The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 161

161. His Last Military Parade

Pyongyang No. 1 Hospital.

No. 1 Hospital was a special hospital exclusively for the Chairman and his family.

The chief physician explained the examination results to the Chairman, who was lying in bed, and his secretaries.

“No particularly bad areas were found, but overall function has declined significantly. We diagnose it as a result of forgetting your age due to excessive passion for the people.”

In short, it meant overwork.

The Chairman said.

“I haven’t done much, but I’m overworked… Time waits for no one.”

“Nutritional supplements alone don’t seem to be enough. It’s been a while since you’ve had wild ginseng, so your immunity has decreased. We will deploy herb collectors to search for wild ginseng.”

“Resting for a few days will restore my energy. I can’t skip this great historical event.”

He was increasingly anxious as his body couldn’t keep up, with the declaration of nuclear possession imminent.

*

Punggye-ri underground tunnel.

Soldiers were installing nuclear test equipment underground.

They had experimented seven times before, but five times were explosions disguised as nuclear tests, and only the recent two were small-scale nuclear tests.

They were pushing ahead with the third nuclear test using the last plutonium imported from the Soviet Union.

The Chairman watched the nuclear explosion directly from the observation deck of a temporary guest house 3km away, surrounded by bulletproof glass.

The State Security Department chief cautiously said.

“Supreme Leader, is it okay not to wear a CBR [Chemical, Biological, Radiological] mask?”

“I’m being filmed right now, what CBR mask? Just do it! What are you so afraid of?”

“Understood, Supreme Leader!”

Eeeeeng~

The siren announcing the evacuation sounded.

Shortly after.

Boom!~

The mountain shook, and dust rose thickly from the entire mountain as if a dog were shaking its body.

Only the sound of the explosion was heard, but the Chairman and his party felt the vibration directly.

“Chairman! The nuclear explosion test was a great success!”

“Good job, cough!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

That evening, a grand party was held for those involved in the nuclear test.

However, the Chairman did not appear.

*

The Workers’ Party issued a directive nationwide to ensure that everyone watched the special news.

Pyongyang Korean Central Television.

The news anchor read the prepared manuscript with a face filled with joy.

“Today at noon, under the guidance of the great leader, a strictly conducted nuclear bomb test at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site was a complete success!”

The Rodong Sinmun [Workers’ Daily newspaper] also devoted most of its pages to articles about the success of the nuclear test.

– Today, on the Korean Peninsula, the supreme interests and safety of our nation are being seriously violated due to the ever-increasing threat of nuclear war from the American imperialists and their heinous sanctions, creating a dire situation that determines the life and death of our people. In response to the threat to our sovereignty and right to survival, our Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has inevitably declared its possession of nuclear weapons!

North Korean broadcasting brainwashed the public all day long about the legitimacy of possessing nuclear weapons.

“Our great leader has bestowed upon the people an invincible sword. He has opened the way for generations to come to resolutely confront any imperialist invasion and machinations!”

Pyongyang citizens dressed up and flocked to the square, dancing and reveling.

The headlines of foreign news outlets around the world blared with news of North Korea’s nuclear test.

Japan, in particular, was even more frantic than other nations.

They desperately tried to ignite the logic of Japan’s militarization by issuing and distributing extras [extra editions of newspapers], stimulating the public.

*

In South Korea, an emergency National Security Council meeting was held.

The Director of the National Intelligence Service reported.

“Korean Central Television has declared the success of the nuclear test, and the Rodong Sinmun has emphasized the possession of nuclear weapons. As you predicted, we analyze that they are disguising the already imported nuclear missiles as self-developed. It seems they plan to reveal the nuclear missiles on the Day of the Sun [Kim Il-sung’s birthday] to reach the climax.”

The attending ministers listening to the report had heavy expressions.

However, the intelligence and military leaders who knew about the Silmido Operation were relaxed.

The President said.

“They have nuclear warheads, but perhaps the first victim of the fallout will come from the North.”

None of the ministers knew the meaning of those words yet.

The Director of the National Intelligence Service said.

“We will be able to confirm it by looking at the scenes from the Day of the Sun event, Your Excellency.”

“The North’s Day of the Sun has never been so eagerly awaited.”

The ministers, not knowing what was going on, just blinked at each other.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy reported.

“We can immediately implement the suspension of crude oil supply as a measure of economic sanctions against North Korea. If the security schedule comes out, we will also prepare to suspend the operation of the Paju and Cheorwon industrial complexes. We will also suspend tours to Geumgangsan and Baekdusan [mountains considered sacred in Korean culture].”

The President said.

“Send out an official document compensating for the full amount of damages to companies in the industrial complex and preparing for the long term.”

“Understood, Your Excellency! I now understand Your Excellency’s directive not to produce more than 40% of each company’s production volume in the inter-Korean cooperation complex.”

“North Korea business always needs to prepare for ‘what if.’ If we rely 100% on the North, they will make unreasonable demands using that as an excuse. To avoid being taken advantage of, we should only put half our foot in.”

“Some companies that violated the regulation of less than 40% of total operating rate will face the consequences.”

“They didn’t follow government guidelines, so it’s their own fault.”

*

Pyongyang.

More than a dozen artificial flag balloons floated in the sky, creating a festive atmosphere.

The square was filled with the largest number of people ever mobilized.

Diplomatic envoys from about 70 countries, including China, were seated in the VIP seats.

The Chairman appeared.

Wow~

The crowds applauded madly, stomped their feet, and cheered the Supreme Leader.

However, the Chairman himself appeared on the platform, supported on either side.

His illness was evident, and he should have been lying in bed if it weren’t for today’s event.

He had chewed on a 150-year-old wild ginseng root a few days ago, but it could not overcome the effects of the radioactive mineral water.

