The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 216

216. Airplane Hijacking

The President addressed a minister.

“Try compromising with the opposition by scrapping the presidential plane project and diverting the budget to national defense. Let’s buy fighter jets instead!”

“Are you abandoning the presidential plane, Your Excellency?”

“Is a presidential plane more important than national defense?”

“Still, to enhance our national prestige as a permanent member of the Security Council, a presidential plane is necessary, Your Excellency!”

“I’ll acquire a small private jet with my own funds. I’ll cover the operating costs, too.”

“With your own money?”

“Yes.”

*

The opposition was taken aback by the President’s private jet proposal.

The public also recognized the President’s sincerity, but it wasn’t enough to decisively sway public opinion on defense spending. They needed a stronger catalyst.

They had to wait.

And finally, the moment arrived.

*

Pyongyang Sunan Airport.

The downtown area of Pyongyang, devastated by the nuclear strike, was in ruins. However, key infrastructure like the airport, gymnasium, and Kim Il-sung University near Pyongyang remained largely intact.

The affected area was sealed off, and recovery efforts were rapidly underway in the surrounding areas.

A flight to Jeju Island was preparing for takeoff.

Two men with sharp eyes and lean builds boarded the plane, carefully observing the cabin.

A female flight attendant approached them.

“What are your seat numbers?”

The men handed over their tickets. The flight attendant checked them and guided them to their seats.

“Here they are. You can store your bags in the overhead compartment!”

As soon as the flight attendant moved on, the two men immediately got up and headed to the restroom, continuing to survey the cabin.

Whoosh~

The plane took off smoothly.

The captain made an announcement.

– “This flight is bound for Jeju! The weather is clear, and we anticipate a smooth flight. You may unfasten your seatbelts and move around shortly!”

The two men retrieved their bags and entered the restroom one after the other.

The first man to exit the restroom headed towards the cockpit.

A female flight attendant intercepted him.

“Passengers are not allowed to approach the cockpit.”

“None of your business!”

The man pointed a miniature spy pistol, which he had assembled in the restroom, at the flight attendant’s forehead.

“Open the cockpit door!”

The pale-faced flight attendant shook her head.

“I… I can’t…”

Bang!

Another female flight attendant who was approaching collapsed, bleeding from her shoulder.

The passengers were startled and turned towards the sound of the gunshot.

The man in the passenger cabin, holding a pistol and grenades in both hands, shouted.

“We have taken control of this plane! Anyone who gets up or resists will be executed immediately!”

The man who stormed into the cockpit pointed a gun at the pilot’s head and demanded.

“Turn the plane towards Shenzhen Airport!”

“T-To China?”

“Yes, China!”

*

Underground bunker at the Ministry of National Defense.

An NSC [National Security Council] meeting, which hadn’t been held for some time, was convened. It was the first for the new President.

The Director of the National Intelligence Service reported.

“We’ve received a report that 88 passengers and 9 crew members have been kidnapped and have just landed at Shenzhen Bao’an Airport.”

The President asked with a worried expression.

“I heard Jang Seong-taek is on that plane?”

“Yes, he was on his way to attend a forum in Jeju.”

“Are the kidnappers targeting Jang Seong-taek specifically, or all the passengers?”

“It is presumed they are targeting Jang Seong-taek, but it is unclear why they chose China. Now that they have arrived at Shenzhen Airport, they will likely state their demands.”

The President said.

“Contact China and request the suppression of the kidnappers and the rescue of the passengers. Tell them we’re willing to cooperate in a joint operation.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

“Let’s prepare several scenarios in case of an emergency!”

*

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

The kidnapper, holding 97 hostages, approached Jang Seong-taek, pointing a gun at him.

The kidnapper glared and said.

“Traitor to the nation! I will punish you miserably! Slowly!”

Jang Seong-taek was terrified and trembling.

He choked up, thinking he was going to die by a bullet even after his regression [referring to a possible time travel or reincarnation event].

Another kidnapper contacted one of China’s state-run media outlets and shouted their demands.

“We are a commando unit belonging to the North Korean People’s Republic government-in-exile. Our demands are as follows: Immediately release Lee Sang-cheol and 95 other revolutionaries who are being detained by the South Korean reactionaries! If you refuse, we will execute all 97 people, including Jang Seong-taek!”

A year prior, the South Korean military had killed or captured the remaining coup forces resisting during their advance north.

Approximately 100,000 North Korean leaders and residents opposing South Korea crossed the Yalu River into northern China, forming refugee villages.

They formed a self-proclaimed ‘North Korean People’s Republic government-in-exile’ and were engaged in an armed struggle to restore North Korea.

China defended them, referring to them as refugees.

The ‘government-in-exile’ partisans crossed the Yalu River from China, engaging in anti-establishment propaganda against North Korean residents and retaliating against officials from the Guard Command [elite military unit responsible for protecting North Korea’s leadership].

This time, they hijacked a passenger plane with Jang Seong-taek on board, demanding the release of coup-related ideological criminals from the Security Command [South Korean intelligence agency], etc., who were detained in South Korea.

*

China, the President’s office.

The public security chief reported the plane hijacking incident to Deng Xiaoping.

“They are ultimately demanding a prisoner exchange.”

Deng Xiaoping said.

“What is the likelihood of the South Korean government accepting the demands?”

“Very high. They have Jang Seong-taek.”

