Chapter 562: So This Was the Original Plan

Ri Ul-sul received a call from Kim Jong-il.

"General."

–– It's Ri Ul-sul. This is Kim Jong-il.

"Are you alright?"

–– What if I'm not?

"There are troubling rumors circulating in Pyongyang. I'm the one commanding the guards assigned to protect you. Your safety is my top priority."

–– Of course, I know your loyalty better than anyone, Ri Ul-sul. Jang Seong-taek has staged a rebellion. I barely made it out alive.

Ri Ul-sul bit his lip without realizing it.

'Did Jang Seong-taek fail?'

While Ri Ul-sul was deep in thought, Kim Jong-il continued speaking.

–– Ri Ul-sul, you were a comrade of the Supreme Leader and my companion, right?

Those words snapped Ri Ul-sul back to attention.

"Dear General, I've dedicated my life to protecting the Supreme Leader's family. Since the Supreme Leader was alive, I've taken the position of commander of the guards and done my best."

–– I believe in no one else but you, Ri Ul-sul.

Ri Ul-sul swallowed hard at the calm voice.

If Jang Seong-taek was alive… Ri Ul-sul already understood that he wasn't free from this affair.

"Chairman, what happened to Deputy Jang Seong-taek?"

–– I never expected a guardsman would be so concerned about someone else's well-being.

Realizing he had misspoken, Ri Ul-sul quickly corrected himself.

"…Are the other family members safe?"

–– No one was hurt. The guards quickly subdued the situation. It's a relief, isn't it?

"Yes. That's a relief."

–– Deputy Jang Seong-taek is alive but not truly living. We can't afford to kill him. This is a golden opportunity. It's time to clean out all the reactionaries in the Party's army.

Kim Jong-il was planning to use Jang Seong-taek to settle accounts with those in the Party and army who opposed him.

Then, wasn't he also included in that list? Ri Ul-sul clenched his fist.

"…"

–– Why so quiet?

"I will carry out your orders, General."

–– That's right. Get here immediately. We must discuss the follow-up plan.

"You mean Yeohori Villa? Isn't that exclusively for your family…"

Kim Jong-il interrupted Ri Ul-sul.

"–– Just what is that to concern yourself with? I've called everyone I can trust, including Chief Jo Myung-rok. So Ri Ul-sul, you should come here right away. Any problems? Or do you perhaps harbor different thoughts?"

"N-no. Don't doubt my loyalty."

–– Then I'll wait. I've told others to come alone, but I wouldn't mind if Ri Ul-sul brought along a driver. And… don't breathe a word about my safety to anyone.

"…Understood."

With that last command, Kim Jong-il abruptly hung up.

Ri Ul-sul threw the receiver down violently, cursing.

"Son of a bitch! I'm a comrade of Kim Il-sung! How dare you give me orders!"

Wrinkles appeared on Ri Ul-sul's face, revealing his anger.

But he soon regained his composure.

"The more I think about it, Kim Jong-il not returning to Pyongyang and summoning people to Yeohori Villa is strange."

Deep in thought, Ri Ul-sul drummed his fingers on the table before urgently dialing somewhere.

"This is Ri Ul-sul."

–– Yes, General.

"Is Jo Myung-rok present? I need to meet him urgently."

–– Chief Jo Myung-rok left in a hurry a while ago.

"Really? Where did he go?"

–– I don't know. He left driving himself, without any aides.

At the mention of Jo Myung-rok leaving alone, Ri Ul-sul narrowed his eyes.

"He received a call from the General before he left, right?"

–– I can't tell you that.

"This is Ri Ul-sul."

–– I can't help you with that, General. You know better than anyone that questions about the General are off-limits.

"…Understood. I'll contact you later."

The subordinate held his tongue, but Ri Ul-sul could surmise that Jo Myung-rok had left after receiving a call from Kim Jong-il.

Since then, Ri Ul-sul continued to make calls.

