“Why do you want to know that?”
Why was he asking such a question?
Why this man, of all people?
Though he seed to read the suspicion flickering across my face, Kim Seongjin didn’t falter and continued speaking.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t co to Pyongyang.”
“Don’t co?”
“Yes. I don’t know the reason behind your visit, but you won’t gain anything good from it. I don’t want to see a young businessman like you get hurt.”
That I might “get hurt”...
Even though Kim Jongil himself had invited , he was warning I could be hard. I stared at him steadily.
Kim Seongjin’s gaze was unwavering. His eyes told no lies.
And that made even more suspicious.
What are you plotting that you’d say sothing like that?
When I didn’t answer and simply held his gaze, Kim Seongjin repeated himself.
“I know it must be confusing to hear this from soone you’ve only just t. But please don’t misunderstand—I’m telling you this with good intentions.”
“I don’t misunderstand. Still, it is unsettling, as you say.”
“I understand. But I truly say it out of concern. I also want to get closer to you. And if sothing were to happen to you in Pyongyang, the Republic would bear the burden of facing President Putin’s anger. That, too, is why I say this.”
He wasn’t wrong. I gave a small nod.
Right now, my most important political partner was Putin. In the past, most nations—even the U.S.—saw only as a businessman who happened to be acquainted with him.
But after his move to mobilize troops to aid in the fight against Japan, every world leader must now realize how close I was to Putin.
Even if the Soviet Union had collapsed, Russia was still the world’s second military power after the United States. To be “Putin’s friend” was no small thing.
If I really were hard in Pyongyang, as Kim Seongjin warned, North Korea would bear the full brunt of his fury.
And yet, the certainty with which he warned I would be hurt still made him deeply suspicious.
“The Chairman’s sudden change of heart moved up this Seoul visit, and your unexpected return with South Korean businessn was arranged. I believe there is sothing between you and the Chairman. Am I wrong?”
Kim Seongjin already seed to know I had arranged a eting with Kim Jongil.
This wasn’t just speculation—he spoke with conviction. Which ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) ant there was a cuckoo sitting sowhere close to Kim Jongil.
“Well, what can I say? If the Chairman summons , I can hardly refuse. My visiting North Korea doesn’t an anything serious will happen, so I don’t understand why you’re so intent on stopping .”
Kim Seongjin shook his head.
“If you do visit and invest in our Republic, it would surely be a good thing. But this ti—I urge you not to co.”
“Give a reason. Then I’ll consider it. But if you only tell not to co, that it may be dangerous, without explanation, it can sound like a threat.”
No matter how politely he said it, depending on how it was heard, it could be taken as pressure.
“It’s difficult for to give you the reason. But you’ll soon understand why I said this.”
Still, he refused to explain, repeating the sa line.
North Korea was too closed a place to truly know what was happening behind the scenes.
Could this man be tied to the attempted assassination of Kim Jongil?
My thoughts spun, but I kept my face calm.
“That’s all I can tell you.”
“If you can’t give a convincing reason, then I will go to Pyongyang.”
If there were a sound reason, I would reconsider. But since he had no more to say, there was no reason to give up the opportunity I had fought so hard to gain. No—I wouldn’t give it up.
“I understand. I won’t stop you any further. But rember, I gave you this warning. Don’t regret it later.”
With those words, Kim Seongjin rose. Confident, without a trace of hesitation. Sohow, that smugness irked .
“But tell ... was it wise to say this to ? I could just as easily repeat it to soone else.”
“Then it would an I misjudged you.”
He laughed heartily, draining the tension. I stood as well.
“If you were really such a loose tongue, could you have been a friend to President Putin? Could you have earned a private audience with Chairman Kim, who trusts no one?”
As I rose, he watched with a smile.
Instead of answering, I extended my hand.
“See you in Pyongyang, then. Thank you for the advice. I’ll give you one in return: overconfidence can turn into poison.”
But Kim Seongjin only smiled again.
Well, he hadn’t known failure yet. He would dismiss my words as nonsense.
“Let’s go out. Thank you for your ti.”
He stepped ahead and opened the door.
“Then I’ll see you in Pyongyang. I must rejoin my group now.”
With that final farewell, he returned to where his companions were gathered.
He walked toward the table where the youngest of the eighteen delegation mbers sat.
So those are the young talents who’ll shape North Korea’s economy...
I turned away after watching Kim Seongjin and the others whisper in serious tones.
“Haha, President Kim, you’ve returned?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Back at the table, Park Namgi welcod with a warm smile.
“Did you and that young man have a good talk?”
“Thanks to your introduction, it was fruitful. I appreciate it.”
Though I spoke only politely, Park Namgi’s face softened with satisfaction.
“Exchange between young people of North and South is a fine thing. Those n will lead our Republic one day.”
He chuckled heartily.
So he had no idea what Kim Seongjin was really up to. I only answered with a smile and sat down.
