Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Unveiling of Hyunmoo
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The eventful year of 1998 had already become a relic of the past.
Four pages had been torn from the calendar since then.
The world, now in mid-April 1999, was slowly pushing away the winter chill, and forsythias were in full bloom along the streets.
[This morning, the impeachment of US President Bill Clinton was rejected.]
The American political scene was abuzz with the president's impeachment.
It all started with a sex scandal.
But in the end, the impeachment was nullified by the Senate's rejection, and he continued his presidency, just as history recorded.
‘But the impeachment rejection seems a bit late, doesn't it?’
According to history, the impeachment should have been rejected in February.
I remember it so clearly because that was right around the time I had just set foot back on Korean soil.
Every TV in the airport at the time was broadcasting that news, so I remember it distinctly.
“The esteemed guests have arrived.”
Just as I was lost in thought, Secretary Kim informed me of the VIPs' arrival.
I'd been holed up on an island in the South Sea for several days now.
Today was the day the long-awaited Hyunmoo would finally be revealed to the world.
“Esteemed guests, please follow me.”
Following the staff's guidance, the arriving guests moved in a group.
Watching them, the memories of the past few months flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.
Forcing the propellant tests to be conducted in a tunnel to keep the development secret from neighboring countries.
And the accident during final assembly, where one of the researchers nearly lost a leg.
Fortunately, unlike our predictions, there had been no significant interference from neighboring countries, probably because we had drastically shortened the development period.
Frankly, they never would have imagined that the development of a ballistic missile, which should have taken years, could be completed in just a few months.
[The countdown will begin shortly. We ask all esteemed guests to please be seated.]
As it was a highly secretive test, the number of participants was small.
Only the Minister of Defense, the Director of the NIS, and a few individuals from relevant government departments.
But even the movement of this small group was handled with such caution that some had arrived the day before.
“As you all know, the actual range of the Hyunmoo we're launching today is close to 800 kilometers. And its warhead weighs two tons. However, due to the missile guidelines with the United States, the official specs will be a 500-kilogram warhead and a 300-kilometer range.”
Contrary to the original plan, the government had requested a significant increase in both warhead weight and range.
Since we were violating the missile guidelines anyway, friction with the United States was inevitable.
Their reasoning must have been that if it was going to happen, they might as well secure a truly effective deterrent.
“The launch will be at the highest possible angle.”
The reason for insisting on a high angle was to prevent it from accidentally flying beyond our territorial waters.
One of the main objectives of the test was to confirm that it met the desired range.
But to test an 800-kilometer flight at a lower angle, we would have had to land it in international waters, which would have caused an uproar from neighboring countries.
“So, we'll also be able to confirm the success of the atmospheric reentry technology.”
The Minister of Defense pinpointed one of the key reasons for the high-angle test.
A missile with an 800-kilometer range launched at a near-vertical angle is capable of reaching the exosphere.
If it successfully returns and hits the target, it means we have secured reentry technology.
“That's correct. That's why the warhead is made with a heat-resistant material we developed.”
“You've worked hard.”
The Minister of Defense wore an expression of deep sentiment.
His gaze shifted back to the two mobile launch vehicles standing in the distance, and then he pulled me by the arm.
“Are the mobile launchers and vehicles already developed as well?”
“Yes, Hyunwoo Rotem had quite a tough time with it.”
Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
Hyunwoo Rotem, initially unaware of the ballistic missile development, was reluctant to take on the vehicle development request. After persistent persuasion, we finally agreed to modify a commercial vehicle for the time being.
“You mean you built that in just a few months?”
But the modified commercial vehicle was ultimately unable to meet the required performance standards.
In the end, I took over the development of the launch platform myself. The vehicle part was ultimately assigned to Hyunwoo, on the condition that it would be improved over time.
“Hyunwoo Rotem will be redeveloping the vehicle later to meet the military's performance requirements, so there's no need to worry.”
The Minister of Defense looked relieved.
Just as he was about to turn his gaze back outside, the launch countdown finally began.
“Launch!”
*Kwoooom!*
In an instant, the missile spewed fire and soared into the sky.
It left a long trail of smoke, disappeared, and then fell back to the target set up at sea, all in a matter of minutes.
“Ooh!”
What was astonishing was that it had pierced almost the exact center of a rubber tube less than ten meters wide—a sight that carried immense significance.
“With a CEP that small, isn't this ballistic missile almost on par with a cruise missile?”
“You could say that.”
“How is that possible?”
“It's thanks to the INS, of course—the navigation system. I'm revealing this since the development is complete, but the gyroscope in this Hyunmoo isn't the typical optical type; it's an atomic spin model.”
The atomic spin gyroscope was something we had completed around 2020 in the original timeline.
It has an error margin incomparably smaller than the optical gyroscopes typically used in guided weapons.
The key is that it utilizes the spin of atoms. Because of this, we had to develop a special heater with low magnetic interference and even create a four-layered shielding container.
“How does it compare to the mechanical ones used in American ICBMs?”
“It should be considered far superior in performance. Besides, mechanical systems with that level of precision have extremely low production yields, making them practically impossible for us to implement.”
“Right, I heard the US has a headache over that too. When they break down, it's hard to get the parts for repairs.”
“Exactly. That's why the US will probably switch to atomic spin gyroscopes soon as well.”
At those words, the Minister of Defense once again looked proud.
“By the way, with that level of precision, it seems like it could be used as an anti-ship ballistic missile. Have you considered that?”
“I'm sorry, but that's impossible.”
“Why not?”
