Dear Comrade

Chapter 6. diverter (1)

Chapter 6. diverter (1)

The next day, the mission accomplished its purpose and returned to Pyongyang.

Unlike when he arrived in Japan, Jung-hwan went to the airport and said goodbye to Jang Seong-taek and Hyun Young-sook, who were headed to Pyongyang.

And the fact that Hyun Young-sook gave a hint at the airport shortly before leaving the airport quickly answered the question that Kim Yong-geon had before the arrival of the special envoy, ‘Why was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs completely excluded from this project?’

The problem was that it never made him feel better.

“Listen well, Comrade Jeonghwan. There is a story behind the complete exclusion of the foreign ministry and normal diplomatic lines from this contact with Japan.”

“I was guessing. I was expecting it to be a retaliatory measure against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for failing to prevent South Korea from hosting the Olympics, but…”

“I have that kind of personality, but it’s actually a little more complicated.”

Jung-hwan, who was confident that he was familiar with the internal affairs of North Korea with the knowledge gained while working for the researcher North Korea team, was a bit startled by the unexpected remarks coming out of Hyun Young-sook’s mouth, but her expression became serious at her subsequent words.

“The dispatch of this special delegation was directly suggested to General Kim Jong-il by the Reconnaissance Bureau of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, the State Security Department, and the Party’s External Intelligence Investigation Department. It is also the hardliners of the military and party that emphasized that we should not give any information related to negotiations to the incompetent Foreign Ministry and its affiliated Chongryon, who failed to prevent others from hosting the Olympics.”

“…………………………”

“As you can see, immediately after the bid in 1981, all the leadership agencies of the republic, including our propaganda department, did their best for six years to prevent or at least reduce the meaning of the Olympics, but to no avail. So, now that the event is approaching next year, the people involved, including inside the party, are now in the mood to accept the event as it cannot be stopped and to focus on student celebrations…”

“It seems that the military and some of the party did not give up.”

“Yes, they insisted on stopping the Olympics until the very end, or if that doesn’t work, they should use any means to reduce its impact and impact. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs managed to stop even insisting on the use of force… that must be the cause, perhaps.”

“……”

A ray of light flashed past Jeonghwan’s head, who had heard it up to that point.

The bombing of Korean Air Flight 858 by North Korean agent Kim Hyeon-hui, an aircraft terrorist scheduled to take place in November of this year, was the flash of light.

‘So, there was a story like this.’

“The use of force… The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deserves objection. Did Vice-Chairman Jang Seong-taek also participate in removing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from this project?”

“Rather than participating, I abetted it. The reason is that….

“……… to put the blame on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chongryon, not the person who will be sent as a special envoy if the meeting goes wrong. Am I right, comrade of the current manager?”

This time, as if his guess was correct, Hyun Young-sook looked at Jung-hwan anew, with bright black-and-white eyes twinkling.

“You knew.”

“In such a questionable state as these days, I think we should pay more attention to the news that the center of the Republic is going around. Especially in a foreign country like Japan.”

Jeonghwan laughed leisurely as he said that, but as if Hyungsuk had not been able to convey his leisure time, she sighed slightly and put her hand on her forehead.

“Although the voices of the military hardliners, including the security guard, were strong, an executive with a position comparable to that of Vice-Chairman Jang would have been able to block such proposals in the middle. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“…what do you think is the reason?”

“Isn’t it obvious? comrade. Now the republic is in transition. transition of power. This is the time when the real power of the republic is transferred from President Kim Il-sung to General Kim Jong-il.”

Hyeon Young-sook said so and looked out at the wide sky outside the airport window and made a troubled expression.

It seemed that the things that were going on and about to happen in Pyongyang, seen through the sky, were already filling my mind.

“Whether in the party or in the military, now, all the workers of the republic know that General Kim Jong-il is the next sun of the republic. He just won’t speak out… Although the President is still the leader, but within a few years, General Kim Jong-il will take over all real power, perhaps three years at the most…. If Comrade Jeong Hwan, what would you do in a situation like this? To survive around the new sun, you have to build your own roots.”

