Chapter 288
Chapter 288
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Ultimate Solution (1)
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We can't take action against China right away.
That was the conclusion I'd reached.
Why?
Because we lacked the justification.
Of course, I had no intention of just standing by while China, that rogue state, stirred up trouble in Korea's backyard.
'I need to make them hand us the justification on a silver platter.'
I instructed the intelligence agency to prepare pretexts targeting China.
"Do we really need to poke at China, a country that's practically isolated from its neighbors?"
As the intelligence agency pointed out, China was isolated from the surrounding nations.
It was in a position where scheming anything would be difficult no matter what.
But the world was full of what-ifs.
"What if, just what if, China starts printing drugs or counterfeit money to fund its military buildup?"
In the past, the Republic of China's warlords had supplemented their military funds that way.
There was no law saying China wouldn't do the same.
"If that's Your Excellency's intent, we'll prepare justifications to pressure China."
"I've already got something in mind for that."
I explained my plan to leak China the materials needed for nuclear weapons.
Everything from nuclear weapon blueprints to methods for securing raw materials and enrichment facilities.
Once they had the blueprints, fissile material, and enrichment equipment, nuclear armament would be just a matter of time.
"The bait we're dangling is tempting, but will China—after declaring denuclearization—step into the trap so easily?"
It was a fact only I knew, but in the original timeline, even North Korea had declared denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula while claiming it wouldn't pursue nukes.
Yet behind the scenes, it had diligently developed them.
Why?
Because without nukes, it couldn't guarantee its own security.
China was in the same boat now.
"The China back then and China now are in different situations. With even the Soviet Union unreliable, how could they secure their safety?"
To the west and south lay the hostile Republic of China; to the north, the inscrutable Soviet Union and Mongolia; to the east, Korea and the North China region it backed.
All of them either had nukes or possessed national power that overwhelmingly dwarfed China's.
China had only one way to secure safety from these nations: mutual assured destruction through nuclear possession.
"Even if China reaches that conclusion, where will it scrape together the resources to push nuclear development?"
The intelligence director pointed out that China lacked the capacity.
But he overlooked one key fact.
"If this were just a simple scientific project, sure. But for China, nukes are a matter of survival. They won't give up on the nukes that solve their security woes."
This was proven by the original timeline's North Korea, Iran, and South Africa.
"So draw the picture right."
"We'll prepare thoroughly."
Following my orders, the intelligence agency began the operation to pass nuclear weapon blueprints to China.
First, they had Pyongyang University’s nuclear physics department assign students a report to design nuclear weapons.
"Design nuclear weapon blueprints?"
The students submitted various designs for this novel assignment.
Pyongyang University’s nuclear physics department graded the students' designs, then revealed the "nuclear weapon blueprint" as the basis for the scores.
"Is it okay to make this public?"
"It's classified, but only cleared personnel will see it, so it's fine."
In fact, the nuclear physics students were all security-cleared, so releasing the blueprints posed no issue.
There was a reason for staging it this way, though.
"Begin the leak operation."
The intelligence agency used a nuclear physics cadet posing as a self-motivated communist sympathizer to leak the blueprints naturally to the outside.
"This is a nuclear weapon blueprint, isn't it?"
Under the intelligence agency's watch, the blueprints passed through several stages and safely reached China's hands.
China didn't react immediately upon getting the blueprints.
Blueprints alone weren't enough to do anything.
We then taught them smuggling methods using uranium oxide.
"Smuggle it in under the pretext of soap ingredients? I never knew there was such a method."
China immediately began large-scale imports of uranium oxide, claiming it was for "soap ingredients."
With the raw material acquisition method in hand, China's nuclear development kicked into high gear.
"Here's the signals intelligence results. China is preparing to secure enrichment facilities."
"Are they smuggling parts piecemeal, as we taught them?"
"The evidence suggests so."
We watched openly as China smuggled uranium oxide and enrichment facility parts through North China.
"Let them hustle with the smuggling."
Meanwhile, we kept intact records of the items they cleared through customs.
Those records were proof positive that China was pursuing nuclear development.
'It's about time for us to make our move.'
I first sent the intelligence director to Moscow.
