At my proposal, Koizumi’s eyes widened as if they might tear apart.
“You will acknowledge the abductions and send back the surviving victims alive? Is that true?”
It seed he had not expected it to go this far. He looked genuinely shocked.
There was a high probability that Koizumi had only brought up the abduction issue to reduce the compensation amount. That reaction was understandable.
“Everyone already knows. North Korea simply hasn’t acknowledged it. Let’s stop trying to cover the sky with the palm of our hand and move forward constructively.”
But Koizumi was not satisfied with my answer. He pressed Mun Gyeongdeok instead.
“Let the special envoy speak. Is what President Kim Muhyuk says true? That Chairman Jang Songthaek will personally acknowledge the abduction of our citizens and return the surviving victims?”
“......To be honest, I do not know the details fully. Chairman Jang Songthaek himself only learned of the matter recently. He ordered a full investigation. If the abductions of Japanese citizens are proven to be true, he said they would acknowledge it and apologize.”
A faint smile flickered across Koizumi’s face.
In contrast, Mun Gyeongdeok remained stiff and continued speaking.
“If survivors are discovered through the full investigation, they will be returned to Japan. If they have married in our Republic, we are even considering allowing their families to accompany them to Japan, depending on their free will.”
Whether any survivors were still alive was uncertain.
But if the abducted individuals had ford families, and North Korea intended to send those families as well, even I was taken aback.
Kim Jongil in my previous life had not gone that far.
He had not truly returned the survivors. He had sent them to Japan under the form of temporary visits. But those who went did not return.
Later, through additional negotiations, the Japanese governnt managed to bring back more of the victims’ family mbers. North Korea reacted furiously and halted further talks.
They even accused the Japanese governnt of violating agreents because the temporarily returned abductees had not gone back.
“Is that... truly so? Chairman Jang Songthaek said this himself?”
“Yes. Those were his direct words. He ordered a thorough investigation and is making every effort to find the survivors.”
“So that ans the abductions did happen.”
“......”
“Please continue, Special Envoy.”
Koizumi pressed him further.
Mun Gyeongdeok hesitated for a long mont, then sighed.
“They did occur. Certain elents within the General Staff Reconnaissance Bureau, the Operations Bureau, and parts of the External Intelligence Investigation Departnt colluded with pro-Pyongyang organizations in Japan and abducted Japanese citizens, bringing them to North Korea.”
Koizumi slamd his hand onto the table.
“This is a cri! A cri! How dare you abduct our citizens!”
I stepped in to calm him.
“Pri Minister. This does not seem like the ti to be angry.”
Despite my intervention, Koizumi kept his gaze fixed on Mun Gyeongdeok. His eyes were filled with venom.
“President Kim Muhyuk, this is a cri. How could they abduct Japanese citizens?”
“Wasn’t this sothing you already knew?”
“We suspected it. But for North Korea to acknowledge it directly is a different matter.”
“It has not been officially acknowledged yet. Please calm down.”
“President Kim Muhyuk.”
Koizumi finally turned to glare at .
Oh? He is giving that look as well. I twisted my lips slightly and raised one corner.
“Pri Minister. I think you are misunderstanding sothing. Shall we overturn the negotiations? North Korea has nothing to regret right now. Twenty billion dollars? That small sum can be invested by simply gathering investors.”
If I announced that I was investing in North Korea, there would be countless people rushing in with money.
Dream High and my standing were that unmatched.
The only reason I was dealing with this hassle was because I did not want to share the profits.
“To be frank, your anger is almost laughable. If abducting a few Japanese citizens is a cri, what was what Japan did to Koreans in the past? Forced conscription, comfort won, and acts that no human should commit.”
“What did you say?”
“Japan still does not fully acknowledge comfort won or forced labor. You vaguely # Nоvеlight # apologize for colonial rule but avoid specific responsibility. If we drag up the past, Japan stands to lose. Shall we try it? Would you be satisfied if South and North Korea joined hands and demanded a proper apology?”
