The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 196

196. The Chinese Army Crosses the Yalu River

The audience was thunderstruck, their mouths agape as they exchanged shocked glances.

Deng Xiaoping asked,

“The Americans even joined the war and launched a nuclear strike! Immediately activate the rocket forces’ nuclear missiles!”

They still mistakenly believed that the United States had intervened.

The Chairman of the Central Military Commission, standing rigidly beside him, replied,

“Yes, Comrade Chairman!”

Deng Xiaoping said grimly,

“This is an all-out war! Prepare for World War III with nuclear weapons!”

The attendees were breathless.

A nuclear war involving the United States was the worst-case scenario for humanity’s destruction.

The Chief Secretary said,

“But it may not have been the Americans who fired the nuclear missile.”

“What are you talking about? The only nuclear power that could strike Pyongyang is the United States, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but according to intelligence reports, Commander Jang’s supporting forces seized North Korea’s nuclear missile base and launched it.”

“What? They attacked their own people with nuclear weapons? That doesn’t make sense!”

“I doubted my own ears, but that’s what the intelligence report said. It’s an unconfirmed report.”

“Confirmation is one thing, but right now, order the People’s Liberation Army to quickly cross the Yalu River and advance to Pyongyang! Do you understand, Military Chairman!”

“Yes!”

*

The Yalu River.

Chinese tanks began to move south in a line from the northern end of the Yalu River Bridge.

Grrr…

A North Korean border guard frantically tried to stop them.

“Stop! Stop! What’s going on? Why are you crossing the border without permission?”

“Get out of the way!”

“Get out of the way of the border guards? We haven’t received any orders from above.”

“It’s war! War!”

“What war are you talking about?”

The Chinese commander in the tank shouted,

“Advance!”

“Stop! Aagh!”

The tank ran over the North Korean soldier and advanced south like an occupying force.

The border guards were overwhelmed by the Chinese army’s fierce momentum and retreated.

In the sky, a squadron of Chinese fighter jets flew south.

Whoosh!

*

Panmunjom.

Jang Song-thaek, in an armored vehicle, crossed the northern demarcation line and passed through the road devastated by the South Korean army’s shelling.

A thousand guards and regular soldiers lined up and shouted cheers.

“Comrade Premier, hurrah!”

“Hurrah! Hurrah!”

The Premier ordered the driver,

“To Gaeseong!”

Pyongyang had become a sea of fire due to the nuclear explosion, so they decided to set up a command post in Gaeseong.

It was a geopolitical choice that would allow them to restore the North Korean military’s command system using the media and obtain support from the South.

Vroom!

*

Gaeseong Broadcasting Station.

Jang Song-thaek stood in front of the camera with his deputy commander of the guard, the air force commander, the missile force commander, and several brigade commanders behind him.

Instead of the Pyongyang Broadcasting Station, which had been reduced to dust, Jang Song-thaek gave a live speech on TV and radio simultaneously from the Gaeseong Broadcasting Station.

“While Number One [Kim Il-sung or Kim Jong-il, depending on the story’s setting] was away from Pyongyang, the chief of general staff and the commander of the security forces, those vicious reactionary traitors, seized Pyongyang by force and blockaded the armistice line, causing a treasonous situation. I, Jang Song-thaek, have retaliated against Pyongyang, the base of these traitors. I order the generals of the armed forces to immediately annihilate the traitors who are rioting in various places!”

*

Deng Xiaoping’s office in China.

Deng Xiaoping, after watching the recording of Jang Song-thaek’s Gaeseong speech, crossed his arms and muttered,

“Jang Song-thaek really fired a nuclear weapon at his own people!”

The Chairman of the Central Military Commission said,

“That’s proof of how desperate he was. It seems the revolutionary army’s command was hit hard. What should we do now? Jang Song-thaek has returned, and we’ve confirmed that the U.S. military and South Korea haven’t crossed the armistice line. Should the People’s Liberation Army, which has gathered in Sinuiju, withdraw?”

“Damn it! We’re the only ones who crossed North Korea’s border for nothing!”

“That’s right.”

“But if we retreat like this, Jang Song-thaek will completely turn to a pro-Western, anti-China line.”

“That’s very likely.”

“If they even move towards a South-North alliance at this opportunity, we’ll border South Korea, and the three northeastern provinces will be in danger.”

“That’s right, Comrade Chairman.”

“Send them south!”

“It could be an excuse for U.S. military intervention.”

“That’s what I want. Let’s negotiate a division of North Korea with the U.S. military, using the Chongchon River as the border. Rather than handing over North Korea entirely to South Korea, let’s dismantle North Korea through re-division and solidify the three northeastern provinces.”

“Understood, Comrade Chairman!”

*

Underground bunker of the Presidential Office.

It was a joint U.S.-Korea strategic and tactical meeting attended by the commander of the U.S. Forces in Korea and the deputy commander of the Asia-Pacific Fleet.

The Director of the National Intelligence Service reported.

“The rebel command in Pyongyang has been annihilated. The rebels in the demilitarized zone, border, security forces, and some armored units in the provinces are being suppressed. The problem is the Chinese army. Currently, 100,000 troops are gathered in Sinuiju, and another 100,000 logistics troops are crossing the Yalu River Bridge in a line.”

The Director of the CIA’s Asia-Pacific Division said,

“According to satellite photo analysis, the Chinese army’s advance team is heading to Pyongyang. Their purpose of advancing south is clear.”

The President asked,

“Jang Song-thaek has returned to Gaeseong, and if they knew that the nuclear attack wasn’t a U.S. strike, why are they gathering troops?”

