Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Ethiopian Crisis
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Large-scale military operations, support for rebels, economic aid.
Pyongyang's aggressive Africa strategy came at enormous cost.
Even looking just at recent spending on greater Africa, it surpassed the United States.
'Still, you have to spend what needs spending.'
From the Third World nations secured so far to the seeds sown in South Africa, Korea's sphere of influence in Africa was steadily expanding.
But even with these successes, shadows loomed.
"Win, and that's all that matters. What's so bad about it?"
"You really asking because you don't know?"
The Third World countries that had entered Korea's sphere provided raw materials and cheap labor—that was the upside—but beyond that, they were essentially burdens weighing down the Korean economy.
Of course, Korea wasn't foolish enough to pile on baggage for no reason.
'Sure, money's going out, but we have to secure raw materials somehow, don't we?'
For strategic national reasons, Korea willingly shouldered the economic burden from these new allies.
The problem was that the risks from these countries didn't stop at economics.
Third World nations carried political risks too.
Corruption was like a passive skill, so that was one thing—but political instability was a danger element too much for investor(?) Korea to bear.
Any moment, agencies like the CIA could meddle,
"Wanna taste a coup?"
and flip the regime.
A prime example was Ethiopia, one of Korea's key allies in Africa.
Addis Ababa had weathered several coups just in the past decade.
"Can't they just govern properly to avoid coups?"
Korea had sent policy advisory teams and provided guidance, but the dictators clutching power greatly resented Pyongyang's advice.
The Agency for National Security classified rulers who ignored policy advice as 'key management targets' and sent weekly reports on their policy status to Pyongyang.
Lee Sung-jun considered Ethiopia the worst among them.
'This Haile Selassie—what's he banking on, trying to rule with an absolute monarchy mindset from bygone days?'
Truth be told, Ethiopia wasn't the only headache.
Most nations in East Africa, starting with Rwanda, were giving Korea migraines in the same way.
But Pyongyang couldn't openly interfere in their internal affairs.
It was all because of how other Third World countries viewed them.
"Korea isn't some nasty overlord meddling in internals like the imperialists, right?"
To preserve this image, Korea had to refrain as much as possible from actions that could be seen as interference within the Third World.
In Ethiopia's worst case, they knew Korea could only complain verbally without actually meddling in governance, so they did as they pleased.
Regressing institutions, corruption, disorderly rule.
Korea saw no hope whatsoever in Emperor Haile Selassie's governance.
After much deliberation, Pyongyang applied strong pressure on Addis Ababa.
"We hereby notify you of our decision to abandon renewal of the mutual defense treaty with Ethiopia, effective immediately."
Ethiopia jumped in shock at Korea's declaration halting mutual defense treaty renewal.
"Hey, if you're unhappy, just say it—why go this far?"
Addis Ababa, which had greatly benefited from Pyongyang's intelligence support in suppressing past coups, panicked at Korea's sudden change and grabbed at their pant legs.
"We have nothing to say."
Korea planned to use this chance to make an example of Ethiopia to Africa's friends.
"Allying once doesn't mean eternal alliance. If you want to remain Korea's friend, show efforts worthy of it."
Otherwise, you can't stay in Korea's alliance.
Ignoring Ethiopia's pleas, the Korean government swiftly severed ties between the Third World and Addis Ababa.
"Your Excellency, at this point, they'll get the message. How about forgiving them now and taking Addis Ababa back into the fold?"
Pyongyang's bureaucrats hoped Lee Sung-jun would compromise at an appropriate line.
Considering the emperor's behavior, more punishment was warranted, but national policy wasn't run on emotions.
"We need to let them stew until their habits improve."
Lee Sung-jun had no intention of fully cutting off Ethiopia.
But from the outside, it looked different.
"Looks like Korea's dumping Addis Ababa, right?"
As the image solidified that Korea was cutting off Ethiopia, ambitious figures in the Ethiopian military raised their heads again.
"If Korea just stays out, a coup's worth trying."
