Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Test
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[To be honest, that's just how it is, isn't it? Every time the US military needs something, Jaewoo comes up with the answer. How many times has it been now...? At this point, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you can see the future.]
Pushing aside a brief pang of guilt, I let out a faint, dry laugh.
His eyes still gleaming, he began muttering as he relentlessly compared the existing MRAP with the Polar Bear.
[According to our analysis of the South African model, the MRAP's biggest drawback is its poor mobility. The suspension is also far too weak.]
[Yes, but the Polar Bear is different. Its mobility has already been proven in the recent rally, and as you can see, its protective capabilities are beyond comparison with most MRAPs.]
He didn't even glance my way, his focus entirely on the report.
It was as if he was determined to find even a single flaw.
Sensing he might need some time, I was about to go make more coffee when he abruptly turned to look at me.
[How many prototype vehicles do you have?]
[Only five for now, but we can produce at least twenty more within a month.]
At my words, Michael's eyes lit up again.
His small eyes darted back and forth before he stroked his chin and spoke casually.
[Frankly, with this on the scene, it's highly likely our own MRAP development plan will be scrapped.]
[...]
[Even on the fastest timeline, it would take at least six years to go from development to mass production, and the military can't afford to wait that long. The problem is, this is still just a prototype, and mass production will take more time. If an order were placed, how long would it take for delivery?]
I immediately walked over to my desk.
I took out several photographs from a drawer and handed them to him.
[As you can see, the construction of the production line is almost complete. Thanks to that, if there's demand, we can deliver nearly forty thousand vehicles a year.]
[...]
Michael stared back and forth between the photos and me, his expression one of utter disbelief.
Judging by the shape of his lips, it looked like he was muttering something about me having the ability to predict the future again.
I smiled and was about to lift my coffee cup when he suddenly shot up from his seat and urged me on.
[Let's go. I need to see the factory right away.]
[...]
******
"America really is something else."
A month later, at Seongnam Air Base, Polar Bears were being loaded onto a US military C-17.
A monstrous transport plane with a range of 7,600 kilometers and a maximum payload of a whopping 76 tons.
Looking at it now, the thought crossed my mind that the time might have come for us to recognize our own need for large transport aircraft.
"Another C-17 is scheduled to arrive around 3 p.m. Still, with nearly twenty vehicles to move, it looks like it's going to be quite an ordeal."
Secretary Kim looked overwhelmed by the sight of the transport plane swallowing the vehicles whole.
I responded with a faint smile, and she continued to marvel.
"Still, the US is really incredible. They could have just shipped them by sea... I can't imagine how much the transport costs are."
"Because simple transport isn't the only goal."
She stared at me as I answered immediately.
I pointed to one of the vehicles being secured and continued my explanation.
"The US military conducts more overseas operations than any other country. Because of that, they frequently have to transport troops and supplies by air. So, what you're seeing now isn't just about transport; it's a measure to identify any potential problems that might arise during the process."
"Ah..."
Secretary Kim nodded, finally understanding.
The transport, now ready for departure, began moving toward the runway. At that moment, I glanced at my watch.
"What time did we tell the joint missile development center we would arrive?"
"You should probably leave now."
At her words, I got into the car without hesitation.
Just as the car pulled away, I saw the C-17 soaring into the sky outside my window.
-We plan to send some of the vehicles straight to Afghanistan. When you think about it, it's the most suitable place for operational testing.
As the car entered the main road, I suddenly recalled what Michael had said before he left Korea.
That all but two of the vehicles would undergo operational testing in the field.
I hadn't given it much thought at the time, but looking back now, I was struck by how impressive the US military was.
The idea of conducting operational tests directly on the battlefield.
Well, maybe 'battlefield' isn't the right word, since the war is officially over.
In any case, the fact that they could even conceive of such an idea was, to me, something to be envied.
[It's been a while, Chairman Jin.]
Natasha was waiting for me at the entrance of the joint missile development center.
It had been quite some time since I'd last seen her, so I happily extended my hand. She smiled brightly and took it.
[I hear there's good news?]
According to what I'd heard yesterday, the development of the long-range anti-aircraft missile was in its final stages.
Of course, Russia would later modify it to their own specifications, just as we would to ours, but the initial development was indeed complete.
Perhaps that was the reason she had come this time, in a supervisory role.
To oversee the return of the researchers whose mission was complete.
[The Russian development team will be returning home with me soon. I plan to come back afterward.]
My guess was correct.
The only question was why she had to go through all that trouble.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I posed the question, and she glanced around before whispering.
[It would be problematic if even a single one of our researchers were to stray elsewhere.]
[Does that happen?]
[If that never happened, I wouldn't have a reason to be dispatched all the way to Korea.]
She replied with a smile.
Her eyes seemed to lose focus for a moment, as if lost in thought, before locking back onto mine as she continued.
[By the way, have you heard the news?]
[What news is that?]
She stared at me as I asked.
She looked as if she were debating whether it was right to bring it up.
No, it was more like she was surprised I hadn't understood the intent of her question.
[...I was aware that high-ranking generals from the US Department of Defense recently visited US Forces Korea and the Jaewoo Group. Did you not hear anything from them?]
[...]
I furrowed my brow, completely baffled by what she was saying.
Then, she suddenly grabbed my hand and began to lead me somewhere. Startled, my bodyguards immediately swarmed to block her path.
"Ah! It's fine."
I waved my hands at the bodyguards, who were glaring daggers at Natasha.
