The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 169

169. As You Sow, So Shall You Reap

The Security Command.

The head of the Security Department, his face pale, paced around his office like a dog needing to relieve itself, muttering.

“Who the hell ratted me out? The only ones who know that much detail are those guys at the Paju Industrial Complex, right? Wait, aren’t they all connected to Kim Dae? Then… it has to be the Escort Bureau! They were trying to get the upper hand by targeting me for surveillance! Damn it!”

If the Escort Bureau was leading the charge, that meant Jang Song-taek’s faction was retaliating.

“That Jang Song-taek is starting a power struggle! I knew it was a bad sign since the Escort Bureau was established! I can’t just sit here and take this. I’ll show you, Jang Song-taek!”

He rushed to his private residence to grab the Jang Song-taek investigation files and money.

He packed the materials from his residence into a bag and loaded it into the car.

Storing classified documents at his private residence was a violation of regulations, so he was moving them to headquarters to erase any trace.

However, the bugging device installed in his office after the photos were taken was still active, monitoring his every move.

*

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission’s office.

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission was shocked as he reviewed the materials Jang Song-taek had provided.

“Is this true?”

“I doubted my own eyes at first. But this information was obtained by our agents operating within the South Korean National Intelligence Service, from the 35th Room [a department specializing in North Korean affairs] and the United Front Department for South Korea [an organization focused on propaganda and psychological warfare against South Korea]. I considered giving it to the Escort Department, but I was concerned it might escalate into a power struggle between the two intelligence agencies, so I brought it directly to you.”

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission was stunned.

“I was only planning to issue a reprimand, but it was truly just the tip of the iceberg.”

“He pretended to be the most patriotic, but he was the biggest traitor.”

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission took out a Japanese cigarette from his desk.

Jang Song-taek politely lit it for him with a lighter.

He exhaled a long stream of smoke.

“Hoo…”

As he thought about it, the Chairman of the National Defense Commission felt overwhelmed.

He whined to Jang Song-taek.

“What should we do about this, brother-in-law?”

“About what? The head of the Security Department should be punished as an example to others.”

“No, I mean if the leak of the classified information to South Korea is true, we’ve essentially declared our self-developed nuclear program to the world, and we’ll face international disgrace.”

He was more concerned about his own reputation than the breakdown of economic cooperation with South Korea or the diplomatic fallout with the Soviet Union.

Jang Song-taek enjoyed the Chairman of the National Defense Commission’s pleading and remained relaxed.

“Ah, don’t worry. Before it’s too late, I’ll meet with South Korean officials and try to resolve it, Comrade Chairman of the National Defense Commission.”

“Please, brother-in-law! You’re the only one I can trust.”

“Trust me. I’ve been building relationships with South Korean figures in private, precisely to resolve situations like this.”

It was an excuse that took into account the bribery history of South Korean figures listed in the Security Department’s surveillance documents.

“This is the worst moment of my life. Please, I’m begging you, brother-in-law!”

He clung to Jang Song-taek’s pants leg like a child.

Jang Song-taek felt a brief moment of pity, but he quickly dismissed it.

Power is merciless, and he had received strong advice from South Korea not to leave any loose ends.

As Jang Song-taek left, the Chairman of the National Defense Commission paced by the window, chain-smoking.

Hoo~

The secretary entered.

“Comrade Chairman, the head of the Security Department has arrived.”

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission frowned deeply.

“Have the security detail come in first! Fully armed!”

Four fully armed security guards entered and stood at attention by the door.

Shortly after, the head of the Security Department, dressed neatly in his uniform, entered with a haggard face.

He carried a heavy bag in each hand. They contained the materials for his final defense.

He bowed his head 90 degrees.

“You summoned me, Comrade Chairman!”

The head of the Security Department desperately hoped that the Chairman of the National Defense Commission would calm down and conclude the matter with a light reprimand.

But then, he felt a murderous aura from behind.

He glanced back and saw the armed security guards.

