing away every day. East and West Germany allow separated families to meet freely in intermediate areas. Why is North Korea, chanting about the nation every day, preventing even blood relatives from meeting?”

“Well, just as the South has its position, our North Korea has its own position.”

“If you halt the reunions, economic exchanges with the North will also automatically cease.”

“Are you talking about oil now?”

“That’s what I’m saying. We will stop the oil supply.”

“Why are you linking this issue to oil? It’s not free, and we’re paying 80% of the price.”

“The oil supply conditions clearly stipulate North-South private exchanges. Look here!”

When the Deputy Prime Minister presented the document, the Vice Premier backed down.

“We’re not saying completely stop, but let’s take a breather. Give us time, give us time.”

“Tell the Premier: the North broke the promise first. If you don’t resume reunions for at least five hundred families a month, we will stop the oil. This isn’t a negotiation, but adhering to principles.”

The Vice Premier flared up.

“Then we will withdraw all our workers from the Paju and Cheorwon Industrial Complexes.”

“Do as you please.”

The talks broke down acrimoniously.

The next day, North Korean workers did not show up for work at the Paju and Cheorwon Industrial Complexes.

However, since the oil price was deducted from the workers’ wages, the strike was a self-inflicted wound for the North.

*

Presidential Office.

The President discussed the situation in the North with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister said with a worried expression,

“I wonder if we were too harsh, Your Excellency. Should we subtly offer a compromise?”

“No. It’s the North who broke their promise like it was nothing. We need to fix their manners from the start. Otherwise, they will try to take advantage at every opportunity. We hold the cards. Stick to the principles.”

The Prime Minister said,

“Then what measures should we take?”

“Shut down the crude oil pipeline until the separated family reunions resume. And send an ultimatum.”

“…….”

“Tell them that if they don’t return to the industrial complex within three days, we will permanently close the complex.”

“If we close it, our companies that have moved in will suffer great losses.”

The industrial complex was located in the South, not the North, in preparation for the North’s threats to take hostages in case of emergency.

“The factories will remain, so make plans to replace them with our workers. The government will compensate for the losses incurred during the suspension and the increased labor costs.”

“Understood. We will prepare countermeasures.”

*

Pyongyang.

The Minister of Industry reported to the Premier.

“The operating rate of factories has been reduced by half due to the oil shortage.”

The Premier shouted,

“Why is there no progress in fuel self-reliance! Are we helpless even when South Korea grabs our necks and shakes us?”

“I’m sorry, Supreme Leader! We will accelerate coal production!”

Jang Song-taek, who was next to him, said,

The Vice Premier and Jang Song-taek were the ones who would miss the bribes from the South the most if North-South exchanges were suspended.

“The efficiency of coal and the efficiency of oil are significantly different. Oil is essential in modernized industries.”

“Who doesn’t know that! Don’t you have a secret plan to break the arrogant nose of South Korea?”

The Vice Premier said,

“How about building a nuclear power plant, Supreme Leader?”

“Nuclear power?”

“The only way to be free from oil is nuclear power. Moreover, we can make nuclear weapons as a byproduct. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”

“Hmm, that’s a good alternative. South Korea also has nuclear power plants, so there’s no reason why we can’t do it.”

“We only need to comply with South Korea’s demands until we replace it with a nuclear power plant.”

“Very well. Resume relations with the South, and concentrate all foreign currency resources earned from the South on the construction of nuclear power plants.”

“I will follow your orders, Supreme Leader!”

*

Panmunjom.

The Vice Premier said to the Deputy Prime Minister,

“We will resume reunions for five hundred families a month. Instead, we must restrict gifts.”

“Good. Let’s limit the amount and items.”

“We will also resume operations at the industrial complex. The planned doubling of the expansion will proceed without a hitch, right?”

They were planning to expand the Cheorwon and Paju Industrial Complexes to create a complex where 100,000 people could work daily.

The North planned to use the money earned here for nuclear power plant and nuclear weapon development.

*

Paju Industrial Complex.

North Korean workers poured out of the commuter buses arriving from the North.

It wasn’t the South Korean factory managers who were anxious about the industrial complex being closed, but the North Korean workers.

They could no longer survive on North Korean rations alone.

The workers smiled brightly as they passed through the entrance of the industrial complex.

“Nice to see you!”

“Yes, welcome. Check your ID and go in!”

*

The President, after receiving reports on the separated family reunions and the normalization of the industrial complex, thought.

Heh heh, how could I not know the North’s ulterior motives. We must pull out their teeth before they grow!

*

A certain military unit.

