The Normalization of Korea-Japan Relations
The normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan.
When Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, they desperately hoped Japan would strike Russia from the Far East. The German Empire might be hoping for the same thing from us if war breaks out with Russia.
“Very well. I’ll ask that favor of you.”
“An excellent choice. We Germans will put in a word with Steyr-Mannlicher. Consider this purely a gesture of goodwill.”
Is there anything more terrifying than the goodwill of the Great Powers? In the original timeline, Japan claimed it was doing Joseon a favor by granting it independence from Qing and protecting it from Russia. And what did that favor end with? Annexation. Of course, Germany probably wouldn’t pull something like that, but you never know. They might demand compensation on that scale.
“I am truly grateful for the goodwill of the German Empire, one of the foremost Great Powers in the world. However, having suffered so much at the hands of Britain and Japan…”
While official diplomatic records only detail Japan’s crimes, those British bastards had been subtly interfering for years, practically feeding the Korean Peninsula to Japan on a silver platter. Even in this world, after the Three Kingdoms War, they had clearly been eyeing a weakened Korean Empire as their next meal. So blindly accepting whatever scraps the Great Powers offered with a grateful “Oh, thank you so much!” felt wrong.
Of course, I had previously said that if they give, we should take. What I meant here was that we shouldn’t just gobble it up like idiots. I needed to show that I was keeping at least some suspicion in reserve.
“Hahaha! I must say I feel rather slighted being compared to those pirates. Naturally, it’s not that we have no desires at all. But as a mere diplomat, how could I possibly speak of my nation’s vital interests when the future of international relations remains so uncertain?”
Waldron laughed heartily.
“Understood.”
Waldron withdrew with that same inscrutable smile. Given our current position, we weren’t really in a place to be picky. Still, one thing was certain: at the very least, Kaiser Wilhelm II did not view Korea as just another nation destined for “yellow peril” subjugation. And even if Waldron wouldn’t say it outright, it didn’t matter.
After all, I had my invincible alternative history gallery.
Let’s take a look.
Well then. Shall we move on to normalizing relations with Japan for now?
Those bastards should be starting to pull themselves together by this point. Time to go handle it myself.
At this time, the Yamamoto Gonnohyoe cabinet was in power in the Japanese Empire. Strictly speaking, Gonnohyoe couldn’t escape some responsibility for the defeat in the Three Kingdoms War. However, it was taken into consideration that he had somehow managed to build up the navy despite a budget that was utterly dwarfed by the Russian Empire’s. Above all, the naval defeats had occurred because the Russian fleet had known Japan’s operational plans in advance. In the decisive Battle of Tsushima, they had still managed to destroy half the Russian fleet. That achievement was now being credited to Gonnohyoe as well.
But just as the country was barely beginning to stabilize, a new headache landed on the Yamamoto cabinet. News arrived through the British legation that the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs was coming to restore diplomatic relations.
Japan had no choice but to deal with this.
“I hear the Governor-General of Southern Manchuria and Minister of Foreign Affairs is coming to the Empire.”
“You mean that bitch Ok Jin-seo?”
“The woman who deserves to be torn apart—how can we possibly accept her visit?”
Ok Jin-seo. How many high-ranking officials of the Empire had died because of that woman? Foreign Minister Komura Jutaro had been assassinated the moment he returned home, before he could even commit seppuku over that pathetic treaty. Not that returning properly would have saved him anyway.
In any case, the main culprit behind the Empire’s current miserable state was the problem.
“What will you do if we refuse? If we ignore her, those Joseon bastards might laugh at us and say the Empire is scared.”
The Joseon bastards were already riding high. And right now, even they posed a threat to the Empire. Some Japanese citizens were genuinely terrified that the white man’s lackey—the savage Koreans—were coming to invade.
Of course, the Japanese cabinet knew this wasn’t simply a taunting visit.
“At Port Arthur they devoured sixty thousand of our troops, and according to survivors from Mukden, they massacred unarmed Imperial soldiers. It’s utterly horrifying. How could we invite such a demon?”
“We have neither an army nor a navy right now. Defense might not be impossible, but we’re in no position to fight a war with Joseon. So yes, we should normalize relations. We’re also short on rice, so we need to figure out how to import it from Joseon.”
The navy, which practically no longer existed, wasn’t even worth mentioning. The remaining army could handle defense, but reopening hostilities with Joseon was simply not feasible.
“I hear the Joseon bastards are producing Type 30 rifles in Manchuria.”
“What the hell was Mitsui thinking, handing them over to those savages?”
It was absurd. Apparently Mitsui & Co. had sold them a huge amount before going bankrupt.
“They say the late Joseon Emperor gave them money. That’s probably why. And now that Mitsui has collapsed, there’s no one left to blame.”
To be precise, because the Russo-Japanese War had been delayed, the Japanese military had prepared factories in the Korean Empire to produce Arisaka rifles for their own supply needs. But in hindsight, that decision now meant Joseon was producing Type 30 Arisaka rifles—weapons capable of killing Imperial soldiers.
“Damn it. We actually have to welcome our mortal enemy.”
“For now, let’s hear what she has to say.”
It wasn’t just the cabinet. Young officers were also extremely curious about this woman called Ok Jin-seo. And why wouldn’t they be? She was the one who had slaughtered the supposedly invincible Imperial Army in Manchuria. The survivors claimed that the Koreans had massacred disarmed Imperial troops, but since it was never officially acknowledged, most dismissed it as the excuse of the defeated.
“Let’s go see her too.”
“She’s our mortal enemy, isn’t she?”
“The Empire’s high regard for Yi Sun-sin isn’t because we’re pro-Japanese, right?”
