The North Korean Nuclear Test
“So, you’re finally getting started. Ah! That explains why you needed that introduction to the industrial liaison officer in California.”
“Yes. We need a fairly large piece of real estate for the factory site and the runway. Since the U.S. is much more favorable for flight testing than Korea, I’m planning to establish a corporation there.”
“If you had told me in advance, I could have helped you…”
“Miso wanted to try handling everything herself, so I intentionally didn’t reach out.”
“I understand. Please let me know if you need any help at any time.”
“I appreciate the sentiment alone.”
“CEO! I have one suggestion. Could we incorporate the app currently being serviced in Korea into our side as well? I want to unify all electronic maps into a single app.”
“Korean consumers are picky, so it won’t be as easy as you think.”
“I know that well through President Ryu Gwang-su. I believe there will be synergy effects that can only be gained by unifying them into one app.”
“Hmm… I’ll confirm President Ryu Gwang-su’s intentions and let you know later.”
“Hahaha.”
“Why are you laughing…?”
“I thought you might say that, so I negotiated directly with President Ryu Gwang-su. He expressed that he would agree if the electronic map staff in Korea were kept as the Korea branch of Starlink Maps.”
“The two of you have already made a decision. President Ryu must have made quite a few concessions.”
“Instead, the condition was that navigation terminals must use Starlink Communication products.”
“You both have incredible business ambition.”
While the two were talking, Miso entered the office with a tired expression. Looking at Taesik’s face, she raised her hand with a bright expression.
“Did the negotiations with Daycion go well?”
“Of course. We decided to send one Valkyrie for test evaluation soon. How did it go for you, Miso?”
“Ho ho ho. I finished the deal with the California officials. We decided to purchase 400 hectares of land for 100 billion won.”
“How big is 400 hectares?”
“It’s about the size of a regional airport in South Korea. Roughly 120,000 pyeong.”
“Wow! Didn’t you buy too much land at once, Miso?”
“There’s a legend passed down among Korean conglomerates: real estate never fails. Most of them make money through real estate rather than business.”
“I’ve never seen you as a conglomerate heir until now, but you look different this time.”
“Ho ho ho. California real estate is bound to go up anyway. If we buy it in advance, it will be worth money later.”
Watching Miso, who had purchased 120,000 pyeong of land, Taesik realized that her scale was different from his. He had thought about purchasing a small amount of land for the factory and vertical take-off and landing sites and expanding once the business got into full swing, but seeing Miso secure an airport-sized plot all at once for the future made him think he should learn from her.
“How was the environment near the planned site? Was it suitable for flight testing?”
“There’s nothing but wasteland around it, so rest assured there are no problems. It’s just that there are only small villages nearby, so we’ll need to expand employee amenities quite a bit.”
“Amenities are fine if we build them for employee welfare.”
“Instead, the California state government has set hiring conditions centered on local residents, so we have to hire locals except for core personnel.”
“I was prepared for that much. You’ve worked hard.”
Miso requested that Se-in introduce a contractor, explaining her plan to build employee dormitories and a warehouse to temporarily store and maintain the UAMs. Perhaps knowing the relationship between Taesik and Miso, Se-in immediately called an employee to introduce construction companies in LA, and Miso began the process of selecting a contractor.
While Taesik was working with Miso on selecting facilities and contractors for the UAM site, he received a phone call.
“CEO. This is Park Kyung-hoon. I’m sorry to bother you during your business trip.”
“Did something happen in Korea?”
“A request for support has come in from the NIS. They say North Korea is going to conduct a nuclear test, and they need support again this time.”
“Is there any additional support required besides the satellite?”
“Currently, there is nothing besides the satellite, but there may be additional support depending on the situation on the ground.”
“Do you think there’s a possibility of launching a suicide drone into North Korea like last time?”
“It’s the impeachment period, so there’s no one who can make decisions, making it seem unlikely. It appears they will only carry out operations for information gathering.”
“For now, provide satellite support and contact me if there are any additional requests.”
Miso, who was listening to Taesik’s phone call from the side, asked, “Is it a North Korea-related issue?”
“Yes. There’s a request for support from the NIS. It seems North Korea will conduct a nuclear test soon.”
“Then we should head back to Korea quickly.”
“I’ll return first, so you can come slowly, Miso.”
“No. We can just proceed with the construction contract, so let’s go together. We can proceed with the contract right away.”
Miso called the construction company and signed the contract immediately. After finishing the construction contracts for the roads and various facilities accessing the UAM site, she boarded a flight back to Korea with Taesik.
Upon arriving in Korea, President Park Kyung-hoon came to pick them up, and Taesik headed straight to the Starlink satellite ground control center. At the control center, Section Chief Choi Jae-ho was checking the movements of North Korean troops and the test site identified by the satellite with NIS agents.
“You know how much shame we suffered because we missed the last 4th nuclear test, right? Check the movements by zone immediately!”
Taesik approached Section Chief Choi, who was shouting, and greeted him.
“CEO. I heard you were in the U.S., so you must have returned.”
“More importantly, is the information that North Korea is going to conduct another nuclear test true?”
“Yes. It’s a matter confirmed through the newly established HUMINT. They say a test is scheduled to take place in Punggye-ri, Kilju-gun.”