As if realizing her mistake, she immediately let go of my hand and repeated, "I'm sorry," in clumsy Korean before stepping close again and whispering in my ear.
[There's intelligence that North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test.]
For a moment, my mind went blank.
According to history, the North's first nuclear test was supposed to be in 2006.
But if that information was true, they were moving the timeline up by a full four years. I wondered how that was even possible.
Money and technology.
In North Korea's current state, they should have been lacking in both.
[Are you certain?]
[Of course. It's thrown the entire Russian Foreign Intelligence Service into an uproar. But you really haven't heard anything? I was under the impression that Jaewoo Group had a close relationship with the US Department of Defense.]
The fact that she knew about the US defense officials' visit to Korea wasn't particularly surprising.
For the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, that would have been child's play.
What was bewildering, however, was that Michael had lied to me.
I could understand his reluctance to share such sensitive information with a mere civilian like me, but I couldn't help thinking it would have been better to just gloss over the topic entirely.
"It's not like I'm the type to press the issue relentlessly."
[Pardon?]
Natasha tilted her head at my mumbling.
What was this woman thinking, sharing such important information with me?
As I stared at her, wondering about that very thing, she blushed in a way that didn't suit her.
[Ahem, Chairman Putin instructed me to inform you, Chairman Jin.]
[...]
Hearing that, I felt a strange sensation.
Should I consider this a favor?
Or was it an attempt to pressure me?
[Just a moment.]
At the end of that thought, something occurred to me, and I called the Director of the NIS.
Was he in an emergency meeting?
He didn't seem to be picking up.
[Do you know when they plan to conduct the test?]
I turned back to Natasha and asked.
As if she had been expecting the question, she answered without the slightest hesitation.
[Based on the progress identified by satellite imagery, they're predicting it will be around the middle of next year.]
[Hmm...]
I felt a sense of relief that it wasn't immediate.
But then it occurred to me that this might not be a situation to be relieved about at all.
Frankly, it wouldn't be strange if the United States decided to strike North Korea right now.
*Ring!*
Just then, I got a call from the NIS Director.
It seemed he had just seen my missed call and was returning it.
I immediately answered, and his subdued voice came through the line.
"Did you hear the news about North Korea?"
-...
He was silent for a moment.
As if he were surprised that I knew.
He let out a short "Ah!" of realization, then sighed deeply and mentioned Putin.
-That head brown bear must really want to score points with you, Chairman Jin. In any case, we are already aware of the news that the North is preparing a nuclear test.
"Then was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs' visit to USFK also because of that?"
-That's right. It seems they're planning to bring in additional prepositioned stocks from the mainland for USFK in case of an emergency. But it doesn't look like they're planning to launch an airstrike right away, so there's no need to be too concerned.
"They're not planning an airstrike?"
The outcome was a little unexpected.
For the United States, which was extremely sensitive about the North's nuclear issue, this would have been the perfect opportunity to resolve it. Why would they just let it pass?
The NIS Director seemed to be thinking the same thing, looking rather perplexed himself.
-I found that surprising myself. Given the current US administration's tendencies, it wouldn't be strange for them to move to nip this in the bud, yet they're taking a step back. Perhaps they're concerned about the increasingly complicated situation in the Middle East.
Hearing that, it suddenly seemed plausible.
The preparations for a nuclear test were happening four years earlier than in history.
But striking North Korea now could risk a full-scale war, and the United States was currently unable to extricate itself from the Middle East due to the increasingly hostile atmosphere in Iraq.
In other words, they would be burdened with having to fight a war on two fronts simultaneously.
Sure, on paper, the US was capable of fighting a two-front war, but in reality, it was never that simple.
It seemed they had decided to take a wait-and-see approach to the North Korean issue for the time being.
"Even so, they're just going to stand by and watch them prepare for a nuclear test? The United States?"
-We're baffled too. The normal picture would be us trying to hold back the US as they rush to pull it out by the roots, but instead, they're telling us to exercise restraint. Damn it. And it's not like we can act independently without wartime operational control. Anyway, on that matter, all I can say is that we'll have to wait and see how things develop.
The NIS Director seemed to have other pressing matters and ended the call abruptly.
I stood there for a long time, still holding the phone to my ear, my mind in a daze.
'What in the world is going on?'
No matter how I thought about it, the situation made no sense.
South Korea, arguing for elimination despite the risks. And the United States, holding them back.
Wasn't this a complete reversal of history?
'It might actually be better to eliminate it now...'
From a historical perspective, that might be the best course of action.
If left alone, they would eventually succeed in full nuclear development and even secure long-range delivery systems, becoming a persistent headache.
Of course, there was concern about the damage that would occur in the process, but that was an old argument.
Nearly all predictable damage would come from the North's ruthless artillery bombardment, but we already have an excellent means of defense in the HVP.
Even if missiles were to fly, the Cheongung, which has already begun deployment, could block a certain number of them. This was, without a doubt, the perfect time to eliminate the North's nuclear program.
'Perhaps our government's change in attitude stems from confidence in that... Tsk, but what good is it? It's impossible without the US on board. In the end, is this part of history destined to play out as it did before?'
It was a regrettable but plausible conclusion.
That left us with only two possible responses for the future.
Either we acquire the ability to eliminate it ourselves before the North succeeds in becoming a full-fledged nuclear power, even if not immediately.
Or... we acquire nuclear weapons of our own this time.
'Nuclear armament...'
A dry laugh escaped me at the sudden thought.
I wondered if that was even remotely possible.
'Hmm.'