The North's Maneuvers
The National Security Advisor arrived in Dandong, China, feeling the fatigue of the long flight as he stepped off the aircraft. A National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent, disguised as a diplomat, was waiting at the gate. After clearing security, the Advisor immediately asked the agent, "Who has the NIS sent?"
"In place of the Director, Chief Choi Jae-ho, our North Korea expert, will be assisting you, Advisor. He is currently preparing for the meeting at the negotiation site."
"And the North Korean side?"
"Kim Yong-nam, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, is scheduled to appear as the representative."
"Let's head straight to the meeting venue."
The Advisor leaned his head back against the car seat, beginning to mentally organize the points for today's discussion. The vehicle entered the bustling city center and headed toward the hotel. As it pulled into the underground parking garage, men who appeared to be NIS agents tightened security and opened the door for the Advisor.
"Chief Choi! It seems I see you more often in China than in Korea these days."
"You must be exhausted from the long flight, sir."
"Not at all. Overcoming this crisis is the priority. How is the North side behaving?"
"They are shouting that they will risk war in the future, but behind the scenes, they are asking for the sanctions on the Singaporean bank to be lifted. Their logic is that the people are starving..."
"The fact that they showed up at the negotiation table at all means there is a will for dialogue."
"That is correct. Sending Chairman Kim Yong-nam to the dialogue proposal suggests that your strategy is working. Shall we head to the meeting room? The North Korean side hasn't arrived yet."
"Is that so? Then a quick shower in my room would be nice. My fatigue is dulling my focus."
"Understood. I will contact you once you've rested in your room."
After escorting the Advisor to his room, Chief Choi monitored the movements of the North Korean delegation. Although the Advisor had averted the immediate threat of war through his visit to the United States, the road ahead was long. Choi spent the time double-checking the briefing materials he would present to the Advisor before they moved to the meeting room.
Thirty minutes later, when a radio report came in that the North Korean side was arriving, Chief Choi knocked on the Advisor's door. The Advisor appeared, looking refreshed after his shower.
"Have they arrived?"
"Yes. They are thirty minutes out."
"Still have some time. Shall we go grab a cup of coffee?"
As they moved, Chief Choi briefed the Advisor on the North's likely stance and Chairman Kim Yong-nam's habits. The Advisor poured a cup of coffee from the corner of the meeting room and offered one to Choi.
"Is Kim Yong-nam capable of making independent judgments?"
"Externally, he is a Chairman, but based on past cases, there is a high probability he acts within Kim Jong-un's guidelines."
"Has the agenda for today's meeting been delivered to the North?"
"Yes. Given that they didn't refuse the meeting, we judge there is a high possibility they will accept our proposal."
"I certainly hope so."
A moment later, an NIS agent entered and radioed that the North Korean officials were about to arrive. The Advisor and Chief Choi stepped out of the meeting room to wait for the vehicles. A black sedan arrived along with security escort cars, and the Advisor approached to greet Chairman Kim Yong-nam as he stepped out of the back seat.
"Thank you for making the long journey."
"It is nothing. The North and South are in a crisis; the more so, the more we must proceed with dialogue."
The two exchanged ritualistic pleasantries as they entered the meeting room, probing each other's intentions. Once inside, they sat across from each other at a long table, breaking the ice before the meeting by discussing the weather and personal matters.
After five minutes of conversation, their wariness eased, and they prepared to bring up the real issues.
"I heard the reason South Korea asked to see us was to have a North-South dialogue. Why don't you start by opening the bundle of stories you've prepared? Comrade Advisor."
When Chairman Kim Yong-nam brought up the agenda first, the Advisor replied, "You are aware that the PyeongChang Olympics are being held next February, right?"
"I am aware. Let's drop the trivial talk about the Olympics and get to the main point."
"Understood. I assume you are aware that the U.S. is preparing for war due to North Korea's current nuclear tests and ICBMs?"
"Did you come here to act as a puppet for the American imperialists? If you are going to threaten us, I will end the talks here."
"Hahaha. Please, calm down. I would like you to hear me out to the end. I know that what the North fears most is the U.S. entering into a war. The Republic of Korea wishes to create a mood of reconciliation through the PyeongChang Olympics and then push for an inter-Korean summit."
"What does an inter-Korean summit have to do with the U.S.?"
"The U.S. has the intention of signing an end-of-war declaration and a peace treaty if North Korea denuclearizes and halts ICBM launch tests. To that end, we would like the leaders of the North and South to meet and coordinate beforehand, and once that is done, push for a North Korea-U.S. summit."
Chairman Kim Yong-nam's eyes widened at the mention of a North Korea-U.S. summit. "Is the President of the United States saying he will meet our Supreme Leader?"
"Of course. We have received an answer that it is possible, provided North Korea has the will to keep the preconditions I mentioned earlier."
"...What agenda will you cover in the inter-Korean summit?"
"I would like to cover changing the armistice agreement to an end-of-war agreement after the Korean War, the issue of unification, separated families, and inter-Korean exchanges and railway connections."
"Wouldn't it be difficult to complete the negotiations all at once?"
"That is correct. That is why we should hold the inter-Korean summit multiple times. How about we meet at Panmunjom first, and then the President of the Republic of Korea visits North Korea?"
"If it's Panmunjom... do you mean at the Peace House on the South Korean side?"
