章節 570: Chapter 570: Where Are We Going?
The day had come for the special envoy to visit Pyongyang.
The media announced that the aim of this visit was to negotiate the reunion of separated families.
Of course, politicians wouldn't take that at face value, but the public rallied behind the government with hopes of family reunions.
I mean, no politician really knows what's going on, right…?
Even the people boarding the bus had no clear understanding of why they were going to Pyongyang.
They were genuinely there to negotiate family reunions.
The only ones who truly understood the purpose of this visit were me and Myeong-su sitting next to me.
This time, we decided to go without a single journalist; only the special envoy team would make the trip to Pyongyang.
"Hey… Mu-hyeok."
Myeong-su's voice quivered with tension. Why is he so nervous?
I turned my head to look at his face.
"What is it?"
"It's not dangerous, right?"
"Ah, this is your first time in North Korea, right?"
I've visited Pyongyang multiple times, but it was Myeong-su's first time.
It was natural for him to be anxious.
"It's just a normal place. As long as you follow the rules, you'll be fine."
"Really? You better take responsibility."
Myeong-su jabbed me in the side.
Seeing him so tense made me want to tease him.
I looked at Myeong-su's tense face and couldn't help but smile.
"Of course. But if a gun barrel touches your temple, you can't freak out like this. You have to act like a man. Don't show fear to someone aiming a gun at you; only focus on the person you're negotiating with. If you falter in the mental struggle, the bullet will fly from the gun barrel."
"What!"
Myeong-su yelped in shock, drawing the attention of those around us.
"Keep your voice down! You're attracting everyone's attention."
"Is that really what matters right now? What are you talking about? Is that the truth?"
I shrugged.
"Did you ever see me lying? This is something I've gone through firsthand. Remember when Manager Ma got hurt?"
Mentioning Manager Ma made Myeong-su's face turn pale.
"Crazy. Did I really agree to go…?"
If I keep teasing him, he'll really hate me. I glanced back and patted Myeong-su's shoulder reassuringly.
"I'm just joking, relax. You're going as an envoy representing the South Korean government. The moment something happens to you, it's war. So, no need to worry. My situation was quite special… And back then, Kim Jong-il was in power. It's different now since Jang Seong-taek is the leader. Nothing like that will happen now."
When I said this softly, Myeong-su shot me an annoyed look.
Now that he realized I was just joking, he spoke in a grumpy tone.
"You think it's funny to joke around with a friend who's trusted you? You're terrible, Kim Mu-hyeok. Since we're going to Pyongyang, I'm holding you responsible for my safety. I'm not joking."
"Yeah, yeah. I got it. Of course, I will. Now let's get on the bus. Everyone is waiting for us."
"Oh. Are you moving separately?"
I nodded instead of answering.
I was planning to take the vehicle following the bus.
Only Manager Ma was permitted to join. Jang Seong-taek is suspicious by nature.
Once Myeong-su boarded the bus, he moved forward and entered the prepared vehicle.
Manager Ma was seated in the driver's seat.
The car smoothly started moving towards Pyongyang.
As we passed the demilitarized zone, I looked out the window.
The road conditions were terrible.
'I felt this during my last visit too, but we really need to fix these roads.'
The road was paved yet showed signs of neglect with potholes everywhere.
Considering I would need to use these roads often, they needed proper maintenance.
I slowly closed my eyes, thinking about how to change North Korea.
No matter how good the car was, the bad road made it jolt incessantly.
I couldn't sleep, but thankfully, it wasn't distracting me too much.
At least the road improved as we joined the highway from Kaesong to Pyongyang, but it still wasn't great.
The closer we got to Pyongyang, the better the road conditions became, but it still didn't satisfy me.
No, it wasn't just the roads.
"Not a single car in sight."
Aside from Pyongyang, there were hardly any decent cars to be seen.
It seemed the situation in North Korea was more serious than I expected. I couldn't help but click my tongue in disbelief.
How long had we been driving? Finally, we entered downtown Pyongyang.
We moved towards the Goryeo Hotel, our accommodation.
Perhaps due to traffic control, there wasn't a single vehicle on the road.
A while later, we arrived at the Goryeo Hotel and the car came to a stop.
Instead of exiting, I waited on the bus for the Koreans to enter the hotel.
Once the special envoy team had entered the hotel, armed soldiers from the People's Army controlled the entrance.
At that moment, a man in a suit approached our vehicle.
Knock knock.
As he tapped on the window, Manager Ma lowered it slightly.
"Is this the car of President Kim Mu-hyeok?"
Manager Ma nodded. The man exchanged a quick nod and then spoke again.
"Please step out of the vehicle."
As instructed, both Manager Ma and I exited the car.
"We will be moving in the vehicle we prepared."
"Where are we going?"
When I asked, he glanced at me and replied.
"You'll find out when you get there. I was just given instructions to escort you; I don't know why. Please follow me."
We followed him to the prepared vehicle. It was a Maybach that hadn't been in use for even a year.
It's impressive that such luxury has made its way into Pyongyang already… It showed the kind of extravagant person Kim Jong-il was.
"Well then, we will depart now."
As the car started moving, vehicles surrounded it as if providing protection from the front, the back, and both sides.
In the distance, I could see the Ryugyong Hotel, its bare concrete structure an eyesore in Pyongyang.
This structure was completed over 2010.
'I wonder if I can advance that timeline in this lifetime. If I'm making an investment, it should be done right.'
Pushing my thoughts aside, the car continued driving.
