There is no such thing as an eternal secret. Given ti, the truth always cos out.
But the Kim Hakgwon administration chose to reveal only limited information about what had happened in North Korea.
The fact that Manager Ma had been shot, and that all projects like North-South economic cooperation had been scrapped, remained hidden.
“Sigh...”
Watching the news, Grandma let out a deep sigh.
“Why?”
“The President must be having such a hard ti.”
The people, knowing nothing, cheered for the President as he struggled to negotiate with the North. My Grandma was among them.
“He’s the man responsible for an entire country. No matter how hard it is, he has to endure. That’s the weight of being President.”
“True. All we can do is support him, right? Muhyuk, you finished already? Want more soup?”
Seeing my empty bowl, she stopped mid-sentence and rose to her feet.
“No, I’ll get it myself.”
“Sit down. Grandma will bring it.”
I half rose, then awkwardly sat back down.
She returned with more soup, smiling warmly as she watched eat.
“What? Do I have sothing on my face?”
I knew well enough she was only looking because she loved . Still, guilty over neglecting her under the excuse of being busy, I let my words co out rougher than I intended.
Grandma only smiled and said nothing.
When I finished eating and was about to rise, she asked,
“Want to co to the market with this afternoon? It’s been a while. You’ll be going ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) back up to Seoul in a few days, right? Let’s go before then.”
“The market? Need to buy sothing?”
“Not really. Just to stretch our legs, take a little stroll. You don’t want to?”
Seeing her face fall as she watched , I laughed and answered.
It wasn’t a difficult request. But sotis, she second-guessed herself, afraid I was too busy, and grew timid.
“No, let’s go.”
When I nodded, she smiled again.
“All right, then go rest. Call when we leave.”
Her constant smile as she cleared the table made smile too.
Pressed by her insistence, I returned to my room. The first thing I did was switch on my phone, which had been off for days.
“Arica, Russia, and China were looking for , weren’t they?”
Even if I cut myself off, contacts outside still received calls ant for . There was no stopping it.
But I hadn’t reached out. I hadn’t wanted my rest disturbed.
Now I scrolled slowly through the ssages. Eva, Han Kyungyeong, even the U.S. Embassy had tried to reach .
After checking them all, I dialed an international call.
After a few rings, dvedev’s voice ca over the line.
― President Kim, thank goodness you’re safe. When I heard about the coup in Pyongyang and that you were there, I worried.
He began with concern, but my answer ca sharp.
“Of course I’m safe. Thanks to it, I had an amusing experience.”
Even to my own ears, my tone was edged. He could not miss it.
― ...Did sothing happen?
Hearing his cautious words, I recalled what Kim Jongil had said.
‘I forced a confession from those counter-revolutionaries that the KGB was behind them. Don’t you know anything about this, Mr. Kim?’
I didn’t know if he had been probing , or speaking truth.
I had spent days thinking about it. The more I thought, the more certain I beca that at least Russia had known sothing.
Most of those who led this coup had studied abroad at the Frunze Military Academy in Russia.
The “Frunze Military Academy” was a catch-all term for Moscow’s military schools, including the Lenin Military-Political Academy.
In 1992, the first generation of Frunze graduates had plotted a coup, dissatisfied with Kim Jongil becoming supre leader.
In response, he had cursed them as ungrateful wretches and begun purges.
The Ministry of the People’s Ard Forces, the General Political Bureau, the General Staff—all units with Russian-educated officers ca under investigation.
Not a single one escaped questioning.
Kim Sungjin and his fellow plotters must have felt the bloody purge firsthand. Though innocent of charges, they were denied promotions.
Perhaps their coup attempt now was born of those long-festering grievances.
They had learned from their seniors’ failure, lying low and waiting for their ti.
Even if they had captured Kim Jongil, ruling would not have been easy. But with Russia backing them, power might have co more swiftly. Likely, they had used their student ties to reach out to Russia.
China was another possibility. But if Beijing had known in advance, then Jang Songthaek, the leader of the pro-China faction, would not have been in the dark.
“You’re really telling you didn’t know?”
― Did I offend you sohow, President Kim? I can’t think of any way.
His voice was heavy. Did he truly not know?
“The day of the coup, I was with Kim Jongil. Before we parted, he said sothing strange. That behind the coup leaders stood the Russian KGB—or rather, the SVR, since the na has changed.”
The KGB had been split by Yeltsin into the FSB for dostic matters and the SVR for overseas.
It had been ant to weaken the mighty KGB.
― What? Is that true?
“If Kim Jongil wasn’t lying, then yes. He said they confessed.”
― ...
There was no reply. The silence stretched until I broke it.
“If the SVR was involved, and if you and President Putin knew and still allowed it, then you nearly had killed. You know Kim Jongil already suspects because of my ties with Russia, especially with Putin. He’ll think I was in on it. In fact, he already did.”
A normal leader wouldn’t kill on suspicion alone.