My voice was icy.
Koizumi flinched.
“Did I not say clearly? Let us bury the past and move toward the future together. Yet you react like this over several abducted citizens. North Korea is offering to find the survivors and return them. They are willing to acknowledge wrongdoing and apologize.”
The abduction issue was not small.
But Japan’s reaction, when North Korea had proposed to move forward, was equally ironic.
“Pri Minister. Choose one. If you beco greedy, you will lose both rabbits. Normalize relations with North Korea, or overturn this table and isolate yourself.”
I folded my arms and leaned back.
Koizumi stared at without speaking.
Mun Gyeongdeok also waited in silence.
I already knew Koizumi was attempting high-level diplomacy by showing anger to gain leverage.
But here, he had to remain in the weaker position.
Civil organizations in Japan were already demanding the truth. He must have felt pressured.
His acting was convincing.
But this was not the mont for such theatrics.
All evidence already pointed to abductions.
“......If we overturn this, we will not receive compensation.”
“Twenty billion dollars will indeed be like rain in a drought for North Korea. But if you demand more, North Korea will overturn the table themselves. They are making a reasonable demand.”
I turned to Mun Gyeongdeok.
“Did Chairman Jang Songthaek prepare any additional gesture?”
“No.”
“Truly none?”
“Yes. He said that if nothing is achieved today, North Korea will never again sit at the negotiation table with Japan.”
Whether Jang had truly said that was unclear, but Mun Gyeongdeok’s timing was sharp.
He understood my pressure.
“Chairman Jang prepared nothing more. What will you do?”
“......”
“Shall we stand up? I have nothing to regret.”
Koizumi’s eyes wavered.
He tried to read sothing in mine.
He would find nothing.
I was sincere.
The Seven Mining Area issue was already settled. The compensation claim was a bonus.
Koizumi finally sighed.
“You are pressuring greatly.”
He swallowed his anger.
“If Chairman Jang Songthaek officially acknowledges the abductions and returns the survivors, we will accept the twenty billion dollars.”
So now he plays tricks under the guise of diplomacy.
“Impossible.”
“President Kim Muhyuk!”
“If North Korea acknowledges and apologizes first, how do you think the Japanese public will react? They will demand normalization and compensation for colonial rule. Emotions will explode.”
“But the abductions did not occur under Chairman Jang Songthaek’s rule.”
“What does that matter to the public? The fact that North Korea abducted neighbors is what matters. The one who is beaten never forgets.”
In my previous life, when North Korea acknowledged and apologized, Japanese dia and citizens erupted in criticism.
North Korea tried conciliatory gestures. It worsened.
Public anger spread. Japanese officials involved in negotiations were targeted.
In the end, Japan abandoned agreents.
It would happen again.
“If North Korea cannot be trusted, then...”
I looked at both n.
“I will guarantee it. If North Korea changes its stance after receiving compensation, I will return the twenty billion dollars.”
Koizumi froze.
Mun Gyeongdeok stared, mouth open.
“I will liquidate all my assets if necessary and return the money.”
“......Are you serious?”
“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”
“No.”
“Even if I take a loss, I will guarantee it. Then you can pay first without risk. You gain ti to script the return of survivors.”
Koizumi flinched.
“Do you think it ends with survivors? There will be deceased victims. Without a proper show, criticism will be fierce.”
“Deceased?”
“Do you think all are alive? It has been thirty years. So will have died naturally or by accident.”
Mun Gyeongdeok frowned but remained silent.
“Most bla will fall on North Korea. But you will not escape criticism.”
“You are right. I had not thought that far.”
“You will need ti to locate survivors and remains. Coordinate quietly and prepare a response. Otherwise, how will you counter Hiroyuki’s rise?”
“Yes... yes.”
Koizumi nodded repeatedly.
I had prepared the al and fed him as well.
“Will you accept this diation?”
“Yes.”
I turned to Mun Gyeongdeok.
“The Republic agrees as well.”
I nodded and began organizing the final agreent.
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