Choi Ryonghae was one pillar of the hardliners who wanted Kim Jongil dead.
At first, I also thought Kim Jongil had to be eliminated.
However, now—when the symbolic power of the Baekdu bloodline had not yet completely faded—killing him and taking on that stigma was not a good look for soone in power.
Whenever things got tangled, simply having Kim Jongil appear and lend strength to Jang Songthaek would drastically reduce the political burden.
In fact, it had already proven effective once. There was precedent. After deciding to respect Jang Songthaek's opinion, Kim Jongil was never ntioned again.
But for those who had risen to the core of power alongside Jang Songthaek, Kim Jongil was the single greatest source of anxiety.
They repeatedly urged Jang Songthaek to kill him, and eventually Jang Songthaek warned them.
‘I will never kill the General. Do you understand? If you so much as utter those words one more ti, no matter who you are, I’ll kill you instead.’
So they ca to and asked to persuade Jang Songthaek.
I had no intention of doing that, so I rejected them outright.
After I refused, the hardliners seed to keep quiet, and no major political incidents occurred in North Korea.
“......What do you an, President Kim Muhyuk?”
“What do I an? Isn’t it a joy in itself that we’re eting again alive in this harsh world?”
I kept smiling as I extended my hand to him.
There was no way Choi Ryonghae hadn’t noticed the barbs hidden in my words, yet his stiff expression didn’t soften.
He looked displeased, but in the end he took my hand and spoke in a rigid voice.
“If we don’t depart soon, we won’t make the schedule. We’ll stop by the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and then have dinner in Pyongyang with Comrade Chairman of the National Defense Commission.”
“The ti allocated for Kaesong seems shorter than I expected.”
“It can’t be helped due to Comrade Chairman’s schedule.”
Well, if that was the case, there was nothing to be done. At least I’d get to look around briefly.
“Let’s get going then. How long will it take?”
“About twenty minutes to Kaesong.”
We followed Choi Ryonghae out of the transit office.
Four rcedes sedans and several military vehicles prepared to escort them were waiting.
“President Kim Muhyuk, you’ll ride with . Your attendants can take the other cars.”
“Let’s do that.”
Choi Ryonghae and I got into the sa car, while Manager Ma and the other guards split into the remaining vehicles.
“President Kim Muhyuk.”
As we drove toward Kaesong, Choi Ryonghae spoke.
“Do you hold so personal grudge against , to say such things in front of my subordinates?”
It seed what I’d said earlier was still bothering him.
I glanced at the Korean People’s Army soldier gripping the steering wheel.
“It’s fine. He’s tight-lipped.”
“A grudge? I was just expressing my happiness at seeing you.”
“......I was under the impression you didn’t like wordplay.”
At Choi Ryonghae’s words, I burst out laughing before I realized it. After seeing each other a few tis, he’d learned how to needle people.
That laughter seed to irritate him; his mood visibly soured.
“Director of the General Political Bureau, just take it at face value. If you’d reported what you said to Chairman Jang Songthaek, do you think you’d be here welcoming today?”
“.......”
“I didn’t feel any need to bring it up. Nor did I have any reason to kill you. I thought I could just leave you alone and you’d run your mouth until you got purged on your own. But since you’re still alive, I was genuinely glad to see you.”
Choi Ryonghae bit down on his lip and spoke, enunciating each word as if chewing them.
“......You should be more careful with your words.”
“Why? Is there a reason I should watch what I say around the Director of the General Political Bureau? Are you trying to intimidate just because we’re on North Korean soil?”
Choi Ryonghae glared at as if he wanted to kill , but I deliberately continued in a mocking tone.
I didn’t particularly like him.
Jang Songthaek was irreplaceable, but Choi Ryonghae was not. There were plenty of substitutes for him.
“Director of the General Political Bureau. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. Unless you want to go back to so remote rural farm.”
“President Kim Muhyuk!”
When Choi Ryonghae raised his voice, the soldier driving flinched.
“I’m still young. I’m not hard of hearing. Lower your voice. Or do you really want to see how far this goes between us?”
“.......”
“Do you think Chairman Jang Songthaek sent you to greet without thinking it through? He already knows our relationship isn’t exactly cordial. Do you think soone without that level of perception could’ve survived as the number two under Kim Jongil?”