But truly, nobody could be reached.

"It seems Kim Jong-il's words are true."

The fact that all of Kim Jong-il's aides were out of reach indicated they were likely acting on Kim Jong-il's orders.

"Why is Jang Seong-taek creating a headache for me when he can't even do things properly?"

Ri Ul-sul was lost in thought.

He already received an order from Kim Jong-il. Therefore, if he didn't go… even he would have to risk his life.

But to act alone like this felt like a bad idea.

Ri Ul-sul hadn't completely taken control of the guards under him. They prioritized Kim Jong-il's orders.

With a steely resolve, he dialed someone else.

"The General is in danger. Prepare to mobilize the troops of the Pyongyang Defense Command. I'm heading there now."

–– What? The General ordered all units to maintain their positions.

At the stubborn response, Ri Ul-sul raised his voice.

"That's all because of Jang Seong-taek's trickery! That bastard has staged a rebellion!"

–– Really? Is that true?

"Yes. I'm going there now. Make all preparations. I must save the General!"

Ri Ul-sul resolved to mobilize the army.

Dressed in military uniform, Ri Ul-sul stood in front of a mirror. The reflection looking back at him felt strange.

Letting out a sigh, Ri Ul-sul left the commander's office with a rigid expression.

* * *

"Deputy Jang Seong-taek, unusual troop movements are being reported from Pyongyang. Are you aware of anything?"

–– What? What do you mean? The only force guarding Pyongyang is the Pyongyang Defense Command.

"Ri Ul-sul hasn't been caught yet, right?"

A brief silence ensued. Soon, Jang Seong-taek's furious voice erupted.

–– Just an old fool, losing his mind!

"Respond quickly."

At that moment, the other end of the line became chaotic.

–– What? The Pyongyang Defense Command troops moved? Are you sure? That bastard Park Ki-seo!

The call was abruptly cut off.

I set the receiver down and asked Manager Ma.

"Manager, please explain in detail."

"We received intelligence that the Pyongyang Defense Command has mobilized troops. So all military units are on heightened alert. I haven't heard any additional details."

In times like this, the Blue House usually has more up-to-date information than I do.

I picked up the phone again and dialed Yoon Chang-ho.

"Mr. President, can we talk?"

Instead of a response, I heard someone speaking to another person.

–– Let's take a ten-minute break. I'll take this call.

A brief ruckus ensued. It seemed Yoon Chang-ho was moving with the sound.

The door closed, and soon, Yoon Chang-ho spoke.

–– Boss Kim.

"Is it true that the troops of the Pyongyang Defense Command are moving?"

–– That's the information we received from the joint command, so it's likely true. The Defense Ministry reported the same thing.

If the information came through the joint command, it's reliable. Unknowingly holding my breath, Yoon Chang-ho urgently asked.

"–– Please don't tell me Jang Seong-taek has failed? Is civil war brewing?"

"No. Jang Seong-taek already has Kim Jong-il in his grasp. I just spoke with him. It looks like Ri Ul-sul is moving the army as he pleases."

I roughly summarized the situation as I understood it.

–– The military estimates that among North Korean troops, the Pyongyang Defense Command has the best mobility and firepower. If they've moved, can Jang Seong-taek stop them?

"…They moved without Kim Jong-il's permission."

"–– What does that have to do with anything? Now, isn't Kim Jong-il in a state where he can't even give commands properly?"

"What did the joint command say?"

–– For now, orders were issued for all forces to remain on alert. Live ammunition has been supplied…

Yoon Chang-ho solemnly explained the current situation.

After finishing his explanation, he asked me with a worried voice.

"–– Isn't this really heading toward genuine war?"

"…That won't happen. Have you spoken to President Bush?"

–– No. How could I think about that? I was in the Presidential Residence and then ran to the underground bunker.

"Understood. Please let me know if there's any new information. I'll also do some checking."

–– Understood. I'll call you back.

