The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 39

39. I’ve Come to Take the President’s Head! (2)

January 22nd, dawn, Saegumjeong Valley, Seoul.

Whirr~

The cold, plummeting to -9℃, cut to the bone.

The sky was overcast, threatening snow.

The military and police surrounding Saegumjeong Valley focused their flashlights on a single point.

Kim Shin-jo (27), one of the agents, surmised that the path to Bukhansan was blocked. He instead headed south, seeking refuge in Saegumjeong.

But how did the military and police know his location and surround him, weapons trained?

Huddled in a rock crevice, Kim Shin-jo’s finger rested on the safety pin of a grenade.

If he were at the training camp, this would be the moment for self-detonation.

An urgent radio message crackled through to the military and police poised to strike.

– Do not kill, capture alive! It’s an order from the President himself!

A flashlight beam stabbed directly into Kim Shin-jo’s face.

Just as he was about to pull the grenade’s safety pin with his frozen fingers, a loudspeaker blared.

“Come out and you will live! Come out with your hands up!”

Receiving no response, the commander amplified his voice through the loudspeaker.

“The President has promised. It is a special order: surrender and you will be spared. Surrender, and you can gain your freedom.”

It was a moment to choose between life and death.

At the mention of the President’s promise, Kim Shin-jo released the safety pin.

“I will surrender!”

He emerged with both hands raised.

As promised, no bullets flew.

* * *

The Counterintelligence Command.

Surrounded by armed military and police, Kim Shin-jo stood before a throng of reporters.

A reporter pressed forward.

“What was your purpose for infiltrating?”

Kim Shin-jo, his face still youthful, declared with unwavering conviction.

“I’ve come to take Park Jung-woong’s head!”

The chilling declaration sent a ripple of unease through the assembled crowd.

At that moment, a figure emerged from the background.

“Ah, Your Excellency!”

The President himself had arrived.

As the President strode toward the armed spy who had come to assassinate him, tension gripped the room.

Though Kim Shin-jo was restrained, bodyguards and counterintelligence agents cocked their pistols, prepared for any eventuality.

The President addressed the counterintelligence agents.

“Untie him.”

“Y-Your Excellency, this man is an armed spy who came to assassinate you.”

“Untie him!”

The restraints were removed.

The President turned to Kim Shin-jo.

“I sincerely congratulate you on defecting to free Korea. You have now gained your freedom.”

As the President extended his hand, the confident Kim Shin-jo was taken aback by the President’s sheer audacity.

The President grasped Kim Shin-jo’s hesitant hand first.

Kim Shin-jo knelt.

The reporters’ camera flashes erupted like a barrage of machine-gun fire.

Thud-

The photograph became headline news, splashed across both domestic and international media.

However, the January 21st Incident was merely a diversion for an operation set to unfold two days later.

* * *

Yongsan, Ministry of National Defense.

On the conference room table, where the Korean and US flags were crossed, lay a newspaper featuring the image of the President shaking hands with Kim Shin-jo.

The Korean President and the Minister of National Defense were in a meeting with the Commander of the US Forces in Korea (USFK).

The Minister of National Defense raised his voice.

“North Korean special forces infiltrated across the armistice line to assassinate our President. This is a blatant act of provocation. We must retaliate in kind.”

Since wartime operational control rested with the United States, any military retaliation against North Korea required US coordination.

However, the Commander’s response was tepid.

He replied, an unlit pipe clenched in his teeth.

“Well, it’s certainly a clear violation of the armistice agreement. But South Korea successfully contained the situation, and it has been resolved. We are maintaining maximum alert, and US fighter jets are conducting a show of force. Are you suggesting South Korea desires a full-scale war as retaliation?”

“…….”

The Minister of National Defense hesitated, glancing at the President.

Contrary to initial expectations, the Vietnam War had become a protracted conflict, increasing the political pressure on Washington.

Anti-war sentiment was growing, with many questioning why the United States should intervene in every foreign conflict and sacrifice its youth.

Having concluded the Pacific War, overcome the economic crisis, and finally accelerated economic development, the United States was keen to avoid another war.

In particular, a war on the Korean Peninsula risked triggering World War III by drawing in the Soviet Union and China, making war deterrence the paramount objective.

Washington had issued directives to avoid full-scale responses to several localized provocations in the past year.

The President, seeking to challenge this US strategy, questioned the Commander.

“What do you believe is the purpose of this incident? Why do you think Pyongyang orchestrated this provocation?”

The Commander appeared perplexed.

“Is there any purpose beyond assassinating the head of state?”

“If the North desired a full-scale war, they would have launched surprise attacks across the entire front line. Instead, a small contingent of 31 agents infiltrated south. Could 31 individuals truly have breached the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president]?”

The Commander was slightly taken aback.

“So, you’re suggesting they provoked knowing they would fail?”

“If the goal was to destabilize the capital, Seoul, there should have been multiple bases and at least hundreds of infiltrators. But there are only 31. Furthermore, the ‘Return to base’ order was transmitted in a code the agents couldn’t decipher.”

“…….”

“It’s a sophisticated tactic to feign an accidental provocation, deviating from the superiors’ orders. A tactic to blame the 31 for insubordination.”

