Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: A Presidential Proposal
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“Welcome, Chairman.”
On January 29, 2001, before Putin’s visit, I had another welcome guest arrive at the headquarters.
Choi In-bae, who had been dispatched to the Sukhoi Design Bureau, had finally returned.
His return was several months later than scheduled, and I had been growing anxious.
“You’ve gotten quite a tan.”
“You can say that again. It’s the first time I’ve learned you can get a tan from sunlight reflecting off the snow.”
Other than his darker complexion, he didn’t seem to have changed much.
When I asked why his return had been delayed by several months, his eyes lit up.
“I figured I might as well squeeze out everything I could while I was there, so it took a bit longer.”
“So, was it fruitful?”
“I’d say so. For the last three months or so, they were the ones who couldn’t escape the maze of algorithms I designed.”
Knowing his skills to some extent, I was certain he wasn’t just bluffing.
With our team already short-staffed, his return was like gaining an entire army.
I walked over to my desk to retrieve what I had prepared for this day, and he tilted his head, puzzled by my sudden movement.
“What’s that?”
Choi In-bae stared quizzically at the hard drive I took out from my desk drawer.
I silently connected it to the desktop and gestured for him to come closer. He approached with an awkward gait.
“Take a look.”
At my words, Choi In-bae opened a file.
As the program launched, the screen filled with an immense amount of source code.
Stunned, he spent a long time examining various parts of the code before looking at me with eyes wide in disbelief.
“This is…”
He was looking at a portion of the source code for the KFX’s weapon control and mission computer systems.
The very technology the United States had so vehemently refused to transfer.
But in the end, it was a combat system created by our own hands.
I planned to merge it with Russia’s software technology to redefine and expand our platform’s combat system. To do that, the time had come to reveal this to Choi In-bae.
“No matter how I look at it, the algorithm seems very similar to those in American fighter jets. Where on earth did you get this?”
To be honest, that was a tricky question for me to answer.
The official story was that KAI had developed it based on the know-how gained during the FA-50’s development.
But the development speed was far too fast for that to be the sole basis.
I had been so shocked by the incredible pace of software development that I had questioned government officials several times, but I never received a clear answer.
“That’s a question I can’t answer for you either.”
I only managed to piece together a plausible answer around the time the KFX entered its Batch 2 development phase.
Specifically, it was the day I saw the news that a certain Korean businessman, who had served over three years in a US prison on espionage charges, had been released after completing his sentence.
The moment I saw his familiar face on the TV screen, I was certain he was the key to the KFX’s breakneck software development speed.
‘Was his name Kim Shin-ho?’
I first met him around 2010.
I had been introduced to him when I visited KAI with the director of the ADD for some business, and we kept in touch for a while.
From what I heard back then, he was a veteran software developer who had worked at the American company, Nokid, for over ten years. What piqued my curiosity was that he had been in charge of the F-22 fighter development project.
‘Of course, I could be wrong, but the circumstances at the time were too compelling.’
Otherwise, why would a man focused on his drone business suddenly be charged with espionage in the US?
Of course, the sentence was quite light for a spy, but I could infer that was the result of a backroom legal deal.
Admitting guilt to reduce the sentence—something like that.
The issue had strained relations with the US at the time, and there were rumors of some sort of deal between the governments, so my theory probably wasn't far off the mark.
“In any case, this should be a great help as a reference.”
“Yes, I’ll do my best.”
Choi In-bae took the hard drive with a determined expression.
As he turned to leave, three security guards followed him.
To ensure his safety, I had assigned some guards from a newly formed security firm. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to mind.
“By the way, I assume there was no reason to call for Natasha while you were there?”
A thought suddenly occurred to me, and I called out to him.
After thinking for a moment, he replied with an awkward smile.
“There was no need to call for her directly, but I did see a woman named Natasha once.”
“You met her?”
“Yes. I don’t know why she was visiting the design bureau, but her presence caused quite a stir.”
Listening to his story, it seemed something had happened that I wasn't aware of.
Perhaps another spy had been sent somewhere.
The fact that the Russian authorities hadn't informed me meant one of two things.
Either the issue was too trivial for me to worry about, or they were trying to save face.
‘The latter seems more likely.’
******
*Fanfare!*
February 18.
Putin, having been inaugurated as President, finally set foot in Korea.
This was the man who would rule Russia for over two decades.
As if he already knew it, his steps were supremely confident as he deplaned.
*Click, click!*
The President and the First Lady were the first to greet him.
The two leaders, beaming at each other, shook hands and exchanged a few words before getting into the official vehicle and heading for the Blue House.
“We should get going as well.”
At Putin’s request, I had been attending the events from the very first day. I followed the motorcade in the NIS Director’s car.
We arrived at the Blue House’s state guest house.
After another official ceremony, the two leaders held a brief, friendly chat amidst a flurry of camera flashes before heading inside for a preliminary meeting.
“I think it’s fine if we go to the banquet hall ahead of them.”
Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem necessary for me to observe the meeting, so I asked.
