Chapter 515: Let’s Pretend We Didn’t Hear That

A car drove through the streets of Pyongyang.

However, instead of stopping it, the traffic guides adjusted the signals to allow it to pass smoothly.

Inside the car sat Jang Seong-taek, his expression as hard as granite. The vehicle sped onward and soon arrived at the party headquarters.

Stepping out, Jang Seong-taek quickly headed up to the second floor.

Upon opening the conference room door, he found many people already waiting inside.

Every one of them was a person who carried themselves with authority in Pyongyang.

As soon as Jang Seong-taek entered, they sprang to their feet.

"Director Jang…"

Jang Seong-taek raised his hand to stop those who were trying to greet him.

Then, with an enraged expression, he glared at the people sitting on either side of the long table.

"What is going on here!"

"Director Jang, please take a seat first."

One man urged him, but Jang Seong-taek shot him a hard look.

"Kim Director, are you all gathered here because you want to die?"

"Please calm down and sit down first."

But Kim Director remained unfazed.

His calm demeanor only fueled Jang Seong-taek's anger, causing his voice to rise.

"What kind of ridiculous meeting is this in the current situation? Don't you know that gathering more than four people could lead to death at the hands of Comrade Chairman?"

Jang Seong-taek's heart sank when he heard that senior members of the Workers' Party had gathered at the headquarters.

That's why he rushed over here.

If Kim Jong-il found out about this, not only would everyone present be doomed, but he himself would also face death.

On the other hand, he could roughly guess why they had gathered.

The nuclear test they conducted recently had failed. Few knew that fact, but the high-ranking officials were whispering about it.

Although an official announcement claimed it to be a successful nuclear test, no one truly believed it.

"Please take a seat, Director Jang."

Kim Hyung-seok from the Security Bureau urged Jang Seong-taek to sit down once more.

He had heard that Kim Hyung-seok was the one who gathered all these people. Jang Seong-taek's gaze sharpened.

"Kim Director, what on earth are you thinking?"

"Don't get so worked up. Please sit down and hear us out."

Jang Seong-taek shot him a look that could kill, but Kim Hyung-seok met his gaze calmly.

"If this is just nonsense, you'll end up dead."

"What difference does my one life make?"

With a heavy sigh, Jang Seong-taek sat down and naturally took a seat at the vacant top spot, rubbing his forehead.

"If Chairman Kim Jong-il finds out, everyone here is dead. You realize that, right?"

Kim Hyung-seok nodded solemnly.

"The current atmosphere is disturbing. We must discuss our strategies among ourselves before approaching the General officially."

"About what?"

"The nuclear test has already ended in failure…"

"Who says it's a failure?"

Jang Seong-taek denied it, but Kim Hyung-seok spoke calmly.

"We know enough to understand. Director Jang, we've crossed a line. China and Russia have turned against us. You know how China reacted a few days ago, right?"

"…"

China was North Korea's last bastion. If they turned against them, North Korea would truly be doomed to wither away.

"We've received word from the UN ambassador. They are preparing sanctions against us. Whatever you imagine could happen, it might be worse. China and Russia will have no choice but to support these sanctions. All because of that nuclear test. We've crossed the red line."

"So what? What do you expect me to do about it? Who will bell the cat?"

Trying to rid himself of the mounting anxiety, Jang Seong-taek spoke louder than necessary.

"That's your task as Director. You're the only one who can gather our opinions and persuade the General."

"Are you asking me to find my own grave?"

"…The General will not kill you. People are starving to death as we speak. If more severe sanctions are imposed, we will all die. Not just the people, but us too. If a popular uprising occurs, that'll be it for everyone here."

Hearing Kim Hyung-seok's words, Jang Seong-taek looked around at the people seated at the table.

They all seemed to share Kim Hyung-seok's sentiments.

"So everyone agrees, huh? So what's the plan? Should we give up our nuclear capabilities and beg the U.S.?"

"Even if it means giving up our nuclear capabilities, that's the path we must take."

"Will the military just sit by and watch? Their long-desired goal is nuclear armament."

With a heavy sigh, Jang Seong-taek splashed his face with cold water.

"Director Jang, I too am a soldier. There are military personnel among us here. Not everyone supports nuclear development. If China truly turns against us, we won't be able to stop the U.S. We will all be finished."

They wanted Jang Seong-taek to tie the bell around Kim Jong-il's neck.

If he refused, they would surely refuse to support him when it came time to oust Kim Jong-il.

"I just have one question. What if the Chairman remains unyielding?"

"Then… we must take action, right?"

"What do you mean?"

Jang Seong-taek slammed his hand on the table.

"Let's pretend we didn't hear that."

"Director Jang, I understand as well."

However, Kim Hyung-seok did not flinch, instead giving the impression that he knew something.

"…"

"Whether it will be successful is uncertain. So please persuade the General before that happens."

"…Alright, I understand. So everyone else besides Director Kim, please return home and wait there."

At Jang Seong-taek's words, everyone stood up.

"We will await your decision, Director Jang."

Everyone bowed politely to Jang Seong-taek and left the conference room.

Only Jang Seong-taek and Kim Hyung-seok remained in the heavy silence of the meeting room.

With a sigh, Jang Seong-taek broke the silence.

"You want me to persuade the Chairman to give up nuclear weapons?"

"If that's not the case, we need to persuade China. You must go directly to China and convince them."

"…Why are you treating me like this?"

"I've heard you're gathering people. I'm not sure what they're up to… but I suspect it's exactly what I think. Even if you fail to persuade the General, everyone who gathered before will assist you afterward. But first, please persuade the General."