His legs went weak.

When the Security Department came, they usually threatened suspects in this way, but now he was the one being subjected to it.

Is this what they call karma?

A myriad of emotions washed over him.

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission asked curtly.

“You said you had something to report?”

“Yes, Comrade Chairman!”

“Let’s hear it, then.”

When the Chairman of the National Defense Commission had called him directly, he had said he had an important report.

It might be his last report, so he was being granted a final acknowledgment.

The head of the Security Department composed himself and reported in a trembling voice.

“This is the bag of money I received from South Korea and kept in my possession. I haven’t touched a single dollar, Comrade Chairman of the National Defense Commission!”

He was still trying to claim he was just holding the bribe, not using it.

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission scoffed.

“Hmm, holding it?”

“Yes! Comrade Chairman of the National Defense Commission!”

“Is that all of your report?”

“No, Comrade Chairman!”

This time, he took out a file from his briefcase.

“This is the file on Vice Chairman Jang Song-taek’s activities. It details the dates he met with South Korean officials, including the Director of the National Intelligence Service, and the bribes he received. I intended to report that Jang Song-taek was a reactionary [someone who opposes progress or change] a long time ago, but I kept postponing it due to his status, and I am only reporting it today.”

“Are you saying my brother-in-law is a spy bought by South Korea?”

“Shocking, but yes!”

“Is that so?”

The reaction of the Chairman of the National Defense Commission, who should have been shocked that the second-in-command of North Korea and the closest aide to the supreme leader was a spy, was too cynical.

The head of the Security Department sensed that something was terribly wrong.

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission asked in a sarcastic tone.

“Did you bring this personal surveillance document from your private residence as well?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you keep classified documents at your private residence?”

“……”

Jang Song-taek had reported every detail of the Security Department head’s misconduct in advance, so no matter what the Security Department head said, it sounded like an excuse.

This was the power of a preemptive strike.

“Why can’t you answer?”

“Y-yes, I did.”

The head of the Security Department lowered his head.

“You really lack the basics. That’s why you take classified information so lightly.”

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission handed him a stack of printed photos from his desk.

“Do you know what this is?”

“Isn’t this a photo of the top-secret document about the introduction of Soviet nuclear missiles?”

“Can you recognize the name on the recipient’s label on the top-secret document?”

“……”

The head of the Security Department, examining the photos, felt his legs give way.

“H-how is this here….”

It was like being hit in the back of the head with a sledgehammer.

It was the distribution sequence number and the recipients’ signatures, and it was the Security Department head’s own signature.

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission glared at him with the eyes of a beast that had found its prey.

“Do you know where I got these photos?”

“W-well? I don’t know.”

“I got them from the South Korean National Intelligence Service.”

“S-South Korea?”

The mention of South Korea made him feel faint. It meant it wasn’t just a careless handling of classified information.

“You’re going to offer me the money you made selling out the country?”

“I have never given that information to South Korea, Comrade Chairman of the National Defense Commission!”

“Then what are these photos? Is the evidence fabricated?”

“This is a frame-up, a frame-up! It must be a frame-up by the Escort Bureau! Or someone else stole it and handed it over!”

“Shut up! The result won’t change!”

“……”

“When the Chairman was attacked, I didn’t hold the Security Department responsible and just covered it up. But what is this? You’re so arrogant that you’re not only grabbing the supreme leader by the topknot [disrespecting or challenging the leader], but now you’re committing espionage?”

“……”

“Your crime is being an anti-Party, anti-revolutionary, factionalist element!”

It was the most brutal punishment in North Korea, where not only the person involved but also three generations of their family were destined to die miserably in a prison camp.

“Please, spare me, Comrade Chairman of the National Defense Commission!”

“Arrest this reactionary element!”

The armed security guards handcuffed the head of the Security Department.

Clang!

“Comrade Chairman, please, spare me!”

He cried out desperately, but the Chairman of the National Defense Commission looked disgusted.