The NIS Director, who seemed to share my thoughts, nodded. Just as we were about to head to the banquet hall, the Chief of Staff rushed over, waving me down.
“Chairman Jin Hyun-seung. You’ll need to come inside for a moment.”
“Me?”
I asked, puzzled.
Inside, key government officials and the President were in a joint meeting with the Russian delegation.
I couldn’t think of any reason why I would be needed.
“Come on in, Chairman Jin.”
The atmosphere inside the meeting room was different from what I had expected.
All the ministers were gone, leaving only the President, Putin, their interpreters, and security personnel.
It felt as if a very private conversation had just taken place.
[It’s been a while, Chairman Jin.]
Spotting me, Putin shot up from his seat and opened his arms.
His demeanor, as if greeting a dear old friend, made everyone’s eyes widen in surprise.
*No need to look at me like that, people.*
*We only went salmon fishing together once.*
Then again, there were rumors that he had extended such an invitation to very few people.
[Please, sit. I actually asked the President for a moment because I have something to discuss with you, Chairman Jin.]
At his words, I glanced at the President.
I wondered what they had discussed; the President’s face was visibly excited.
[If it’s something to discuss with me separately…]
[A moment ago, I proposed to the President that Russia and Jaewoo Group jointly develop a supersonic anti-ship missile.]
[…]
I was momentarily stunned.
Historically, Russia was supposed to co-develop a supersonic anti-ship missile with India, not us.
The one known as the Yakhont.
Or the BrahMos.
Since it was historically deployed around 2002, development should already be well underway by now.
I had no idea why he was suddenly proposing this to us.
[Is there a particular reason you singled out Jaewoo?]
Putin offered a faint smile at my question.
As if he had been expecting it.
He took a sip of the black tea in front of him, then spoke with a meaningful expression.
[To be honest, we are already developing a supersonic anti-ship missile with India. However, a variable has emerged, and our joint development with India is currently on hold.]
[…]
I didn’t bother asking what the variable was.
It felt like he would tell me even if I didn’t ask.
Sure enough, he continued with a sly grin.
[Are you perhaps aware that we are developing a hypersonic cruise missile?]
Of course, I was.
Ever since they had desperately pursued the atomic spin gyroscope.
But why bring that up here and now?
Even if it was an open secret, was it really something to be discussed so freely in a setting like this?
[I had my suspicions…]
[Well, the signs were quite clear. In any case, I was thinking about what it would be like to apply that hypersonic cruise missile technology to an anti-ship missile.]
[To an anti-ship missile? But unlike supersonic missiles, hypersonic ones are not easy to control.]
I immediately pointed out the drawback of hypersonic cruise missiles.
Their extreme speed makes precise control impossible.
But did I miss something? Putin’s eyes widened.
[You speak as if you’ve participated in its development.]
It was true that I had.
Back when we had received technology from Russia and began our own development.
But I had returned to the past before seeing it to completion, which was why I only possessed a fraction of the hypersonic technology.
[Isn’t it common sense that a missile’s control capability is inversely proportional to its speed?]
I replied evasively and watched his reaction.
Seemingly finding my explanation plausible, he let out a dry laugh and continued.
[As you said, Chairman Jin, control is not easy. There are numerous hurdles to overcome, especially for achieving sea-skimming in the terminal phase. That is precisely why I am proposing a joint development with Jaewoo, is it not?]
Hearing that, I felt even more daunted.
Executing sea-skimming with a hypersonic missile in its terminal phase.
It seemed they were insistent on using a scramjet engine rather than a glide vehicle.
That man must think Jaewoo is torturing aliens for technology.
[Executing sea-skimming at hypersonic speeds is difficult. Precision control is one thing, but the frictional heat from the air reflecting off the sea surface during low-altitude flight at that speed would be immense.]
[And that is why we need Jaewoo’s technology, is it not?]
His insistent, almost forceful tone left me speechless.
Then, a reckless thought crossed my mind—maybe it wasn’t entirely impossible.
If nothing else, the heat resistance of the missile could probably be handled by the materials we were developing.
[Hmm…]
On second thought, we did have quite a few assets.
There was the performance of the built-in AESA radar. Our terrain-following sensor technology and precision control technology were already recognized as world-class even in 2025.
There were other issues, of course, but it seemed they could be resolved if we collaborated properly with Russia, a missile powerhouse.
[For the Republic of Korea, with its modest naval power, developing such a weapon would be a great strength, wouldn’t it?]
He coaxed me as if he were placating a child.
And unfortunately, I had to agree with him on that point.
A weapon like a hypersonic anti-ship missile was absolutely necessary for us, given our current naval weakness.
Without it, we would have no way to deter Japan, with its several Aegis destroyers, or China, which would dramatically enhance its naval power in the future.
But what if we were to acquire a powerful asymmetric weapon capable of sinking even an aircraft carrier?
For us, it would be like gaining a whole army.
*Glance.*
I looked at the President again.
It was a conversation held only through our eyes, but we could both guess what the other wanted to say.
As his head nodded, I gave my answer.
[Let’s do it. Why not?]