Intelligence Director Kang Su-cheol met with Soviet Military Intelligence Director Pyotr Ivashutin and leaked information about China's "nuclear development" possibility.
"You say there's evidence China is pursuing nuclear development?"
"That's what we've confirmed."
As proof, we presented the list of suspicious items that had passed through North China.
"Prime Minister Your Excellency worries that China's nuclear armament could trigger a chain reaction of nuclear dominoes across the Chinese sphere, harming Korea's security."
Since Kang Su-cheol's circumstantial evidence was clear, the Soviets promised to respond to China's nuclear push.
"Understood. We'll talk to China."
Moscow immediately applied pressure to China.
"Halt your nuclear armament efforts right now. Fail to do so, and all ongoing technical and economic aid will end."
Despite Moscow's pressure, China refused to admit anything.
"We're not developing nukes. There must be some misunderstanding in Moscow."
China's authorities brazenly resorted to ducking the issue.
"What can they do if we hide it underground and prepare?"
In reality, we hadn't found a shred of evidence from the skies that China was developing nukes.
Neither satellites nor recon planes brought back solid proof.
But we had spotted a few highly suspicious sites.
"At the current pace, China could succeed in nuclear development within four years."
"I see."
I summoned the ambassadors from the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom to convey concerns over China's nuclear development.
"Ambassador, we can't stand by and watch this. If they succeed even by some fluke, it'll set a precedent for repeats."
"We share Your Excellency's concerns. If Korea initiates sanctions on China, we'll join."
The moment I secured the great powers' agreement, I announced sanctions on China.
"All goods bound for China must undergo strict scrutiny from now on."
The measure included not just the Soviets but even the Republic of China under U.S. influence.
"What kind of unfair nonsense is this?"
China raised its voice, but we didn't so much as snort.
"If you don't like it, accept the great powers' nuclear inspection teams."
We knew China would never accept.
We blockaded China and began slowly tightening the noose.
"We shouldn't supply chemical fertilizers either."
"Why not?"
"Who knows if they'll use it for nuclear bomb detonators."
Any excuse would do.
The great powers, worried about China's nuclear push, accepted even this flimsy logic.
"So, give up the nukes if you don't want your neck squeezed."
As the great powers' pressure intensified, China clung even harder to its nukes.
"We absolutely cannot abandon nukes."
I'd foreseen this through the original timeline's North Korea.
To build justification, we periodically passed resolutions at the UN.
"Resolution for Chinese Denuclearization."
"Peace Resolution for Northeast Asian Stability."
We churned out over ten resolutions, steadily reinforcing the narrative that China was the problem.
We kept working the great powers underneath as well.
"China shows no sign of abandoning nuclear armament despite sanctions—what are we going to do, just let it slide?"
If China succeeded by some fluke, followers would come.
Did they have confidence handling fledgling nuclear states popping up in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe?
We kept the great powers anxious with this logic.
With countries like West Germany that had attempted nuclear armament in the past, the great powers took China's nuclear issue deadly seriously.
"So, how does Pyongyang wish to resolve this?"
"If China won't listen, we'll have to resort to the ultimate solution."
Time to make an example.
With this logic, I persuaded the great powers on the military intervention option.
"Military intervention."
Even liberal democracies weren't shy about using force.
The U.S. alone staged military interventions and coups like clockwork in this era.
The great powers' calculus was complex, but China was originally an unimportant country sandwiched between Soviet and Korean spheres.
After deliberations, Washington and London gave this answer.
"Handle it as you see fit."
With the liberal great powers on board, only the Soviets remained.
I called Moscow and proposed the "ultimate solution" to settle the China issue.
"Comrade General Secretary, words alone won't solve this. Korea and the Soviet Union must jointly deploy to denuclearize China."
Denuclearization in name, but essentially proposing to topple the regime by force.
"Hmm."
"No need to worry about the regime issue. We're satisfied just toppling the current one pursuing nukes."
A week later, Moscow replied.
"We agree to Pyongyang's proposal."
That sealed China's fate.
"Prepare to invade China."
I ordered the Defense Ministry to forward-deploy field armies to Mongolia.