Seeing him unable to respond, his mouth opening and closing, I continued.
“He probably sent you to smooth things over if there was bad blood between us. From the Chairman’s perspective, if things between and the Director of the General Political Bureau sour, it could complicate what he’s trying to do. Bluntly speaking, if I were to say I can no longer conduct business in North Korea because of you, how do you think the Chairman would respond?”
At my calm question, Choi Ryonghae’s face drained of color.
He knew it too. That Jang Songthaek would have no choice but to purge him and placate .
“There are people who can replace the Director of the General Political Bureau, but there’s no one who can replace . So don’t bare your fangs at too much—before I decide to relay anything to the Chairman.”
“President Kim Muhyuk. Why are you doing this to ? Is suggesting Kim ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Jongil be killed really such a grave sin?”
Of course not. I shrugged and answered lightly.
“Hardly. I thought the sa as you. I couldn’t understand why the Chairman was leaving such a loose end.”
“Then what exactly is the problem?”
“Are you really asking because you don’t know? Once the Chairman sets a direction, even if you disagree, you follow it. Isn’t that loyalty to the person you serve? Or, if you truly couldn’t accept it, you should have continued persuading him. Instead, the thod you ultimately chose was to co to . That was deeply disappointing.”
In my mories of a past life, Choi Ryonghae was a man who betrayed Jang Songthaek, glued himself to Kim Jongun, and clawed for power.
No matter that it was a past life—soone who betrays once is far more likely to betray again.
If Jang Songthaek ever looked like he was sinking, Choi Ryonghae would surely jump ship without hesitation.
“If Comrade Chairman doesn’t wish it, I have absolutely no intention of killing Kim Jongil. We rely judged that if it were President Kim, you could change the Chairman’s mind.”
“So you’re saying I manipulate the Chairman from behind the scenes? You’re admitting that’s how you judged it.”
“No, that’s not—”
In a state that was essentially a monarchy, believing there was a real power separate from the Chairman was tantamount to treason.
At my implication, Choi Ryonghae seed flustered, trying to offer excuses.
But I cut him off and continued.
“If the Chairman were Kim Jongil instead of Jang Songthaek, would you have entertained such thoughts?”
“.......”
Of course not. Step out of line and you’d be executed or exiled to the Aoji coal mines.
“So don’t pay attention to . And stop paying attention to what I’m trying to do. Then we won’t have to see each other red-faced. I won’t block the Director of the General Political Bureau’s path either. Understood?”
I had little interest in Choi Ryonghae. Looking at his ashen face, I spoke firmly.
“I’ll also have no interest in what the Director of the General Political Bureau does.”
While we were talking, we arrived at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
I got out of the car before Choi Ryonghae and looked around.
So buildings were already going up, while others were still in the groundwork phase.
As I surveyed the area, I spotted people waiting for us in the distance.
“Welco. I’m Han Jaehun of Daehyeon Construction, in charge of the Kaesong Industrial Complex project.”
“Ah, nice to et you. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
I extended my hand to Han Jaehun. He bead and clasped it with both of his hands.
“How is it? Any inconveniences during construction?”
“None. The North Korean workers struggled at first because they had no experience, but as ti passed they began working harder than anyone. Thanks to that, the construction period will likely be shortened.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief.”
While I was talking with Han Jaehun, Choi Ryonghae got out of the car.
Noticing him, Han Jaehun greeted him as well.
“Director of the General Political Bureau. Welco.”
Choi Ryonghae returned the greeting with a nod and scanned the surroundings.
“There haven’t been any demands for kickbacks from Pyongyang, right? If anything like that happens, don’t give them a penny—contact South Korea imdiately.”
“There haven’t been any. This is a project being watched closely by both Seoul and Pyongyang. Who would dare try to get a piece of it? I’ve spent decades in construction, and honestly, it’s more comfortable here than in South Korea.”
“Are there still many people in South Korea demanding money?”
“Don’t even get started. The construction unions act like they’re the masters. And if you don’t pay off the civil servants, they’ll drag their feet endlessly on permits and approvals...... Honestly, I’d rather they demanded money outright. The subtle demands are far more irritating.”