The President observed the missile launch scene with binoculars.

Koo-ooh!

Flames erupted from the medium-range missile’s propulsion system, and the missile soared.

Shoosh-shoosh!

It soared into the sky, turned into a flame, and disappeared into the distance.

The generals applauded.

Clap, clap, clap!

The Minister of National Defense reported briskly.

“Your Excellency, the launch of the 1,200km medium-range missile was a success!”

The President grinned, revealing his gums.

“Everyone has worked hard! I will award medals to the staff. I’ll treat you all today. Let’s drink until we’re crooked!”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

In fact, they had succeeded in launching an intermediate-range missile with a maximum range of 1,500km, placing Beijing within its range.

This missile could also carry nuclear weapons.

However, the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula was turning unfavorable.

*

Taiwan.

The President was meeting with a special envoy for foreign affairs and security dispatched urgently from the White House.

The envoy stated the key point.

“China has chosen to open up and is entering the international stage. It has long surpassed Taiwan in trade and military power. Taiwan may be disappointed, but the permanent member states are discussing transferring the UN Security Council seat to China.”

The President flared up.

“Absolutely not! Giving the permanent member seat to a communist country? This will be a major threat to the free world!”

“Politics is reality. Opening up China to check the Soviet Union is the way to prevent World War III.”

“Is China abandoning communism?”

“…….”

“That’s a joke!”

“This procedure does not require Taiwan’s consent, President!”

“Then Taiwan would rather become independent. We will abandon ‘One China’ [the diplomatic position that there is only one sovereign state under the name China] and become independent.”

“China will not stand idly by. Mao Zedong will risk war.”

“South and North Korea have each joined the UN, so why can’t Taiwan join independently?”

“South and North Korea have agreed, but there is no agreement between China and Taiwan, is there?”

“A country’s fate is decided by the country itself. Why do we need China’s consent?”

“Even if Taiwan becomes independent, we cannot change the plan to transfer the permanent member seat. Taiwan’s international status cannot make it a permanent member, so it will be even more disadvantageous.”

That was true.

Even if they became independent, it would be difficult to prevent the transfer of the permanent member seat.

This was reality.

The President said,

“Then I would rather transfer the permanent member seat to Korea.”

“Korea?”

He had a verbal agreement with the Korean President in exchange for the supply of crude oil.

If they couldn’t keep the permanent member seat anyway, it was more profitable to exchange it for oil.

The envoy was flustered by the unexpected variable.

The President said,

“Korea is economically and politically qualified, isn’t it? It would be much more beneficial to the United States and the UN to give it to Korea than to a communist country, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s true, but the Soviet Union is unlikely to agree, is it? Besides, Korea’s economic power has become strong due to oil, but it is not a nuclear power.”

One of the absolute conditions for permanent membership was the possession of nuclear weapons.

“Why can’t a permanent member not have nuclear weapons? Is the UN’s essence military hegemony?”

“…….”

“Taiwan will go its own way. The United States should not interfere.”

The United States was defending Taiwan.

Provoking the United States would create a security vacuum in Taiwan, fueling China’s ambition to invade.

*

Presidential Office.

The special envoy of the Taiwanese President met with the Korean President.

“China has demanded the permanent member seat as a condition for full trade with the United States. The United States is trying to steal Taiwan’s position. Your Excellency, we need to document the transfer of Taiwan’s Security Council permanent member seat.”

“I also want documentation.”

“And Taiwan will soon declare independence.”

“Independence!”

“We want to transfer the seat before independence, and after independence, we want to conclude a mutual defense treaty with Korea.”

“Hmm, it seems there was opposition from the United States.”

“That’s right. The United States opposes independence because it fears Mao Zedong’s invasion, so it will withdraw the US nuclear umbrella [protection by US nuclear weapons] if we become independent. We desperately need an allied country to replace it.”

In the end, they added military aid conditions to the oil in exchange for the transfer of the permanent member seat.

“Understood. I will discuss it in the cabinet and inform the President.”

“I look forward to good news, Your Excellency!”

*

Yongsan Ministry of National Defense.

A National Security Council meeting was held.

Before formally putting the security treaty with Taiwan on the agenda of the Cabinet meeting, they discussed it with the staff and began reviewing it.

The President asked,

“The moment Taiwan declares independence, China will invade Taiwan. Taiwan says it will transfer the permanent member seat to the Republic of Korea on the condition of oil and a military alliance. If we want the permanent member seat, a showdown with China is inevitable. If we go to war with China, do we have a chance of winning? Please give me an honest analysis of our military strength.”