“Are you thinking of going into an interception operation?”
“I think it will be difficult. Since the President is not in a situation to make judgments, we plan to observe it at a monitoring level. Unlike an ICBM, they conduct nuclear tests in tunnels, so there is no means to stop it even if the President gives an order.”
“Isn’t it possible with the bunker busters held by the Air Force?”
“It would only be possible if we were prepared for an all-out war, but that seems difficult. Right now, there is no way other than to watch.”
“Is there anything Starlink can support?”
“We are planning to rent two xenon collection devices to catch evidence of the nuclear test with the cooperation of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. We plan to deploy one in the East Sea and install the other on an unmanned submarine and send it to the coast near Punggye-ri. Is that possible?”
“Installation on an unmanned submarine is possible, but shouldn’t the collection device not be exposed to seawater? Is it insufficient to install it in the East Sea?”
“Considering wind direction and speed, there is a possibility that it won’t be collected in the East Sea. It is too dangerous to send a Navy submarine, and it would be helpful if we could mount a xenon detector on an unmanned submarine.”
“Then I will check with Defense immediately. I need specific information on the xenon collection device.”
Section Chief Choi Jae-ho called the agent next to him and gave instructions to deliver the specifications of the xenon collection device developed by the Atomic Energy Research Institute, and Taesik immediately called CEO Park In-tak.
“President Park! There is an urgent matter to cooperate on.”
“CEO. Weren’t you on a business trip to the U.S.? When did you get back?”
Taesik explained the situation and asked if it was possible to install the xenon collection device on an unmanned submarine.
“I just sent the specifications, so please judge whether it is possible to install the xenon collection device through unmanned submarine modification.”
“I will check immediately and call you back.”
While waiting for CEO Park In-tak’s answer, Section Chief Choi Jae-ho began analyzing satellite photos around Punggye-ri, estimating the start time of the nuclear test by looking at the materials and vehicles placed at the tunnel entrance.
“The fact that there are vehicles at the tunnel entrance means there is still time left for the test! Did the HUMINT information come in?”
“They say it’s either today or tomorrow, but they can’t collect accurate information. They say North Korea also moves flexibly depending on the situation on the ground.”
“Then aren’t the vehicles in front of the tunnel there for a final check before the nuclear test?”
One hour later, CEO Park In-tak called Taesik.
“CEO. It is impossible to put the entire xenon collection device into an unmanned submarine, but it is possible if mounted externally. However, only the adsorption device needs to be slightly modified so that it is not exposed to seawater.”
“Was there space inside the submarine?”
“Yes. A collection device is possible. Instead, the pre-processing device and pumping equipment are quite bulky, so they have to be mounted on the torpedo mounting part, which will likely make the submarine’s speed slower.”
“It won’t be a problem to travel back and forth in North Korean waters, right?”
“Of course. We are modifying it now, so it will be ready to be mounted by the time the collection device arrives, but the problem is by when it needs to be sent to North Korean waters. If we launch it into the sea after modification, it seems it will be possible to arrive in North Korean waters around 9 AM tomorrow.”
Taesik explained the details delivered by CEO Park In-tak to Section Chief Choi Jae-ho.
“CEO. I don’t think it will be a problem. The xenon collection device needs to collect air floating for a week. Since we have to collect it after the nuclear test, there is no problem by tomorrow.”
“Then where in North Korean waters should we send the unmanned submarine?”
“International waters are safe, but North Korean coastal areas are better for accurate data collection.”
“Hmm… The sonar installed on the unmanned submarine can observe the movements of North Korean patrol boats or ships in advance, so there is no problem, but the issue of responsibility is the key. If a submarine sent by a private company is discovered in North Korea, Starlink will have to take responsibility…”
“CEO. That won’t be a problem. We will purchase the Defense’s unmanned submarine immediately with the NIS budget. Instead, please remove all evidence that it is a Korean product. Even if North Korea discovers it, the NIS intends to deny it.”
“Understood. Then I will erase the nameplate and markings containing manufacturing information.”
Taesik called CEO Park In-tak again and gave instructions that the NIS would purchase one submarine and to erase all nameplates and markings containing manufacturer information. And to save time, he decided to transport the submarine directly from Gumi to the East Sea Naval Base and send it to North Korean waters by tomorrow morning.
Taesik delivered the prepared matters to Section Chief Choi.
“Now, it seems there is nothing left for you to do, CEO. Our agents are also at the earthquake center, so we can handle the rest.”
“Understood. Please contact me anytime if you need help.”
“Thank you for your help every time.”
Taesik left the control center, leaving Section Chief Choi, who was busy, and headed to his office with President Park Kyung-hoon. In the secretary’s office, Miso was waiting for Taesik without leaving work, and President Park laughed and disappeared, saying he had urgent business.
“You haven’t left work yet?”
“My father is in the hospital, and there’s nowhere I need to go home to. Did the work go well?”
“The preparation work is done, and the NIS said they would handle the rest.”
“Are you thinking of investing in stocks this time too?”
“No. I think it will be a problem later if I proceed with investments through non-public information. This time, I’m thinking of just letting it pass.”
Taesik set out to have a late dinner with Miso, and until the next day, he could not hear any news related to the North Korean nuclear test.