After being injected with morphine, he waved his hand a few times and slumped into a chair.

Jang Song-taek proceeded with the central report meeting on behalf of the Chairman.

“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea declares to the world that it possesses nuclear weapons, the sword of all ages!”

As the success of nuclear development was formally declared, the crowds once again applauded, shouted, and stomped their feet in a frenzy.

Wow~ Wow~

Workers’ Party members summoned from each province held placards and staged a mass demonstration (parade).

“Juche [self-reliance] defense, hurray!”

“Self-reliance, hurray!”

“Great Leader, hurray!”

The military parade, prepared with great effort, began.

Armored units such as tanks and armored vehicles passed by, and finally, nuclear missiles appeared.

Wow! Wow!

The crowds were ecstatic.

The in-house broadcast came on.

“By possessing nuclear missiles, we have become able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s five major powers!”

Wow! Wow!

After all the ballistic missile vehicles had passed, the Chairman quietly left his seat.

It ended quickly compared to the large-scale event.

It was his last military parade.

*

The President was carefully examining the military parade scenes broadcast by North Korea with the Director of the National Intelligence Service.

A smile appeared on the President’s face as he watched the screen.

“He put on red lipstick and thick makeup on his face, but he can’t hide his obvious illness. He can’t even walk properly.”

The Director of the National Intelligence Service said.

“The Chairman’s platform is prepared separately, and the attending doctor is wearing a mask. It is evidence that his immunity has dropped to the point where he should not come into contact with others.”

“How could he, after inhaling radiation? His white blood cells must have been destroyed, and his immunity must be at rock bottom. Besides, it seems like all his hair has already fallen out. That must be a wig.”

“The unnatural shape makes that highly likely.”

“It’s going very well as planned. Now, let’s start the next operation!”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

*

Paju Industrial Complex VIP room.

The Director of the National Intelligence Service was meeting with Jang Song-taek.

Unlike before, Vice Chairman Jang was strutting around, putting on airs.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a heads-up about possessing nuclear weapons, Director. It was such a top secret that even a vice chairman would have a hard time avoiding execution if security was breached, so please understand.”

“I fully understand, Vice Chairman. I probably would have done the same.”

“……”

The North had no way of knowing that the South had already developed and possessed nuclear weapons itself.

The Vice Chairman warned.

“The United States is currently threatening us by deploying an aircraft carrier fleet in the East Sea [Sea of Japan], so tell them to withdraw it immediately. One shot and they could become powder in a nuclear storm.”

“The UN prohibits the possession of nuclear weapons, so UN-level sanctions are inevitable. You must have been prepared for that much, right?”

“Are you threatening us now?”

“Western countries are discussing economic and military sanctions. This industrial complex is not safe either.”

“You’re saying you’ll shut down the industrial complex and cut off crude oil, right?”

“That’s how it will proceed.”

“Hahaha, North Korea is a Juche economy. It’s a self-reliant economy. We don’t need that overseas trade.”

North Korea had already received promises of crude oil and food aid from the Soviet Union and had carried out the deployment of Soviet nuclear weapons, so it was prepared for the severance of inter-Korean economic cooperation.

The Director of the National Intelligence Service said the key point of the day.

“The Chairman seems to be unwell, is he very uncomfortable?”

“He’s overworked from developing nuclear weapons and welcoming diplomatic envoys on the Day of the Sun. He’ll recover after a few shots of IV. His age is catching up with him.”

Judging by the fact that they were attributing the Chairman’s illness to his age, they still didn’t seem to know the cause.

The Director of the National Intelligence Service said.

“Just in case… It’s unlikely, but if the Chairman passes away, who will be the successor?”

“Successor?”

Jang Song-taek pretended to be shocked, not because he was feigning concern for the Supreme Leader, but because it seemed like his ambitions had been discovered.

In fact, as the Chairman’s illness showed no improvement and worsened day by day, and the chief physician also spoke quite pessimistically, he had been internally calculating his chances.

As if seeing through Jang Song-taek’s mind, the Director of the National Intelligence Service cut in.

“Kim Pyong-il is only 19 years old now.”

“Hmm, hmm, he’s not old enough to rule.”

“To be honest, if Vice Chairman becomes the supreme leader, inter-Korean relations will flow very smoothly.”

“Me?”

“That’s right. Considering your ranking and external capabilities, it is a fact that the Vice Chairman has been leading the North’s economy. If you receive the support of the military, there will be no obstacles, right?”

The Soviet Union’s aid was extremely harsh and exploitative.

On the other hand, the South’s aid was of high quality, and a lot of money ended up in his pockets.

“Hmm, hmm, Director, you are very interested in the future of North Korea?”

“That’s my job.”

“Well, well….”

“In a situation where military tensions are escalating due to nuclear tests and economic sanctions are becoming stricter, if the transition of supreme leader is not smooth, North Korea will be in great chaos. I think the only person who can solve this is the Vice Chairman, who has excellent external negotiation skills.”

“Hmm, thank you for evaluating me so highly.”

The South clearly conveyed the message that it supports Vice Chairman Jang.

Although inter-Korean relations were at their worst due to the nuclear test, Vice Chairman Jang was handed a bag of dollars three times larger than usual that day.

Jang Song-taek, who thought he would return empty-handed in the harsh situation, was grinning from ear to ear when he received the huge bribe.

“Why so much?”

“Use it wisely as the situation is difficult.”

“……”

The reason for giving a large sum of money was to grease the wheels of the North’s military in advance.

The military would also support those who benefit them, and especially in a closed country, money played a role in determining power.

So far, the operation planned by the President seemed to be going smoothly, but an unexpected event was waiting.