He said I'd find out once I arrived, but the place we reached was not Kim Jong-il's former office.
We got out of the car and followed the man who had come to escort us inside.
The marbled interior looked like a luxurious hotel. We ascended the central staircase and reached the second floor.
In front of the large door on the second floor, the man who had escorted us knocked.
"Comrade Vice Chairman, we have brought President Kim Mu-hyeok."
"Let them in."
"Yes!"
The men standing at the door pulled it open.
As we stepped inside, we found a spacious office, decorated in a manner similar to Kim Jong-il's office that I had previously seen.
Jang Seong-taek, seated at the desk, stood up and walked toward me.
He didn't forget to issue orders to the escorting man.
"No one is allowed to enter the office."
"Yes, Comrade Vice Chairman."
Once the man who escorted us left and closed the door, Jang Seong-taek finally eased his expression and took my hand in greeting.
"President Kim Mu-hyeok. It's a pleasure to meet you alive and well."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Vice Chairman."
After greeting me, Jang Seong-taek turned to smile at Manager Ma.
"Was it Ma Seok-dae? It seems this person is always by President Kim Mu-hyeok's side."
"He's the one I trust most. He always stands by my side, keeping me secure."
"I understand now how important it is to have someone you can trust. Please, have a seat."
Jang Seong-taek led us to the central table.
After I sat down, Manager Ma stood behind me.
Jang Seong-taek watched the scene with interest before sitting directly across from me.
It seemed he was taking my previous warning to heart by leaving the high seat empty.
"I'm glad to meet you here in Pyongyang."
Seeing Jang Seong-taek bow his head in greeting, I smiled.
While surveying the office's interior, I said, "This looks similar to Kim Jong-il's office I've seen before. Was there another place like this?"
"I renovated the original building. Since I can't use Comrade Kim Jong-il's office, this is what I have now."
Even Kim Jong-il had made a separate office for himself, distinct from Kim Il-sung's, where he conducted all affairs.
It was the office I had visited when I was in Pyongyang.
"Does this place have a secret pathway? Last time I noticed a secret passage in Kim Jong-il's office."
"Not yet. We are currently in the process of digging a passage. Once completed, it'll connect the offices of Comrade Kim Jong-il, the Labor Party headquarters, and my residence."
"I see. Even in an economic crisis, you planned to build an office. I thought you'd just keep using Kim Jong-il's original office."
That was a question laced with provocation. I was curious to see how he would respond.
However, Jang Seong-taek handled it with ease.
"The Republic needs authority. Only then will others think twice before acting. So, even though it's not my style, I had to build a grand office. It may seem like useless expenditure to President Kim Mu-hyeok, but it was a necessary choice."
The anxious Jang Seong-taek was no longer in sight.
He exuded confidence and composure, both in his face and gestures.
Now that's more like it. I raised an eyebrow with a smirk and asked, "Authority… Does the location create authority?"
"Isn't it the same in South Korea? Everyone who visits the Blue House says it feels like a palace. You've visited, so you know, right?"
Indeed, South Korea had built the Blue House in a lavish manner.
Presidents who seized power through military coups decorated the official residence elegantly to project authority.
The more of a dictator they were, the more they tended to emphasize such extravagance.
One can see this in the presidential palaces of dictators from Africa or the Middle East.
Despite their economies being at rock bottom, they built their presidential palaces as if they were royal fortresses.
"That's true. But isn't there a significant disparity in economic power between South Korea and North Korea?"
"When the Blue House was built, the economic power disparity between the Republic and South Korea leaned in our favor. Now it's clear that South Korea is ahead in terms of economic standing."
The economic gap between South and North Korea had widened only recently.
And Jang Seong-taek was focusing on that aspect.
I was reminded once again of what Jang Seong-taek would prioritize as a means of governance.
"That's right. Comrade Vice Chairman, you'll be able to manage it well. By the way, where's Kim Jong-il? Is he staying in Pyongyang?"
Jang Seong-taek shook his head.
"No, he's being kept at his villa. I can't leave him here in Pyongyang. Of course, we are completely securing the area around his villa. He can't leave without my permission. But he's still living in comfort, just like before."
"Is Kim Jong-il's entire family gathered?"
"Yes. I have also instructed Kim Pyong-il, who is abroad, to return to Pyongyang. Additionally, I commanded Kim Jong-il's associates to come back as well."
As I watched the long-cherished wishes coming true, Jang Seong-taek was meticulously solidifying his surroundings.
"So you've gained complete control now?"
"Yes. Although the name of Comrade Kim Jong-il is still in play, the real power lies with me. Soon, we'll convene a party congress to transition into a collective leadership system."
"A collective leadership system… Are you sure that's alright? It's a matter of splitting power."
I pointed out the flaws in the collective leadership system. When power is divided, factions inevitably emerge.
It was obvious that Jang Seong-taek was well aware of this point.
"I won't allow factions to form like in China. However, in order to fully erase Comrade Kim Jong-il's name, a transition to a collective leadership system is necessary."
"And after that? What then?"
"As long as he's alive, he will remain a symbol of the Republic. For now, the deification in the people's minds has not disappeared yet."
"So in the end, you plan on keeping him alive. Understood. Now, shall we discuss our matters?"
Throughout the conversation, Jang Seong-taek, who had been relaxed, flinched slightly.
I smiled leisurely and clasped my hands on the wooden table.
Then I leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between me and Jang Seong-taek.
"So, are you going to give me Nampo City?"
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