Kapitel 580: Chapter 580: I Will Dismantle the West Sea Gate
Jang Seong-taek settled into his seat before me, his serious expression betraying deep contemplation. After a long pause, he picked up a fresh shot glass and filled it with vodka.
Without taking a breath, Jang Seong-taek downed his shot and spoke.
"So, are you saying we're going to dismantle all the existing facilities? If that happens, it'll take forever to reorganize the area. After all, these are quite decent facilities in our republic."
"They might be satisfactory for the republic, but they don't meet my standards. If I'm proposing a complete overhaul of my initial plan, you can imagine how inadequate I find them."
Jang Seong-taek sighed, evidently displeased with my words.
The original plan I had crafted was born from my intention to use Jang Seong-taek to oust Kim Jong-il and open up North Korea.
Yet after touring Nampo City all day, it hit me that my original plan was utterly unrealistic.
The existing facilities were such a mess that it seemed easier to create something from nothing.
"What was the original plan anyway?"
Jang Seong-taek asked, while I, feeling frustrated, took another shot of vodka.
"I envisioned turning Nampo Port into a key transshipment hub. Considering Nampo's location, I thought it was perfect…"
"A transshipment hub? What exactly does that entail?"
No matter how astute Jang Seong-taek was in economic matters, he couldn't know everything.
Especially since North Korea had been isolated for quite some time; it's understandable that some things might escape him.
I took the time to elaborate on the need for a transshipment hub, Nampo's geographical advantages, and the benefits that transshipping could bring.
"Is that really such a profitable endeavor?"
After hearing my explanation, Jang Seong-taek asked with wide-open eyes.
"Absolutely. While it begins with significant capital requirements, once it's established, transshipping can be quite lucrative. The global economy is already intricately woven together."
"…"
"The core of that economy lies in imports and exports. But not every country can build a major port. Therefore, smaller vessels need to transport goods to larger ports where they can be transferred onto bigger vessels for long hauls."
After a brief moment of consideration, Jang Seong-taek swallowed hard and spoke.
"As you mentioned, the employment effects would also be substantial."
"Exactly. Not only employment. When ships dock, the sailors will need to disembark for rest. We need to develop proper accommodation facilities and vibrant urban amenities nearby. If we prepare places for them to spend money, it will bolster the North Korean economy."
Sailors, who spent most of their lives at sea, rarely got a chance to spend their earnings.
So, when they finally came ashore, they would often splurge without a second thought.
That's what I was aiming for: creating a space where they could enjoy themselves and spend money freely.
"It's not just about specific sectors thriving; the entire city — Nampo City — needs to develop cohesively. This would vastly improve the quality of life for the North Korean people."
As Jang Seong-taek swirled the vodka in his glass, he focused on my explanation.
"The logistics in East Asia will continuously grow. If we want a share, we need to prepare now. Korea is already building a new port in Busan, and China is developing Yangsan Port in Shanghai."
"I've heard that too. They say Yangsan Port is being constructed because Shanghai can't handle all the cargo traffic."
"Knowing that makes my explanation easier. Yangsan Port is going to be built gradually. It will be entirely dedicated to transshipment cargo."
China, always on the lookout for profitable opportunities, began to eye the transshipment hub.
This meant they needed to enter the market before scaling up further.
However, Jang Seong-taek still hesitated, clearly troubled.
"But we are entirely different from China. They are already becoming the world's factory due to their cheap labor. Isn't that why the cargo volume is overwhelming?"
Transshipment cargo and import-export cargo are different matters. It seemed that Jang Seong-taek still didn't fully grasp my words.
Products manufactured in China are easily exported via the port currently operational in Shanghai.
"I mentioned they are constructing Yangsan Port specifically for transshipment cargo. It doesn't matter whether a country is large or small; what counts is the size of the vessels that can dock there and the capacity to process them. Additionally, location plays a crucial role. If all those factors come together, the nation's size becomes irrelevant."
Currently, the world's top cargo handling port is Rotterdam in the Netherlands, while Singapore holds second place.
Rotterdam aside, Singapore is a tiny city-state.
Yet it meets all the necessary conditions to rank first in Asia and second globally.
"Look at Singapore. It's a city-state but has outperformed China's Shanghai in the East Asian logistics race."
Of course, it would likely fall behind in a few years, but this information wasn't relevant to the current discussion.
"As the millennium began, the first thing China did was to order the construction of Yangsan Port. It's not merely about building a port; they initiated a massive project that also includes residential, industrial, and logistics processing facilities behind the scenes."
China's shipping cargo volume has been growing at a rapid pace, increasing by 30% over the past decade.
Their growth has surged forward, and naturally, Shanghai has ascended in prominence.
It's now surpassed Busan Port to become the third-largest port in the world and the second in Asia.
"The geographical position of Nampo City is superior to that of Shanghai. By land, it's closer to China above and Korea below. Shipping from Nampo Port to Seoul could even be faster than from Busan Port to Seoul — though that hinges on well-maintained roads leading to Seoul."
The reason I demanded Nampo Port instead of Najin, which is closer to Russia, lay in that very consideration.
"I plan to dismantle the West Sea Gate and commence major construction for port development. Nampo Port will simply undergo expansion to handle logistics between North and South Korea, while the new port we build after dismantling the West Sea Gate will be turned into a transshipment hub."