But Kim Jongil, drunk on power, might. I had learned that clearly this ti.
He also knew the U.S. no longer feared war. That was why, instead of killing , he had shot at Manager Ma—to warn .
If the U.S. terror attack had not yet happened, if the coup had broken out with Russian involvent proven, I’d already be dead.
“I’m deeply disappointed. If you knew but kept silent, that’s one thing. But if you truly didn’t, that’s worse.”
― I really didn’t know, President Kim. Knowing you were in Pyongyang, how could we possibly act militarily?
dvedev was desperate to defend himself. I let him speak.
― If this went above to Putin, I can’t say. But if the SVR acted without him, then this is a challenge to Putin himself.
“...Tell President Putin this: I am sincerely disappointed.”
― President Kim...
“When Japan was attacked, you helped. I repaid that debt. You don’t still think I owe you, do you?”
I had been grateful when they moved troops to help bring Eva back.
I had considered that a debt, and to repay it I had given them what they most desired.
“I repaid it by multiplying Putin’s and your personal slush funds many tis over, without anyone knowing. Surely that was enough.”
― No, of course.
Just then, Grandma opened the door.
She seed about to call , but froze at my rigid posture, hesitating.
I waved a hand to show it was fine and wrapped up the call.
“Pass on my words to Putin exactly. And call back. I have sothing urgent, so I’ll hang up.”
I ended the call without waiting for his reply.
“Are you too busy? If so, we don’t have to go. Just keep working.”
Grandma, watching anxiously, spoke. Feeling bad for making her worry, I rose quickly.
“I’m done. Let change and we’ll go.”
She hesitated, then closed the door.
I changed quickly, and when I stepped out, I found her waiting in the hall.
Her face apologetic, her voice weak, she asked,
“Because of , you’re skipping work, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m really done. But Grandma, why are you so dressed up? You said just the market.”
She had dressed nicely, even putting on the expensive clothes I’d bought her for special days.
“Well... I couldn’t look shabby going out with my grandson, not after so long.”
Her words hit with guilt. I’d neglected her too much.
I had only sought comfort here, never sitting down to talk properly with her.
“Then let’s eat out too.”
“Why bother? We can eat at ho.”
“I want sashimi. Is Mr. Jang’s place still around?”
“Where else would he go? He’s been there for decades.”
“Good. We’ll shop the market, then eat there.”
Even as she demurred, her face lit up.
Together we left. Outside, one of Manager Ma’s n approached.
“Where are you going?”
“To the market with Grandma. Keep watch quietly, don’t interfere.”
“Yes, sir.”
He bowed and stepped back. I confird they would follow from a distance, then we headed for the market.
It was just ten minutes away. It was also where Grandma had sold goods for decades to raise .
She’d never had enough to rent a stall, only spread her mat. But the market folk were so kind no one had ever given her trouble.
When I entered Korea University, they had celebrated as if I were their own.
Now I had wealth, but it couldn’t compare with those warm mories.
“Isn’t this Kim Muhyuk?”
“Uncle, long ti no see.”
The dried-fish shop owner greeted at the entrance.
“Wow, Seoul’s made you into a gentleman.”
“Thank you. You look the sa as ever.”
“What nonsense. I’m bald now, nearly ready to retire. But what brings you here? Shopping with Grandma?”
At his joke, Grandma burst out laughing.
“Yes. Out for a stroll with my grandson.”
“She bragged about you enough. Now I see why. Go on in—everyone will be glad to see you.”
“Do well with business, sir.”
With a nod, Grandma led inside.
Every stall we passed, uncles and aunts greeted .
Nothing had changed. My heart eased, and I chatted freely with those who’d known since I was small.
“Mr. Seong, you’ve lost all your hair. Used to be thick.”
“You brat, you tease about my hair after years?”
“No, really, I rember it being full.”
“You rascal!”
He lifted a dried pollack as if to strike, making laugh.
“Muhyuk, stop. You’ll make him angry.”
Grandma scolded, embarrassed.
“No, it’s fine. He’s just playing.”
He laughed loudly to spare her embarrassnt, and Grandma laughed along.
“You’re lucky, ma’am, with such a grandson. Mine won’t straighten out. Muhyuk, would you talk to him? He might listen to you.”
His booming laugh dimd as he spoke of his child.
“How old is Jonghyuk now?”
“Twenty-three. I hoped the army would fix him, but no change.”
“What’s he doing these days?”
“Probably wasting ti in PC rooms.”
“Then I’ll et him.”
I agreed without hesitation. His face brightened.
“You an it?”
“Yes. I go back to Seoul next week. Before then, send him over. Just call Grandma first.”
“Thank you. I’ll drag him if I must.”
Just then, a loud crash ca from deeper in the market.
Mr. Seong clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, that house again.”
Grandma caught it.
“The rice-cake maker’s boy still causing trouble?”
“Grandma, people don’t change easily.”
As I listened, I turned my gaze toward the source of the noise.
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