What had caused past coup failures?
Korea's formidable intelligence, diplomatic, and economic support.
"Let's use this to topple the emperor blacklisted by Pyongyang and score points with the Koreans."
Major General Aman Andom, a power broker in the Ethiopian military, launched a coup on this calculus.
Neither CIA nor KGB backed this coup.
'We never needed those bastards' help anyway.'
Aman Andom's coup forces swiftly seized the capital, Addis Ababa.
The emperor's guard resisted Aman Andom's troops, but it was perfunctory.
Few soldiers were willing to die for an old, unpopular emperor.
General Aman Andom established a provisional military administrative committee and declared the launch of a 'new regime.'
He then headed straight for the Korean embassy.
Aman Andom took a humble posture upon meeting the ambassador.
"Your Excellency, this recent action was a patriotic decision to correct Addis Ababa's misguided path. We can't pursue Korean-style democracy under an anachronistic absolute monarchy, can we?"
Aman Andom tailored his stance to suit Pyongyang's tastes.
"Via coup, you mean? Pyongyang is quite displeased with this affair."
This was no empty words.
Nominally, Ethiopia was still a Third World nation.
The treaty had months left before expiration, so regardless of past attitudes, Pyongyang had been Addis Ababa's ally.
Even as Aman Andom wooed with sweet words, the ambassador didn't buy it.
"Abandon any expectation that we'll recognize the coup regime."
Korea had zero intention of recognizing Aman Andom's regime.
Wouldn't it just fuel suspicions that Korea had backed the coup?
Faced with Korea's firm stance, Aman Andom changed his thinking.
'If the Third World won't accept us, we have no choice but to go with America.'
Washington couldn't hide its delight at Aman Andom's overture.
"Addis Ababa's military regime wants to lean on our side?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Nixon was a realist who prioritized interests over pretexts.
"Good."
Nixon instructed Henry Kissinger to engage Addis Ababa's coup regime.
"Approve us, America, and we'll pledge loyalty to Washington."
"Don't forget that promise."
Kissinger and Aman Andom's negotiations proceeded smoothly.
Soon after, America decided to recognize Addis Ababa's new regime.
"The United States hereby recognizes Ethiopia's regime as the legitimate government."
As a result, America got another bucket of shit dumped on it.
"Don't you know realist diplomacy? Tarnish the reputation a bit, gain an ally—that's profit."
Washington ignored the harsh criticism.
Nations around the world saw this and thought America had backed yet another coup.
"Those bastards pulled off their usual coup routine again?"
Why else would America recognize a military regime?
Korea exploited this in propaganda about global perceptions of America.
"The First World hegemon flips any regime it deems an enemy via coup. By contrast, Korea cleanly parts ways if minds don't align—how gentlemanly."
"Hearing it that way, it's not wrong."
Individuals need image, but so do nations.
Lee Sung-jun knew that for 21st-century diplomacy, image was more vital than anything.
Korea built an image as a 'sensible nation' contrasting America's 'routine coups.'
"The Republic of Korea is the most merciful and generous superpower in human history."
How effective such an image was could be seen just from the original timeline's US-China rivalry.
"America backs coups, fights dirty wars, blah blah."
"Yeah? So you wanna live under China?"
"No."
Even muddied America leveraged the image gap with China to win world support.
Then, what of the Republic of Korea, which had mainly shown a benevolent face to the international community?
"We sincerely pray for Pax Koreana."
Third World nations, to varying degrees, hoped Korea would rise as the supreme power.
The Soviets?
"Better Korea as number one than America, right?"
The rest of the Second World?
"We wish we were Third World too."
Not all First World nations blindly followed America.
"Korea's a hundred times better than the Yankees treating us like banana republics."
Lee Sung-jun believed this image gap was the Republic of Korea's most powerful weapon.
"If we take America's original position versus America's versus Red China, who in the world would root for America?"
For this picture, Korea's prime minister was prepared to sacrifice a country or two.