That was true. Around this time, Japan held Yi Sun-sin in very high esteem. Long ago he had been the enemy, yet he was also seen as a great commander. Even in Japanese publications about the Imjin War, Yi Sun-sin received high praise. From the Meiji era onward, as naval power gained importance, key naval figures had deliberately promoted Yi Sun-sin’s heroic image to justify increased naval investment and expand their own influence. Naturally, this hero-making campaign had influenced the younger officers as well.
And now, in the midst of all that, a new hero had suddenly emerged from the Three Kingdoms War—Ok Jin-seo. The Korean heroine who had led ragtag Manchurian troops and crushed the invincible Imperial Army! A woman general!
Aside from the cowards who had fled Mukden, the few soldiers who had actually fought at Port Arthur and Hanseong and barely managed to return alive spoke of Ok Jin-seo with genuine awe. Even the newspapers of those arrogant white men were praising her, calling her Korea’s Joan of Arc or the Russian Countess. And she was only twenty years old. On top of that, both the Korean Emperor and the Russian Tsar had entrusted her with Southern Manchuria while making her concurrent Minister of Foreign Affairs. How could they not be curious?
The young officers decided they would seize this opportunity to see Ok Jin-seo with their own eyes.
I had come to a place called Japan. In my previous life, I had never really traveled abroad properly. I had visited Japan a few times, but never Tokyo. Of course, future Tokyo and current Tokyo would be quite different, but anyway.
Upon arriving in Tokyo, I met with the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“Welcome. It is an honor to receive you in the Empire. I am Makino Nobuaki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Greater Japan.”
“Thank you for such a warm welcome. I am Ok Jin-seo, Governor-General of Southern Manchuria, concurrent Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Korean Empire, and Countess of the Russian Empire.”
I deliberately piled on every impressive title I could to inflate my own value.
“Um… are you truly her?”
“Of course. The Chairman of the Privy Council was also quite surprised when he first saw me. We had many conversations and grew quite close. Is he not here?”
“Ah, he is currently in seclusion.”
Ito Hirobumi was in seclusion. Hmm. I could guess what had happened. It seemed he might die on his own without An Jung-geun even needing to shoot him. The modernization of Japan that he had devoted his entire life to was crumbling, and the Russo-Japanese War he had supported had ended in disaster. How tragic.
“As expected of the first nation in Asia to modernize. Compared to Hanseong, Tokyo’s streets are truly beautiful.”
“Ha. Hahaha. To hear such words from the hero of the Three Kingdoms War is truly an honor.”
His mouth twisted. His expression practically screamed, Are those words you should be saying, you bitch?
“Not at all. Although our relations with Japan have not been good, war is war and diplomacy is diplomacy, is it not? Setting aside national sentiments, I personally hold Japan in very high regard.”
“Is that so?”
“After all, your nation faces an endless vast ocean to the south, has maintained a single imperial bloodline for thousands of years, and is the only country in Asia to catch up with the Western Great Powers. Isn’t that right?”
It was better to mix in some appropriate flattery.
“Then, does your country truly wish to restore relations with our Empire?”
At his surprised expression, I smiled brightly.
“Of course. No matter what happened in the past, we are neighboring countries. Our shared history spans thousands of years. Haven’t the periods when we got along far outnumbered the times we were enemies?”
“That is true. But is it appropriate for someone so young to casually discuss such vital national matters?”
“That is of no concern. I have been granted full authority.”
“Then that is fortunate.”
The Foreign Minister’s eyes sparkled as if he had found an easy mark. It seemed he thought I was only good at fighting wars.
“Of course, while I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs of my nation, I am also a Countess of the Russian Empire. So please do not underestimate me simply because I am a young woman.”
At my heavy tone, Nobuaki finally bowed deeply.
“I would never do such a thing. According to the Chairman of the Privy Council, you were the one who designed all of this. We will treat you with appropriate respect.”
“First of all, all existing unequal treaties have been completely abolished. Therefore, our Korea and your Japan must establish new diplomatic relations. Of course, there is still considerable bad blood between our two countries.”
“Is this about the assassination of your previous Emperor? It may sound like an excuse, but our Empire truly had no intention of assassinating His Majesty. It was an impulsive act committed by General Kuroki Tamemoto of the First Army stationed in your country.”
That’s right. To be precise, it was more like Gunbam had impulsively committed suicide, but I intended to make full use of this narrative.
“We are the victorious nation, and there was that minor incident in Mukden. I believe it would be best if we both put that matter aside.”
“By the Mukden incident, are you referring to the massacre of our disarmed Imperial troops?”
“That was the result of our Imperial Army’s uncontrollable rage after the assassination of His Majesty. It was impossible to restrain them. Your country must understand this as well. The people of our Korean Empire regard the Emperor as their parent. Is not your Emperor likewise regarded as a father and a god by the Japanese people?”
If your Emperor had died, would you have stayed quiet? You would have sworn to punish Joseon even at the cost of your own lives. Looking at it coldly, they would have to acknowledge that point. Even if they couldn’t admit it openly, Britain had already buried the matter. What could they do about it?
“That is true.”
“Therefore, let us both cover up these ‘minor issues.’ When establishing diplomatic relations between our two equal nations, there should be no obstacles in the way.”
“Ha, very well. Then what benefits does Japan gain from this?”
On the way here, I had seen Japan’s current state. It looked like they were having serious food shortages. We could sell them some of the miscellaneous grains from Manchuria.
“There are several things Japan currently lacks, are there not? The rice problem, for example. We can export some of the grains and rice produced in Manchuria.”
“That would be most welcome. I will have the Imperial Diet review it positively.”
Since Japan had no other options anyway, diplomatic relations would be established no matter how much they complained. But if there was one thing the Japanese government didn’t know—
I hadn’t come here simply to restore diplomatic relations.