“Hmm, I don’t entirely follow, but the incident is over. If the North intended to withdraw, shouldn’t we refrain from responding and escalating the situation?”

“There’s a Korean proverb: ‘Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west’ [a diversionary tactic]. It means creating a distraction in one area to attack another. I interpret this provocation by the 31 as bait for such a diversion.”

“Isn’t Your Excellency being overly cautious?”

The President then revealed his global strategic insight.

“North Vietnam is poised to launch a large-scale offensive, invading South Vietnam with a massive force. This is a strategic provocation designed to divert the US military’s attention. The attack on the Blue House is merely bait.”

“So, you’re saying this incident is bait to draw US attention to Seoul, allowing them to provoke in Vietnam?”

“That’s correct.”

The Commander shook his head.

“Hahaha, even if North Korea is foolish, they understand that attacking the United States would trigger an irreversible nuclear retaliation.”

The President began to educate the overly confident Commander.

“If it’s not an attack intended to trigger a full-scale war, a covert operation would be conducted in secrecy, obscuring the perpetrator’s identity. But this time, they are openly revealing their North Korean identity. In other words, their intention to openly attract US attention is clear.”

“Attention? What benefit is there in increasing US hostility?”

“The North is well aware that the United States cannot simultaneously wage wars in both Vietnam and the Korean Peninsula. To reiterate, the reason for creating tension on the Korean Peninsula is to divert US attention from Vietnam.”

“…….”

With the President’s astute strategic analysis, the Commander’s arrogant demeanor began to soften.

The President inquired.

“Can the US military’s power be diverted by the provocation of 31 people?”

“Well, what greater provocation do you anticipate, Your Excellency?”

The Commander began to show genuine interest.

“The US military is currently maximizing its use of intelligence assets around the Korean Peninsula, correct?”

“That’s right. Given the heightened state of alert, all reconnaissance satellites and strategic intelligence assets are focused on monitoring North Korea’s movements. Fortunately, there are no indications of an imminent full-scale war.”

The President demonstrated his foresight.

“The US intelligence-gathering ship is currently operating in the East Sea [Sea of Japan], correct?”

“That’s classified information, so I cannot confirm it.”

The President scored a direct hit, as if amused.

“The Pueblo is spying off the coast of Wonsan, isn’t it?”

“H-How did you know that….”

The Pueblo was a naval intelligence-gathering auxiliary ship, converted from a light cargo ship, displacing 106 tons, measuring 54 meters in length and 10 meters in width, capable of 12.2 knots, and armed with only two 50mm guns.

A total of 83 personnel were on board, including the commander, a lieutenant commander, six naval officers, 75 sailors, and two civilians.

The President predicted the future.

“The North is planning to escalate tensions in Seoul, then lure US reconnaissance assets close to its territorial waters and capture them. This is the ‘Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west’ operation.”

“Capture? Kidnapping US military assets?”

The Commander dropped his pipe.

The Commander retrieved the pipe and continued.

“If that were to happen, it would be tantamount to a declaration of war against the United States. Such a reckless provocation is impossible.”

The President lit his pipe and said.

“It is a declaration of war. But the United States cannot fight wars in two places simultaneously, and Washington is plagued by anti-war sentiment. The North is aware of this. That’s why it’s possible.”

The Commander sucked on his pipe, his expression growing serious.

The President said.

“It doesn’t hurt to be cautious, Commander. Immediately assign an escort ship to the Pueblo.”

“Um… Thank you for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”

The President added.

“The Air Force should also be prepared.”

“T-The Air Force?”

“The North is preparing more meticulously than you realize. A careless response will result in a humiliation for the United States that will be etched in history.”

Unlike his initial demeanor, the Commander was now visibly intimidated by the President’s stern warning.

The President stood and said.

“What the North is counting on is the US strategy of avoiding escalation. A bold initial response that shatters this expectation is the only way to avert tragedy.”

“…….”

“Washington politicians are simply cowards. If this drags on, the cowards will ruin everything. The initial response rests on the commander in the field.”

“…….”

“Remember. The faster and stronger the initial response, the better the outcome.”

During Chairman Wang’s era, the Pueblo incident was a source of deep shame for the United States.

Three North Korean armed patrol boats and two MiG aircraft were dispatched to seize the unarmed Pueblo, which was gathering intelligence on the high seas, and towed it to Wonsan, detaining its 83 American crew members.

It marked the first time in 106 years of US naval history that a naval vessel had been seized on the high seas.

In response to US demands for reparations and the crew’s release, North Korea asserted that the Pueblo had violated its territorial waters. After nearly a year of negotiations, the United States issued an apology for the violation and secured the release of 82 crew members and the body of one sailor, while the ship remained in North Korean hands.

The North proudly displayed the Pueblo in Wonsan Port as a symbol of victory in the anti-American struggle, and Kim Jong-il, who orchestrated the operation, later moved the Pueblo to the Daedong River to showcase his role in the triumph.

Knowing this history, the President issued such a strong warning to the Commander of the US Forces in Korea.

History would hinge on the actions of the US Forces Korea Commander from that moment forward.