“It seems to me that the real target is Jang Seong-taek.”

“That’s right. The prisoner exchange may be a bonus.”

“It seems that only the South Korean government’s decision remains. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“But there’s a diplomatic issue.”

“What diplomatic issue?”

“South Korea has requested that we arrest the kidnappers.”

“Us? No way! It’s obvious there will be casualties, why bother!”

“The South Korean government says that if China doesn’t intervene, they will carry out a rescue operation with commandos.”

“Crazy talk! Why bring armed forces into someone else’s territory! They should just release the prisoners and exchange them!”

“Then I will convey our refusal to the South Korean side.”

“I’m already dying from the headaches of the Afghanistan problem; I can’t take on the burden of the Korean problem as well.”

China was pouring a quarter of its defense budget into suppressing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

But there was no progress at all.

Despite large-scale airstrikes and the mobilization of tanks, the Taliban, who had infiltrated mountainous areas and urban centers, were conducting guerrilla warfare, and there was no end in sight.

If they withdrew now, it would be no different from a defeat with nothing gained, so the President was wavering.

*

The President’s office.

The Director of the National Intelligence Service reported the kidnappers’ demands and China’s response.

“China says they cannot carry out a suppression operation themselves.”

“Do they allow our commandos to carry out a special operation?”

“They say that foreign armed soldiers can never set foot on the mainland.”

“They leave the armed kidnappers alone but reject the South Korean military – how transparent.”

“The Chinese authorities are defending the kidnappers. They are supporting the activities of the so-called armed group, the ‘government-in-exile,’ from behind.”

“They’re venting their anger over the nuclear bombing.”

“The kidnappers said they will execute one person each day starting tomorrow if their release demands are not met. If Jang Seong-taek dies, the problem will become even bigger. We must respond quickly, Your Excellency!”

“Since their target is Jang Seong-taek, let’s demand the release of the other passengers.”

“Your Excellency, preparations for a negotiation team to send to the kidnappers are complete.”

“Buy as much time as possible.”

“Understood, Your Excellency!”

*

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

A negotiation expert from South Korea was negotiating with the kidnappers at the entrance of the plane.

“Please release the elderly and women first.”

“Cut the crap! Release our North Korean comrades right now! Did you bring the answer or not?”

“It is under discussion in our home country.”

“If you’re trying to stall, forget it! One person will die starting tomorrow! In three days, even Jang Seong-taek will turn into corpses!”

“A negotiation team from the South Korean Ministry of Justice will arrive tomorrow. They are in charge, so talk to them directly.”

“Is that so?”

The negotiation expert returned and gave the counter-terrorism special forces team leader a detailed account of what he saw inside the plane.

*

The next day.

Chinese public security officers were blockading the airport.

The public security officers addressed the three members of the government negotiation team from South Korea.

“We will conduct a search of your belongings!”

“The kidnappers are over there, why are you searching us?”

“Weren’t you notified in advance? Foreigners are absolutely not allowed to be armed in China!”

They were preemptively blocking any possible counter-terrorism operation by South Korea.

The three members of the South Korean government negotiation team approached the hijacked aircraft.

A kidnapper shouted from the entrance.

“Only one person come in! Leave your bags, raise your hands, and come empty-handed!”

A slightly thin, middle-aged South Korean diplomat with graying hair at his temples, wearing black horn-rimmed glasses and a suit, raised his hands and walked onto the tarmac.

The kidnapper, visibly nervous, pointed a pistol and asked.

“Are you from the South Korean Ministry of Justice?”

“I am!”

“Did you bring the answer?”

“I did!”

“Oh, really? What’s the result?”

“We have decided to release all North Korean rebel prisoners.”

“Yeah, you should!”

He shouted to another kidnapper guarding the hostages from behind.

“It’s done!”

It was expected to take a long time, but the demands were immediately met, and the hostages’ faces lit up.

The diplomat said.

“Release the elderly and women first. I heard there are injured people too.”

“We need to confirm the release of our revolutionary warriors first!”

“South Korea must go through special pardon procedures. It will take a few days.”

“A few days? What kind of trick is that! Forget it! I’ll execute one person every three hours starting tomorrow, so release them immediately tomorrow!”

“Don’t get excited. It’s not a trick. Here is a special release document signed by the President of South Korea.”

The diplomat took out a document envelope and a fountain pen from his inner pocket.

“If you sign here, the negotiation is successful.”

“Sign?”

“It’s a sign of mutual trust. You see His Excellency’s signature here. Just sign below it.”

The diplomat opened the fountain pen cap.

“What signature is a revolutionary warrior going to sign! We do what we say! There is only action!”

“You really don’t listen. Do as I say!”

The kidnapper flinched as the polite diplomat became angry.

“What?”

At that moment, the diplomat put the fountain pen between his fingers and stretched out his arm towards the kidnapper’s neck.

“Cough!”

The whites of his eyes showed.

He pushed the fountain pen in deeply until 2/3 of it was embedded in the kidnapper’s neck.

Glug~

The sound of air escaping from his trachea was heard.

The diplomat was a counter-terrorism special forces member disguised as a middle-aged diplomat wearing a wig.

Based on the information that there were only two kidnappers, they decided to infiltrate and suppress them by disguising themselves as officials to deceive China.

The problem was that it was difficult to bring firearms into China.

Eliminating one was easy, but suppressing the other one, who was far away, was the current challenge.