“The Hyunmoo's terminal velocity exceeds Mach 10. It's nearly impossible for an object falling at such an incredible speed to calculate a target's movement in advance and make sharp maneuvers. For that to be possible, the onboard computer's processing speed would have to be on the level of a supercomputer. Is it feasible to mount a supercomputer on a missile?”
As I said it, I was reminded of the bluff China once pulled on the world.
They claimed they could sink an American aircraft carrier in a single strike with their ballistic missiles.
Unless it's carrying a nuclear warhead, or it's a hypersonic glide vehicle. Otherwise, hitting a moving target with a simple ballistic missile is next to impossible.
“So it's that difficult.”
Nevertheless, the US once pulled back its operational range out of caution over China's anti-ship ballistic missiles.
It wasn't that a country like the US believed such a ridiculous claim, but they were concerned about the off chance that one might actually hit a carrier out of sheer bad luck.
Adding to that was the fact that China is a nuclear power. China's strategy was likely based on that latter possibility as well.
“We will now proceed with the second test.”
The test was conducted in two rounds.
Honestly, I would have liked to test as many as possible, but firing off ballistic missiles that cost over five billion won a shot would completely drain the budget.
In the end, the agreed-upon number was just two.
*Splash!*
Once again, the sight of the missile body piercing the tube and plunging into the water was a work of art.
The CEP was again only a few meters.
It was perhaps an expected result, considering it was equipped with the latest technologies and an atomic spin gyroscope that, in the original timeline, would have been mounted on the final model of the Hyunmoo series we developed—the Hyunmoo-4.
*Clap, clap, clap!*
The VIPs who watched the successful test applauded continuously, praising the development team for their hard work.
Perhaps feeling awkward from the shower of praise he was receiving for the first time in his life, Heewon kept scratching his head with an embarrassed look.
“I'm worried about what comes next.”
The observing Minister of Defense suddenly muttered a complaint.
How could I not understand how he felt?
We had succeeded in developing it, but he must have been worried about the inevitable pressure from the United States.
The US Aegis ships stationed in the waters off Okinawa would have already tracked our missile's trajectory. In a few hours, a fierce inquiry might come flying in through the ROK-US Combined Forces Command.
“The US is one thing, but Russia's reaction will be formidable if they find out.”
The Director of the NIS, who had been listening, added his concern.
Although the missile body's shape was different, its maneuvering method for changing trajectory was nearly identical to the Iskander.
Maybe not right away, but after they finish analyzing the trajectory, they're highly likely to lodge a protest.
Demanding to know how we got our hands on technology they never sold.
“You don't have to worry about Russia, even if we can't say the same for the US.”
“……”
At my casually uttered words, everyone turned to look at me.
Did they really think I would have pushed for the Hyunmoo's development without considering that?
I glanced at them and said one thing.
“You have to soothe a crying child with candy.”
*******
“It's absolute chaos.”
A few days later, the Minister of Defense informed me that, as expected, a formal request for information had come from the US Department of Defense through the Combined Forces Command.
Of course, we claimed the maximum range was around 298 kilometers, but the US wasn't about to believe that.
Especially for them, who had been tracking the trajectory with the search radars on their Aegis ships, our excuse wouldn't even be worth a scoff.
“Still, it's less severe than I expected. I thought the US ambassador would be storming the Blue House by now.”
“The President stopped that from happening.”
“How?”
“It seems they've temporarily smoothed things over by agreeing to make it a key agenda item at the summit between President Clinton and His Excellency in July.”
Just as I predicted.
In fact, historically, the first Hyunmoo test was conducted around this time.
Although, of course, the developer had changed to me.
And while its performance and range were a quantum leap forward, the event itself was following the flow of history.
So what I was counting on were also historical facts.
Specifically, the event where the range issue would be resolved at the summit between our president and Clinton. Fortunately, it seems that won't change.
“The problem won't get any bigger, will it?”
Secretary Kim lived in a state of constant worry, as if she were a government official herself.
That attitude of hers started right after she signed the confidentiality agreement, didn't it?
For someone who had always lived an ordinary life, signing such an agreement for the first time seemed to have made her feel like she had become an important person.
“It won't. We'll probably demand a range increase to 500 kilometers, and the US will insist on 300. The problem is, we don't have the power to break their insistence, so in the end, the agreement will be on America's terms.”
“But the actual range is much longer. I'm worried they'll make an issue of that.”
“We just have to insist otherwise. It's not like the actual missile will fall into American hands, so what's there to worry about?”
“What if they demand we provide them with one?”
“That's impossible. No matter how much we're under America's shadow, we're still a sovereign nation. They can't just order us to hand over one of our strategic weapons. The military was so brazen about this because they were counting on that fact. To put it simply, they plan to make it an open secret.”
“But isn't it a violation of an agreement?”
“The missile range limit is a guideline, not a treaty. That means we can break it anytime if we have to. Of course, the fallout from doing so would be enormous.”
Secretary Kim gave me a strange look at that.
It was a mix of relief and, at the same time, worry.
Finding her expression somehow amusing, I added one more thing.
“Let's not fret over that issue anymore. There's something else we really need to worry about.”
“What else?”
“America will probably use this opportunity to make us join the MTCR, the Missile Technology Control Regime. It doesn't really matter since the Hyunmoo wasn't developed with exports in mind, but I'm worried it will become another set of shackles. By the way, have you heard anything from the NIS? Russia should have made some kind of move by now, but it's strangely quiet.”
“No, not yet…”
*Ring!*
Just as she shook her head, my cell phone rang.
“Of course.”