"Does it matter if it's the Peace House or Tongilgak? The significance lies in the leaders of the North and South meeting."
Chairman Kim Yong-nam pondered whether the Peace House in Panmunjom, managed by the South, or Tongilgak, managed by the North, would be better, then replied, "Then let's hold the first summit at the Peace House, and the second meeting at Tongilgak."
"Wouldn't it be more effective for our President to visit Pyongyang in North Korea to demonstrate the achievements of the inter-Korean talks?"
"Then let's hold three summits. Peace House, Tongilgak, and Pyongyang. I will not decide here, but I will return and get confirmation from the Supreme Commander before deciding."
"That is good. And you should also flesh out the PyeongChang Olympics talk."
"Can't we just send a unified team and a cheering squad like the 88 Olympics or the Asian Games in the past?"
"Since it's a Winter Olympics, wouldn't a cheering squad be difficult? And is there any event in the Winter Olympics where we can form a unified team? Most are individual events..."
"There is... ice hockey, isn't there?"
"Yes...?"
"Let's do that one, what you call ice hockey in the South."
"That's not bad. We can choose between men's and women's ice hockey."
"And I will push for sending a high-level delegation along with our cheering squad."
"Who would come as the high-level delegation?"
"I will let you know once it is decided after I return."
"It seems the general direction has been decided for today. When would you like the next meeting to be?"
"Let's see each other in three weeks."
"I think we achieved good results today thanks to Chairman Kim Yong-nam taking the time. I will see you here in three weeks."
"Understood. You take care as well, Comrade Advisor!"
The Advisor and Chairman Kim Yong-nam shook hands with satisfied smiles, leaving the meeting room feeling glad to have achieved what they wanted. After watching Chairman Kim Yong-nam leave in his car, NIS Chief Choi Jae-ho said, "Advisor, today's meeting seems to have gone well. As expected, there seems to be a will for dialogue on the North Korean side."
"The prospect of pushing for a summit with the U.S. President must have been a big factor. Let's report this immediately."
The two used a secure phone to call the President, who was waiting for the results of the talks in Korea. The President was satisfied that the North had shown a positive attitude and decided to receive a detailed report after the Advisor returned home.
On his way back, Chairman Kim Yong-nam was overjoyed at the news that the U.S. President would sign an end-of-war and peace treaty with North Korea, and he urged the security agent driving the car to increase the speed. He could have reported by phone, but fearing the Supreme Commander might consider it disrespectful, he decided to go directly to Pyongyang to report.
Once they left Dandong city and passed the Chinese border checkpoint, the security agent began to increase the vehicle's speed. After entering North Korean territory, the car slowed down as they hit unpaved roads and began to shake.
"The car shaking isn't the problem right now. Comrade! Speed it up!"
Chairman Kim Yong-nam began to organize in his head the matters to report to the Supreme Commander in the shaking back seat.
***
Arriving at the Pyongyang Presidential Palace, Kim Yong-nam double-checked his organized report before getting out of the car. When a guard opened the door, he stepped out and headed straight to the second floor of the palace. As if there had been prior notice, the 974 Guard Unit opened the door to the office where Kim Jong-un was waiting for the results of the meeting Kim Yong-nam would bring.
"Respected Supreme Commander Comrade! I have just returned from the meeting."
"Chairman Kim Yong-nam. Cut the unnecessary flattery and report quickly. How did it go?"
"The South suggests that the athletes and cheering squad of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea participate in the PyeongChang Olympics next year to create a peaceful atmosphere, and then hold an inter-Korean summit. And..."
Kim Jong-un cut off Chairman Kim Yong-nam. "What...? What is the need for a useless inter-Korean summit!"
"No. They suggest holding a North Korea-U.S. summit after the inter-Korean summit."
"Is that so...? The American imperialists say they will hold a summit?"
"Yes. They say that if the agenda is coordinated at the inter-Korean summit, the U.S. President will come out for the talks."
"Hmm... Did the South Korean guys say they would meet our demands?"
"They say if we only stop denuclearization and Hwasong rocket launches, they will sign an end-of-war agreement and a peace treaty."
"They will sign a mutual non-aggression pact...? Hahaha. Chairman Kim Yong-nam, is that really true?"
"Yes. That is correct. They say we should cover the details at the summit with the South."
"Of course we should do it. When did you decide to have the next meeting?"
"We decided to see each other in three weeks."
"And we need to send a high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Olympics; who should we send?"
"I cannot go... I should send Yo-jong."
"Yes...?"
"If my sister Yo-jong goes, won't the South Korean guys be surprised?"
Kim Jong-un pressed the call button and ordered his sister, who was in another office, to be brought in. A moment later, a thin Kim Yo-jong entered the office.
"Yo-jong! You need to go to South Korea in my place next February."
Kim Yo-jong reacted irritably to the sudden request. "Brother! You should tell me what it's about before you talk!"
In place of Kim Jong-un, Kim Yong-nam stepped forward and explained the details. Kim Yo-jong put on an amused expression. "I understand. I can go to South Korea as the representative with Chairman Kim Yong-nam."
"Show those South Korean guys a lesson this time and bring back the results we want! Understand?"
"I understand. From now on, I will coordinate the issues with South Korea myself."
The atmosphere in the Presidential Palace office was good for the first time in a while, and they began to establish plans, looking forward to next year.