“What a blatant lie to my face! I order the execution of this reactionary element for anti-republic crimes!”

There was a judicial trial, but the supreme leader’s word was a supreme order that transcended the constitution.

The head of the Security Department collapsed and wailed.

“Comrade Chairman! Please, spare at least my family!”

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission, losing his reason and his eyes rolling, suddenly snatched an automatic rifle from a security guard.

Click!

He released the safety and shouted.

“I summarily execute this anti-republic reactionary element!”

Then he pulled the trigger on the head of the Security Department.

Tu-tu-tu! Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-

The head of the Security Department shuddered like an aspen tree as if electrocuted, and red blood spurted from all over his body.

Thud!

He fell forward.

In that brief moment when the head of the Security Department lost consciousness, he saw countless souls he had tortured, shot, and starved to death waiting for him with chilling expressions around him.

The carpet was soaked with blood, and blood splattered on the Chairman of the National Defense Commission’s face from the close-range shooting.

“Write his crimes on this reactionary element’s corpse and hang it at Pyongyang Square!”

“Yes!”

*

Pyongyang Square.

A flock of crows circled in the sky.

The body of the head of the Security Department, riddled with automatic rifle fire, hung on a cross, and at its feet was a sign that read, ‘The End of an Anti-Party, Anti-Revolutionary, Factionalist Element.’

Passersby, far from feeling pity, threw stones or spat on the gruesome corpse to show off their Party loyalty.

*

Panmunjom [the Joint Security Area between North and South Korea].

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

An order had been issued not to contact South Korean officials individually in the industrial complex, so they were meeting at Panmunjom.

Jang Song-taek said.

“The operation with the secret document stamped with the National Intelligence Service mark was successful. The Escort General Bureau will take control of the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces.”

“Congratulations.”

“It will now be promoted to the Escort Command.”

“Oh, so you’re going to take over Pyongyang?”

“That’s right. I have one urgent request to ask of you, Director.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“The Chairman of the National Defense Commission has asked that you not publicly reveal the deployment of Soviet missiles.”

“The Chairman of the National Defense Commission?”

“He has heavily promoted it as a self-developed program both internally and externally, not to mention the relationship with the Soviet Union, so he’s losing face. Please remain silent for my sake. In return, the dismantling of the 5th Bureau will proceed as planned this time.”

“Hmm, I understand. We are sponsoring Vice Chairman, so we will decide in a way that benefits you.”

“Thank you.”

The Director of the National Intelligence Service was actively helping Jang Song-taek to strengthen his position.

The day to see the fruits of that was approaching.

*

Pyongyang Workers’ Party Headquarters.

An emergency Standing Committee meeting was held.

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission said in an angry voice.

“It seems you all look down on me, so I made an example of the head of the Security Department!”

“……”

“Regardless of rank, if anyone does not show respect to the supreme leader, they will all be executed like that!”

“……”

The Standing Committee members did not dare to object to his murderous aura.

He was increasingly turning into a tyrant.

Everyone was just watching, but Jang Song-taek stepped forward.

“Ah, Comrade Chairman, it is your turn to discuss the reorganization of the intelligence department.”

“Hmm, hmm, that’s right. From now on, my close protection will be handled by the Escort General Bureau, not the Security Department!”

“Yes!”

The Chairman of the National Defense Commission, who usually only listened attentively, began to show the characteristics of a dictator, replacing the meeting with unilateral instructions.

“The bloated and arrogant Security Department will have its functions drastically reduced! My personal safety and protection, and the guards who guard Pyongyang, will be handled by the Escort General Bureau!”

“Yes!”

“The Security Department will only be responsible for areas outside of Pyongyang! From now on, the Escort General Bureau will be promoted to the Escort Command!”

In short, it was the downfall of the Security Department and the rise of the Escort Bureau.

In South Korean terms, it was as if the Presidential Security Service and the Capital Defense Command had come under Jang Song-taek’s control.