The commander of the U.S. Forces in Korea said,

“Even though they know it’s a civil war, the fact that the Chinese army is intervening means they intend to occupy North Korea, overthrow the Jang Song-thaek regime, and establish a pro-China regime. If the U.S.-Korea allied forces try to stop this and cross the demilitarized zone, they intend to risk a clash.”

“Are you saying it’s a brinkmanship tactic?”

“What China is aiming for is the division of North Korea.”

“Division? Are you saying they’re going to divide it again on top of the demilitarized zone?”

“It came up during the 6.25 War [Korean War], but the initial armistice line was supposed to be the Daedong River. Governments were almost established north and south of the Daedong River. China seems to be planning to cause extreme tension or a local war to subjugate part of North Korea once again.”

“Hmm, they’re desperate to incorporate the Korean Peninsula into the three northeastern provinces!”

The Deputy Commander of the Pacific Fleet said,

“Right now, China holds the cards. The U.S.-Korea allied forces must advance into the North before Jang Song-thaek is ousted or killed. How about Korea subjugating the area south of the Daedong River or south of the Chongchon River, as China intends, at this opportunity?”

“Are you saying we should hand over the area north of the Chongchon River to China and talk about half-unification?”

The Deputy Commander flinched at the President’s murderous aura.

“I was just saying we should consider it as one of the options. Reality is reality.”

“Make it clear that we can’t be dragged along by China’s intentions!”

In fact, the President’s planned scenario was to end the situation with the Pyongyang nuclear explosion, and that was it.

The President was troubled by the sudden variable of China revealing its ambition to subjugate part of North Korea and risking an all-out war.

A heavy silence weighed on the air.

Finally, the President opened his mouth heavily.

“There’s something we need to try before the U.S.-Korea allied forces advance north.”

“What kind of attempt are you talking about, Your Excellency?”

“Doesn’t the North still have four nuclear missiles left?”

“That’s true, but… surely…”

The President spoke to Jang Song-thaek on a satellite radio on the spot.

“Prime Minister, is the suppression of the rebels going well?”

– Of course. But I thought the Chinese army would withdraw, but they’re advancing south. We don’t have the capacity to stop the Chinese army right now because we’re suppressing the rebels everywhere. Please advance north from South Korea.

“We were just discussing that issue. Korea will never abandon North Korea.”

– Thank you so much!

“But the moment the U.S.-Korea allied forces cross the demilitarized zone, an international war is inevitable. And China will negotiate with the United States to divide North Korea, using the Daedong River as the border. The United States is also very interested in negotiating to avoid escalation.”

– Division? Are you saying they’re going to dismantle North Korea?

“That’s what the Chinese army is trying to do by not withdrawing and advancing south to engage the United States.”

– Those damn Chinese!

“If we want to prevent the division and dismantling of North Korea, the Prime Minister must make a decision.”

– What decision can I make?

“North Korea still has four nuclear weapons, doesn’t it? Use the nuclear weapons to blow up Sinuiju, the base of the Chinese army.”

– With nuclear weapons? Then China will use nuclear weapons too, won’t they?

“Isn’t it that the nuclear missile is falling within North Korean territory, not crossing the border?”

– …….

“If the Prime Minister urges the Chinese army to withdraw and uses nuclear weapons if they don’t comply, then China invaded first, and it’s being used to suppress the invading enemy, so China has no justification to retaliate with nuclear weapons.”

– Hmm, suppressing the invading army… that seems like a good justification.

“If China still doesn’t give up on advancing south, the U.S. and Korea will issue a strong declaration of war.”

– I understand what Your Excellency’s intentions are. You’re saying we should end it as a civil war to reduce the damage, aren’t you.

“That’s right. We must prevent the re-division of North Korea.”

– I don’t even want to mention the re-division that dismantles North Korea.

The U.S. generals looked at each other at the agreement to nuke Sinuiju.

*

As the Chinese army crossed the Yalu River, the collapsing rebel army, led by the head of the 1st Bureau of the Sinuiju Security Department, launched a counterattack.

He said to the general of the Chinese army’s advance team,

“We will guide you to Gaeseong!”

“Thank you. Let’s capture Gaeseong in the shortest amount of time!”

“Of course.”

The Chinese army’s armored vehicles and tanks headed south.

Grrr…

There was a unit of the People’s Army nearby, but they dared not attack the Chinese army that was descending like ants.

Seeing the Chinese army, they returned to bystander mode and protected themselves.

*

Gaeseong.

Jang Song-thaek issued a diplomatic statement aimed at China.

“The group of traitors has been suppressed. As the situation has ended, we hope that the Chinese army gathered in Sinuiju will withdraw immediately! If they do not withdraw, we will consider it a territorial invasion and take defensive action!”

*

China, Standing Committee.

Deng Xiaoping said,

“Territorial invasion? That Jang Song-thaek has completely become a puppet of South Korea and the American imperialists. We are supporting the revolutionary forces of North Korea. Until North Korea fully regains its sovereignty, the Chinese army will function as a peacekeeping force.”

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced his instructions.

It was reported by foreign media around the world and conveyed to Jang Song-thaek in Gaeseong.

Deng Xiaoping, on the other hand, dispatched a special envoy to attempt behind-the-scenes talks with Jang Song-thaek.

Word arrived that a special envoy from the Chinese chairman would be coming to Jang Song-thaek.

*

North Korea’s Haeju Airport.

The Chinese special envoy got off a Chinese military plane.

Jang Song-thaek’s guards were there to greet him.

“Thank you for your hard work in coming such a long way. The Prime Minister should be here, but please understand that he cannot due to the quasi-war state.”

“Looking down from the sky, the burning Pyongyang is truly terrible.”

“…….”

“A nuclear bomb exploded, and you’re saying it’s a quasi-war state? Isn’t it war?”

They headed to Gaeseong, where Jang Song-thaek’s command was located.

Vroom!