I laughed at Han Jaehun’s complaints. Sensing the mood lighten, he smiled brightly and gestured toward the staff and the site.
“Compared to that, this place is heaven. If there’s sothing you need, it’s reported directly to Pyongyang and handled afterward. The North Korean workers don’t complain either. No, it’s not that they don’t complain—they’re eager to learn. I really like that attitude.”
“It’s because they’re getting paid. They were probably working unpaid before. We should start making a round soon. Just you follow , Director. Have the others get back to work.”
Han Jaehun nodded and addressed the employees standing behind him.
“You all get back to what you were doing.”
“Yes, Director!”
While Han Jaehun was giving instructions, I turned to Choi Ryonghae and asked,
“Director of the General Political Bureau, would you like to look around with us, or would you prefer to wait here?”
“I’ll stay here. Just don’t take too long. We can’t keep Comrade Chairman waiting.”
“Then do that. We won’t need an escort. My own security is sufficient.”
With the employees dismissed, Han Jaehun and I started walking.
“Did sothing happen between you and the Director of the General Political Bureau?”
Once we were alone, Han Jaehun asked cautiously.
“Is it that obvious?”
After gauging my expression, Han Jaehun nodded.
“Yes. Choi Ryonghae was clearly uncomfortable. It was hard not to notice.”
“Leave it be. He’s the one with an issue.”
“Will that be alright? He’s still considered the number two in North Korea.”
It was a natural concern from soone who understood North Korea better than anyone.
“So what if he is? This is sothing Jang Songthaek has decided to do. There’s no way to obstruct it. If he tries, he’ll probably end up dragged off to the Aoji coal mines.”
We continued touring the site as we talked. Han Jaehun explained the on-site situation from ti to ti.
The managers overseeing the work were South Korean, while most of the laborers doing the actual work were North Korean.
“How many Daehyeon Construction employees are stationed here? Quite a lot, right?”
“About five hundred.”
“That’s more than I expected.”
“We actually need more. It’s only because the work isn’t that complex that this number suffices. The North Korean workers have zero technical skills. At first, it was honestly exhausting beyond words—”
It seed he’d gone through quite a bit; Han Jaehun let out a deep sigh.
“The people sent here should’ve been among those with so work experience.”
“Oh, don’t say that! All they’d learned was how to cut corners. They’re obsessed with speed and ignore safety entirely.”
True enough—North Korea was far more obsessed with shortening tilines than ensuring safety.
“If we just get through today, we’re off for two days! Let’s push through today!”
Nearby, a supervisor could be heard encouraging the North Korean workers.
“What’s the point of resting! We shouldn’t be idle. Let’s finish quickly and then rest, right, comrades?”
The supervisor laughed at the workers’ responses. They seed to have grown close; the atmosphere wasn’t bad at all.
“A person needs to rest when it’s ti to rest. That’s how you work harder later. And I’d like to go ho too, you guys.”
“Comrade! What’s more important, family or the cause? This is a complex our Chairman wants finished quickly! We have to hurry. If not, we’ll all be in serious trouble!”
I smiled faintly at the sight of South and North Koreans chatting without reserve.
“They seem close.”
“The shared language helps the most. They get close very quickly.”
“That makes sense. That’s the biggest advantage. People working overseas always complain about the language barrier.”
I continued touring the site with Han Jaehun. Unfortunately, there wasn’t ti to see everything.
“I should head back now. I’d like to see it all, but soone’s waiting for in Pyongyang.”
“Then you should go right away. Please co by again, President.”
After finishing my tour of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, I returned to where Choi Ryonghae was waiting.
“Director. Please take good care of the construction.”
“Yes. Don’t worry. Daehyeon is putting its very survival on the line for this project.”
Leaving Kaesong behind, I departed for Pyongyang.
Seeing the construction site running smoothly put in an inexplicably good mood.
After driving along the Pyongyang–Kaesong highway for about two hours, we arrived in Pyongyang.
“President Kim Muhyuk. Welco.”
Jang Songthaek greeted warmly in his office.
“Chairman. It’s been a while. But why have you lost so much weight? Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”
The Jang Songthaek I saw after so long had beco noticeably thinner, his fra looking gaunt.
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