Her words were quite metaphorical, but Jeonghwan understood immediately.

Even if you are not someone who has returned from the future, it is not difficult if you think about it a little.

No, actually, wasn’t this phenomenon quite common in the people he was with?

“It’s a show-off competition… that’s it.”

“That’s right. Moreover, the republic is not alone in the transition period. I am also involved in the propaganda and agitation department, so I hear a lot of news from outside the republic… Now, the socialist system around the world is shaking from the very root. The general public and the cadres of the Republic cannot be unaware of this, even if the general public is not aware of it.

With that said, Hyun Young-sook looked out the window and saw the shadows on her face.

The fact that the system he once believed in and served was gradually cracking seemed difficult to express in words, with a complex mixture of depression, anger, irritation and frustration.

“It must be in this context that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is most aware of this situation, is taking the lead in opposing the use of force. Still, I heard that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suffered to death in the case of the Aung San Incident in Burma in 1983. Even in our agitation department, there are reports that a little bit of anxiety is spreading among the residents who have gone abroad, so these idiots will keep their seats…”

Watching Hyun Young-sook clenching her teeth without being able to finish speaking, whether it was because of frustration or anger, Jeong-hwan quietly asked her.

“……Why are you explaining this to me, comrade manager?”

“…………”

As for the unexpected help from last night’s party, Junghwan asked her with a sharp gleam in his eyes at her actions, which he never knew the true meaning of.

But to him, it seemed that she herself did not know exactly how she felt right now.

After a moment of silence, Hyun Young-sook shook her head and answered.

“……I don’t know about that either, just think of it as a small reward for respectful hospitality. Comrade Junghwan.”

“…………”

There was once again a moment of silence between the two.

In a situation where only each other’s eyes went back and forth, it was Hyun Young-sook who turned their backs first.

“……If I delay further, I will be late for the flight. Then, see you in the Republic soon, Comrade Kim Jeong-hwan.”

“I hope you will visit Pyongyang, Comrade Hyun Young-sook.”

“…Comrade Jeonghwan, are you okay?”

“……Yes, I’m fine, Master Yu.”

“You look bad. This case worked out well, and you will soon return to the Republic to see Comrade Kim Myung-ae again. Do you have any concerns?”

They were in the car from the airport to Chongryon.

Yoo Hye-rim, who was in charge of driving, asked if Jeong-hwan was worried about Jeong-hwan, who had been silent for a while with a complicated expression after getting into the car, but Jung-hwan answered that it was okay, but his expression still did not resolve.

The boss, no, she tried to ask more questions about whether Yoo Hye-rim was not comfortable with Jung-hwan’s low pressure, who has now become more than just a boss, but eventually shut her mouth.

So she almost missed the steering wheel at Jeonghwan’s voice at the next moment.

“Are you still in contact with Yoo Sang-cheol and Baek Seung-cheol?”

“yes? Ah yes! that is…..”

To a question that was difficult to guess Junghwan’s intentions, Hyerim Yoo was deeply moved and was able to answer only after taking a moment to calm herself down.

“That’s… we still keep in touch, but we’re not very friendly. I’m probably out of the country… and…”

Yoo Hye-rim was silent for a moment, but Jeong-hwan was able to guess what she was going to say without listening.

“It seems you don’t like to tell the inside story very much. You have to be careful.”

“That’s right… The Paik … So, my classmates from Frunze seem to think I’ve completely turned away now. On the side of comrade Junghwan…”

“Hmm…”

Jeonghwan once again sighed and looked out the window with a complicated expression.

While watching his still-unexplained expression through the room mirror, Hye-rim Yoo also exhaled a sigh that had no meaning.

And finally, Jeonghwan’s mouth opened again.

“I have to see Comrade Baek Seung-cheol again. sooner or later .”