Jang Seong-taek dropped his glass in shock.
"W-What did you just say?"
As the glass shattered on the floor, Jang Seong-taek glared at me without caring about the wreckage.
"Do you understand what you're saying, Boss Kim? The West Sea Gate is a source of pride for our republic! And you're saying we will dismantle it?"
His voice was loud, full of agitation.
"That's absolutely not acceptable. It could put my position in jeopardy."
"Is the West Sea Gate really that significant?"
Jang Seong-taek shot me a piercing look.
Of course, I was well aware of how crucial the West Sea Gate was to North Korea. I knew that Kim Il-sung had personally commissioned its construction.
However, I hadn't anticipated the extent of Jang Seong-taek's resistance.
"The Great Leader ordered its construction and regularly inspected it. He even named it himself."
"I'm aware of that. Still, in a time of change, it's a common occurrence to dismantle old structures."
Jang Seong-taek shook his head.
"No. You don't understand, Boss Kim. The status of the Great Leader within our republic is unique. He is not to be compared with the Chairman."
Without letting me get a word in, Jang Seong-taek continued.
His anger was palpable, veins popping in his neck.
"The Great Leader is practically a god in our republic. And you're suggesting we dismantle the facilities he personally oversaw? That's tantamount to asking for my life!"
"I understand that aspect too. However, we can't let the past dictate the future of later generations, can we?"
"No, that's not true. The Great Leader isn't dead. At least not in our republic."
He firmly cut me off. For such a rational individual like Jang Seong-taek to react so intensely indicated the danger at hand.
"I understand what you're saying. But, this is something that must be done. Not just for North Korea, but for the people as well."
"I'm fine with everything, but I cannot allow the dismantling of something related to the Great Leader."
Again, Jang Seong-taek firmly insisted.
"I'd rather hand over a different port city to you. I'll let you handle it in that manner…"
I raised my hand to interrupt Jang Seong-taek. His suggestion held no merit.
I was determined to develop Nampo according to my vision, come what may.
"Vice Chairman. You've already promised to lease Nampo City to me. How I choose to develop it is my prerogative. If you keep opposing every decision I make, how can we move forward with the business?"
The mention of a promise made Jang Seong-taek flinch momentarily. Once he regained his composure, he continued to speak.
"The reason I'm sharing what doesn't need to be mentioned is that we are partners."
"Of course you agreed to give it to me. But this isn't a trivial matter. Dismantling the West Sea Gate is…"
"Don't you wish for reform? You're looking to implement open policies for the people."
Jang Seong-taek nodded, biting his lip.
"But if we cling to the past, we'll accomplish nothing. You know better than I about what happened after Stalin's sudden death."
The dictator of the Soviet Union met an untimely end.
Dictators don't appoint successors. As a result, the Soviet Union plunged into chaos after losing its leader.
Amidst the pandemonium, intense power struggles ensued, leading to Nikita Khrushchev seizing control.
And Khrushchev's first act after assuming power was launching a campaign to degrade his predecessor, Stalin.
"The Soviet Union also deified and idolized Stalin, didn't it? Kim Il-sung didn't follow suit by also idolizing himself?"
"…"
"For genuine reform, the idolization of Kim Il-sung must be toppled, just like how Khrushchev dismantled the idolization of Stalin."
Toppling the idol of Kim Il-sung, who had risen to divine status in North Korea, would reinforce Jang Seong-taek's grip on power.
"I will dismantle the West Sea Gate. From that point onward, we'll free North Korea from the burdensome legacy of Kim Il-sung."
Jang Seong-taek surely understood the implication of my words.
He knew it, but it must have been terrifying. The symbolic significance of Kim Il-sung in North Korea was substantial.
Yet, at the time, Stalin's influence was far grander. Khrushchev eventually pulled him down from his pedestal and solidified his own power.
"No matter how much you oppose, I will dismantle the West Sea Gate."
Jang Seong-taek exhaled a quiet sigh and shut his eyes.
"You're determined to go through with this, aren't you? The gunshots echoing in Pyongyang were just the opening shot of that change, right?"
"Ha…"
Jang Seong-taek let out a deep sigh. He refilled his shot glass with vodka and downed it in one gulp.
Putting down his empty glass, Jang Seong-taek began to speak.
"Radical changes aren't always good. Even Khrushchev, whom you mentioned, acted like a follower of Stalin at the outset. It wasn't until several years after acquiring power that he began his campaign against Stalin. It might be premature right now."
It seemed Jang Seong-taek had contemplated the necessity of a campaign against Kim Il-sung.
He likely intended to begin slowly, over time.
"Then let's put this off for a while."
Jang Seong-taek proposed a compromise.
"Vice Chairman, time is money. If we miss the timing, we won't even be able to catch up later. This is a massive construction project. We can't delay it, potentially stretching it over years."
Even starting now, it was uncertain whether we could outpace China. The longer we waited, the more chances we had of missing our window.
"I will start immediately after the Party Congress and the summit in Seoul."
"Kim Mu-hyeok…"
After I rejected his compromise, Jang Seong-taek raised his voice again.
"I still need more time to fully secure my power. First, we should expand Nampo Port…"
Continuing to converse would lead us in circles. Perhaps it's time to drop a bait.
I locked eyes with him and smirked slightly.
"Vice Chairman, I'll build the Ryugyong Hotel for you."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein