The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 191

191. The North Korean Tunnel

An emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting was convened in the underground bunker of the Presidential Office.

The Minister of National Defense reported.

“We have forward-deployed our mechanized units and activated artillery firepower. The Air Force has doubled the number of fighter reconnaissance missions. The U.S. aircraft carrier stationed in Okinawa is heading towards the East Sea [Sea of Japan]. All forces are maintaining maximum alert.”

The President said.

“Pay particular attention to preventing accidental clashes. North Korea is not in war mode right now, but in a coup. If we don’t preemptively attack, they won’t retaliate.”

“Already instructed, but I will double-check, Your Excellency!”

The Director of National Intelligence said.

“What should we do with Jang Song-taek, Your Excellency?”

“We must proceed as planned. Of course, we need to gain his trust before that.”

“Then we will include him as scheduled.”

“Everyone here, you must act convincingly.”

“Of course!”

A moment later, Jang Song-taek appeared in the underground bunker, looking haggard.

He looked even more pathetic after his chief bodyguard was assassinated.

The Director of National Intelligence looked at the two bodyguards accompanying him and said to Jang Song-taek.

“Prime Minister, this is a top-secret area, so only you may enter. Please have your men wait outside.”

One of the bodyguards protested.

“A bodyguard cannot leave the Prime Minister’s side!”

The Director of National Intelligence looked at Jang Song-taek, who then said to his subordinate.

“Wait outside. Where else is safer than here?”

“Yes, I understand, Prime Minister!”

After the subordinate left, Jang Song-taek looked around the bunker.

Seeing the heads of national security, including the President, gathered around various monitors connected to major hubs, he wondered what kind of bizarre situation this was, and he felt embarrassed to be alone.

The President comforted him, who looked intimidated.

“Welcome, Prime Minister! We have been waiting for you. Let’s work together to resolve this crisis, like the inter-Korean unification soccer game!”

“Thank you.”

Sitting in the chair, he watched without saying a word.

The Director of National Intelligence explained for Jang Song-taek’s benefit.

“North Korean armored units and security brigades are blocking Panmunjom [the Joint Security Area], so you cannot return to the North. The rebels’ intentions are clear, as they killed the chief bodyguard who protested this. In other words, they are blocking the Prime Minister’s party from returning, occupying Pyongyang, and staging a coup.”

Jang Song-taek asked.

“Has there been an official announcement from North Korea?”

“Yes, there was a statement in the name of the ‘Korean Revolution Guard’ on Pyongyang Broadcasting. Let’s watch the recorded broadcast.”

The emergency broadcast from Pyongyang Broadcasting was replayed.

Jang Song-taek’s jaw dropped as he watched the screen.

His mouth fell open at the words ‘defection’ and ‘asylum’.

He couldn’t believe that Pyongyang had been occupied by traitors and that he had been expelled from the North.

Just a few hours ago, he was cheerful, but suddenly the number one power in North Korea had been reduced to a defector. It felt like falling from heaven to hell.

The South Korean attendees had foreseen this situation, but they were all feigning ignorance and maintaining their composure.

The President said.

“How can we help you, Prime Minister?”

Jang Song-taek wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief and said.

“Since those guys are treating me like a defector, I must first make it clear that I am not.”

“We should call domestic and international media for an interview to inform the North Korean leaders and residents.”

“That’s what we should do.”

He felt like he had to grab at straws, and he was so grateful that the South Korean president extended a hand.

The President said to the Director of National Intelligence.

“Contact domestic and foreign news agencies and tell them that the Prime Minister will be briefing in the President’s briefing room in an hour.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

The Director of National Intelligence went outside.

The President asked the Prime Minister.

“Not all of the military has joined the rebels, have they? Can you communicate with units that follow your orders, especially the nuclear missile units?”

“From what I hear, the rebels are mainly from the Security Department, the Chief of General Staff, the Border Guard, and the Special Operations Forces. The Guard Command has been almost wiped out, but the regular nine corps, mechanized, and artillery units don’t seem to be involved. In particular, the Missile Guidance Bureau is set up to follow only my orders because I have the nuclear missile launch codes.”

That was exactly what the President wanted to hear.

“The rebels are only concentrated around Pyongyang and the armistice line, so you still have the upper hand in numbers. But if you don’t contact them quickly, they will take control. We need to restore the command and control system first.”

“I think that’s the top priority too. But no matter how much South Korean and overseas broadcasts and newspapers report it, North Korea can block all external propaganda and agitation, so I doubt it can be properly delivered to the North. At best, it will be delivered to the Yan’an faction in China.”

“That’s right. Then how about making leaflets and scattering them into the North with hot air balloons? If we launch more than a hundred balloons at the same time, it will be very effective.”

A smile finally appeared on Jang Song-taek’s face.

“Oh, that’s a brilliant idea, Your Excellency! South Korea’s leaflet scattering was once a headache [for the North], but I didn’t know it would be such a good propaganda tool.”

The President laid out the prepared plan as if he had just thought of it.

“It will be difficult to communicate directly because they are interfering with communications.”

“That’s right. When I tried to use the radio, all the base station frequencies had been changed and it was out of service.”

“In this case, you can use a satellite radio. It uses the US communication satellite, so it can’t be eavesdropped on, and there’s no need to worry about being out of service even in mountainous areas.”

“Ah, I know satellite radios well. They are convenient, but there is no way there are US satellite radios in North Korea.”

“How about this?”

“…….”

“Our agents infiltrate North Korea with a few members of the Guard Command, deliver satellite radios to the Prime Minister’s supporters, and restore the communication network. Then the South can direct the North.”

“Ah, is that possible? If that’s the case, nothing could be better.”

“We must first restore communication to the nuclear missile storage. It will be difficult if the nuclear missiles fall into their hands.”

“Of course. I was thinking of that place first.”

“Please tell me the location. We need to form a team and cross the border right away.”

“Time is of the essence. Give me a map.”

He pointed to the North Korean map and said.

“We have hidden five units in this underground fortress. It is a nuclear protection facility that can last for a year, so entry is impossible unless it is opened from the inside. And if the Deputy Commander of the Guard Command is alive, he will surely be hiding here at Kim Il-sung University. Go here first. If you can meet him, he can direct in my place.”

Prime Minister Jang marked the secret fortresses and underground bunkers, which were top-secret security matters in North Korea, on the map in detail.

The Director of National Intelligence transmitted Jang Song-taek’s information to the agents who had infiltrated North Korea via satellite radio.

The agents who received the instructions secretly moved towards the nuclear missile base, Kim Il-sung University, and the Workers’ Party building.

While preparing for the broadcast interview, the Director of National Intelligence immediately brought a sample of the leaflet with the following content.

– Emergency Statement by Jang Song-taek, Prime Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

I appeal to the people of North Korea!

The Commander of the Security Forces and the Chief of General Staff have revolted.

The words of the traitors are all lies, and I will soon restore and suppress Pyongyang, so especially loyal defense personnel must not be shaken and fight bravely against the traitors!

Jang Song-taek looked at the draft of the leaflet and exclaimed.

“When did you prepare this with my picture in it?”

“We are always prepared for emergencies, Prime Minister! If you just sign your autograph on this leaflet, it will become the Prime Minister’s address to North Korea.”

Jang Song-taek signed and said.

“Please scatter it quickly to prevent the people and the military from being shaken.”

“Then I will scatter it right away, Prime Minister!”

It was a strange sight to see the South Korean Director of National Intelligence receiving instructions from the top leader of North Korea in the South Korean command bunker.

“Now, let’s go to the briefing room.”

“Have all the reporters already gathered?”

“The scoop goes to the first one there. If you just float the news, they’ll come running on their own.”

The 1st Director of the Guard Command, one agent, and two South Korean special forces who had come south with the Prime Minister immediately left for the armistice line.

A certain hill in Yeoncheon.

The four-member North Korean team arrived at a guard post on a hill overlooking North Korean territory.

The North Korean Guard Director asked, puzzled.

“Shouldn’t we go using the Hantan River in the west or the mountains in the east? Or should we cross over in an aircraft? This is a wide-open field in broad daylight, so we’ll be spotted by the guards right away.”

The South Korean special forces said.

“We have prepared a passage to the North in preparation for this emergency.”

“…….”

Following the guard’s guidance, they entered the guard post, where an iron door appeared.

When they opened the door, there was a tunnel taller than an adult!.

“W, what is this?”

When they turned on the electric switch, the inside of the tunnel lit up brightly.

“It’s a tunnel. A secret passage to the North.”

“A tunnel!”

The North Korean agents’ mouths dropped open.

During Chairman Wang’s time, four North Korean invasion tunnels were discovered, shocking the world, but this time, under the President’s secret instructions, South Korea had dug tunnels to the North in key locations, which could be used in times like these.

“Let’s go in. We’ll reach North Korea in 10 minutes.”

The four men shouldered their prepared backpacks and ran north.

Jang Song-taek could have been taken to the North Korean tunnel, but in order to create a situation led by South Korea, Jang Song-taek had to be held in South Korea.

The World Cup special reporters were all gathered in the President’s briefing room.

First, the Director of National Intelligence gave a rough outline of the incident and announced the North Korean coup.

The reporters, who thought it was an announcement of an agreement between the leaders of the two Koreas, were shocked by the incredible news.

And Jang Song-taek finally appeared before the reporters.

Click!

The camera shutters went off.

Jang Song-taek read the prepared manuscript.

“Ahem, ahem. Dear North and South Korean compatriots! While I was temporarily away from Pyongyang due to a South Korean event, a coup occurred in Pyongyang and the armistice line was temporarily closed. The act of treason committed by a very small group will soon be suppressed. Because I, the supreme ruler of North Korea, am clearly alive and in command….”

For a full 10 minutes, he emphasized that he was still the ruler.

When the statement reading was over, the reporters tried to ask questions, but he left without taking any questions.