Without answering, Jang Seong-taek stared into Kim Hyung-seok's eyes. There was not a shred of fear in his gaze.

"You truly mean it."

"That's right."

"Is this for you or for the people?"

"Both. My safety is important, but of course, the people matter too."

Kim Hyung-seok met Jang Seong-taek's eyes unwaveringly.

It was already a matter of life and death. There was no way to stop now.

Today's meeting would surely reach Kim Jong-il's ears.

In fact, it might have already reached him. The best approach would be to pay him a visit as soon as possible.

With resolve, Jang Seong-taek engaged in a lengthy conversation with Kim Hyung-seok.

"Alright, I will go. You should also head home and wait."

"Understood."

Without hesitation, Jang Seong-taek moved on, while Kim Hyung-seok bowed respectfully to him.

Before long, Jang Seong-taek arrived at the villa where Kim Jong-il was staying.

"I would like to speak with him inside."

"Yes, please wait a moment."

The man who went inside returned promptly.

"You may enter now."

Jang Seong-taek walked through the door the man had opened.

At the table adjacent to his bedroom, Kim Jong-il was tilting a glass.

Having clearly consumed a fair amount, empty bottles were piling up on the table.

"Director Jang! You're here!"

"Yes, Chairman."

"Come in. What brings you here at this hour?"

Jang Seong-taek swallowed hard. He found it difficult to begin.

"Seeing you so troubled, it seems you have something difficult to say. Come, sit here."

Jang Seong-taek walked slowly over and took a seat across from Kim Jong-il.

After pouring a drink into the empty glass, Kim Jong-il pushed it towards Jang Seong-taek.

"First, drink up."

Jang Seong-taek downed the strong whiskey in one go. The liquid burning down his throat eased some of his tension.

"Director Jang."

"Yes, go ahead, Chairman."

"What did those traitors at the headquarters say to you? Were they asking for my neck?"

Though his tone was calm, Kim Jong-il's gaze was menacing.

Kim Jong-il appeared to know everything. Jang Seong-taek quickly denied it.

"No, I heard about their gathering and came to disperse them."

"I see. What was their reason for gathering? Let me hear it."

"…"

"Why the silence? Speak if you've got something to say."

Kim Jong-il pressed him again, and finally, Jang Seong-taek opened his heavy mouth.

"…There were many concerns regarding China's reaction to the recent nuclear test. They suggested we should try to appease China. They also asked me to persuade you, Chairman."

"What? Persuade me?"

"Chairman, I share the same view. Without China's help, our Republic has no future. If the U.S. were to invade, we wouldn't be able to stop them."

Kim Jong-il said nothing, simply listening to Jang Seong-taek's words.

"The UN Security Council is reportedly going to convene a meeting regarding us. According to the UN ambassador…"

Jang Seong-taek elaborated on the current situation for a considerable time.

To escape this crisis, they needed to either persuade China to oppose the sanctions or, even if the sanctions passed, to secretly seek China's assistance.

"Hey, Jang Seong-taek."

After listening for a while, Kim Jong-il called out to him in a low voice.

Not with a title or rank, but by name.

"Yes, I received the report as well. But let me ask you, instead of relying on China's power, wouldn't it be easier for me to show off the nuclear weapons I possess? I might not be able to strike the U.S., but I could certainly aim for those South Korean bastards' heads."

"Going to war means we will definitely lose."

"Of course. I will die, Jang Seong-taek will die, and those traitors will all die too. But that might not be such a bad outcome."

"Chairman…"

Jang Seong-taek called out desperately towards Kim Jong-il, but he seemed entirely unfazed.

"So what is it you want to say? Are you asking me to give up nuclear weapons? What exactly do you mean?"

"If you cannot give them up, then we need to bring China back to our side."

"I don't trust the Chinese!"

Kim Jong-il shouted and threw his drink against the wall, raising his voice.

The glass that brushed past Jang Seong-taek's ear shattered against the wall.

"But…"

"Shut up and listen carefully to what I say!"

Kim Jong-il's eyes flashed with madness. It was clear to anyone that he wasn't in his right mind.

"Tomorrow, fire a missile towards the East Sea right away. Show our intentions to the Americans and the Chinese!"

Jang Seong-taek felt as if the ground beneath him was crumbling.

He couldn't trust this man with the Republic's future any longer.

Even if it meant dying from failure, it was time to act.

In his mind, the confident face of Kim Mu-hyeok surfaced.

* * *

With everyone's consensus, Bo Yibo raised a corner of his mouth and spoke to me.

"So what do you say? Will you join me in toppling North Korea? Then you'll get to pursue whatever endeavors you wish."

"…"

"Why can't you respond? Don't want to?"

Of course, it wasn't a bad proposal for me. But something felt off about it.

"What does you getting that mean? No, what profits can China see from this?"

"That Kim Jong-il is a guy you can't get a read on. But Jang Seong-taek is a friend you can communicate with. He'll lead North Korea well. If that happens, North Korea and China can once again share brotherhood. That alone is enough. If left alone, North Korea will collapse for sure. Whether we intervene or not, that won't change. Before that, we should put someone close to us in that position ourselves."

Bo Yibo seemed to have made up his mind firmly to intervene in North Korea.

But we couldn't let these people take the initiative. We can't let them eat the food we cook.

"No way. The moment the Chinese government intervenes in North Korea, the U.S. will get involved too."

Even if they take control, I had to be in charge.