After ending the call with Yoon Chang-ho, I took a moment to gather my thoughts.

'Did the Pyongyang Defense Command act on their own?'

If they acted alone, they could be subdued surprisingly easily.

No matter how updated the Pyongyang Defense Command was, they couldn't do anything without air support.

"Manager, can you bring over a map of North Korea?"

Manager Ma soon returned with a map of North Korea.

I first checked around Yeohori Villa.

Below it were the 1st Corps and above it the 7th Corps, with the 806 Training Center right next door.

"If we move the 1st Corps and 7th Corps to confront them, and use the air force to launch from Deoksan Airfield in Hamheung…"

I contemplated how Jang Seong-taek would act while staring at the map of North Korea for quite a while.

"The problem is… Ri Ul-sul is too entrenched within the North Korean military."

Ri Ul-sul held the rank of Marshal in the Korean People's Army.

It's no exaggeration to say he was the second most powerful figure after Kim Jong-il.

That meant his influence within the military was strong.

"Kim Jong-il has to act directly if we're to have a chance."

Victory or defeat depended on which generals Jang Seong-taek managed to bring over to his side.

Otherwise, Jang Seong-taek would have to manipulate Kim Jong-il.

But whether that man would be willing to move was uncertain.

"So if we had just followed the original plan, this wouldn't have happened."

Originally, the plan was to secure Kim Jong-il, return to Pyongyang, and seize control alongside Ri Ul-sul.

But suddenly, Kim Jong-il intervened. It seemed Jang Seong-taek preferred to monopolize power instead of sharing it with Ri Ul-sul.

What's the rush when he's on the verge of death? He could have briefly aligned himself to solidify his power, but now a mess has ensued.

At that moment, the mobile phone on the table rang.

I quickly answered the call.

–– Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok, this is Medvedev.

"Yes. Manager Medvedev."

–– The nuclear material has been safely recovered.

"Congratulations."

It seemed they had loaded the nuclear material onto a waiting submarine. But then, Medvedev casually brought up a topic.

–– Are the Zaslon troops withdrawing? The situation doesn't seem too favorable. I've heard reports of troop movements in the Pyongyang Defense Command.

It appeared that Russia was already aware of the circumstances.

"Yes. I just heard about it."

"–– Is it a civil war?"

"I'm not sure of the details, either."

"–– What's the progress? Can you explain?"

I explained everything I knew to Medvedev.

Listening in silence, Medvedev finally sighed.

–– Sigh, Deputy Jang Seong-taek suddenly changed the plan.

"Yes. So Ri Ul-sul had no choice but to act. If Jang Seong-taek has failed, he can't be unaware of his involvement. From the fact that he raised the army without responding to Kim Jong-il's call, he is likely aware of the situation at hand."

–– Exactly. Regardless of success or failure, that's how it likely is. Ri Ul-sul probably thinks he can remove Jang Seong-taek whenever he wants.

That's why you can't just leave it to trust alone.

I rubbed my throbbing temples while letting out a sigh.

"That's probably it. He had no other choice. If Jang Seong-taek had directly contacted him, they'd likely have joined forces temporarily to stabilize their power, but it was Kim Jong-il who called. Naturally, Ri Ul-sul wouldn't want to step into the tiger's den alone."

"–– So what are your plans?"

There was nothing I could do from here.

Move against the U.S.? China would act immediately in response. And if that happened, Russia would also move.

–– Should we intervene? If you, Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok, wish for it, we can act at any moment. The Eastern Military Command and Pacific Fleet are ready to act under the President's orders.

Russia intervening? I hurriedly stopped him.

"Absolutely not. The moment Russian forces intervene, the U.S. and China will inevitably take action."

A civil war in North Korea was not something I cared about.

However, I had to prevent the Korean Peninsula from becoming a battlefield.

"Please relay this to the President. Never move the military first. This is my request as a friend; please pass it on."