“You seem to be in high spirits, Chairman.”
“Of course! With Representative Han, Representative Eva, and Chairman Kim here—all experts in economics. They’ve shared much wisdom. The journey here was hard, but I am glad I ca.”
From his expression, his cheer seed genuine.
“I’m glad to hear it. I hope you leave with good results.”
“Indeed. That is why I brought so many young people this ti. But I notice there aren’t many young entrepreneurs in the South.”
“Well, running a major corporation usually requires age and experience. Chairman Kim of Joongwoo Group here is already considered young among chaebol leaders.”
Looking around the hall again, Park Namgi nodded.
“Seems so. The South and the Republic are alike in that way.”
Handing down state power in one, corporate empires in the other—the scale differed, but the essence was the sa.
“It seems the banquet is drawing to a close. It has been a good ti. I’ll take my leave after bidding farewell to the Pri Minister.”
“Yes, Chairman. I’m glad we t. I’ll see you again when you return to Pyongyang.”
“Haha, let’s do that.”
He extended his hand. After the handshake, he walked toward the table where the Pri Minister, Prosecutor General Yoon, and Jang Songthaek were speaking.
“What did you and he talk about?”
I asked Han Kyungyeong once Park Namgi was far enough away.
“Oh, just this and that.”
“Did you understand him well?”
“He knew more about economics than I expected.”
After praising him for a while, Han’s expression turned serious.
“But there’s one thing lacking. His focus is off. He’s trying to graft capitalism onto communism, which makes his ideas... skewed. He even talked about currency reform.”
Currency reform.
It had surfaced during our own military regi. African dictators also cried for it in tis of crisis.
Apparently, despots shared certain ways of thinking. I couldn’t help scoffing.
“Currency reforms rarely succeed.”
“True. But in theory it’s the best thod. North Korea’s currency is already worthless. Why else would even their elite prefer dollars?”
I gave a small nod, and he continued.
“Currency reform is for later. First, they need to open up. Not halfway—completely. They’re not China, they don’t have that kind of population. They’d need to open more boldly than China did.”
Han pinpointed the heart of it. Eva chid in beside him.
“He’s right. China lured investors with its huge market and workforce. North Korea has nothing but underground resources. Complete opening is the only way their economy can survive.”
But could complete opening ever happen? My mind said no, though I kept silent.
“Well, let’s wait and see. After I return from Pyongyang, let’s all take a month’s holiday on that island in Greece.”
At that, both Eva and Han’s faces lit up.
“Finally, a break. We’ve done nothing but work nonstop.”
Han’s sigh was genuine. We had indeed run without pause. Rest was needed—after all, a horse driven too hard will soday throw its rider.
When the banquet ended, the entire delegation returned to their lodgings.
After sending Eva and Han ahead, I waited for Jang Songthaek in the underground parking lot.
At last, he appeared.
“Boss, Jang Songthaek is here,” Chief Ma reported. I stepped out of the car.
Jang walked toward alone, without escorts, smiling broadly.
“I left the guards behind so I could move freely. You rember your promise of good liquor?”
“Of course. Please, get in.”
He climbed in first, and I followed. Our car rolled slowly out of the garage.
“I only hope the place we’re headed suits your taste, Deputy Director.”
“How could I insist on my own taste? I must enjoy Seoul’s nightlife while I can. Who knows when I’ll return? In every city I visit for the first ti, I always look for the nightlife.”
“Why is that?”
“Because nothing shows a country’s true face better than its nightlife. So I make sure to see it.”
A place where human desires gathered—that was nightlife, the entertainnt districts. His words struck oddly true.
“But where we’re going is a little different from that.”
“Haha, that’s fine. Tomorrow, I’ll take a quiet stroll alone through the real night streets anyway.”
“Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
“Tonight, I move freely with you. From tomorrow, my guards will be with . Close-protection n.”
If they were protecting Jang Songthaek, they were surely special troops trained to kill—ard with firearms. No need for to worry.
As we spoke, we arrived at the secret yojeong.
“This is the last surviving yojeong in Korea, where all great matters are decided. I left it untouched, just to show you.”
“Oh... so even here, such places remain?”
“Only this one. Let’s go inside.”
Led by attendants, we entered the innermost room.
Once seated, Jang asked,
“Is it really alright for us to co here? You said it was left unused—it worries .”
“This is where powerful figures hold secret etings. Paths are arranged so none of them cross. The attendants here are people of discretion.”
At my explanation, Jang’s face showed relief.
“I see. Then I’d like us to talk privately, if that’s alright?”
“Of course.”
I dismissed the attendants. Silence fell instantly.
“Now it’s just us. Deputy Director—tell , why did you ask for this eting?”
I didn’t believe he had co just to enjoy nightlife.
There had to be sothing he wanted to say.
Straightening my posture, I t his eyes.
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