Let's all get organized today
A diplomatic delegation led by Wen Jiabao made a surprise visit to Pyongyang.
The eyes of the world, aware of the conflict between China and North Korea, are focused on Pyongyang.
"Welcome, Prime Minister."
Jang Song-taek greeted Wen Jiabao as he arrived at the airport.
Wen Jiabao also greeted Jang Song-thaek with a happy face.
"It's been a while, Chairman."
The scene of the two shaking hands and hugging was recorded by the invited media from each country.
Jang Song-thaek and Wen Jiabao were finally able to have a meeting after a long time had passed and all the scheduled formalities had been completed.
"Ugh······. I can't do this either."
"Now that the chairman's position has changed, there's nothing we can do, right?"
As Wen Jiabao said, Jang Song-thaek was now the most powerful person in charge of the country called North Korea.
Jang Song-taek nodded and looked at Wen Jiabao.
"Even though the positions have changed, I still think the Prime Minister is a good person. We have had a long relationship. But what you have done to our republic this time is unforgivable. You are encouraging and supporting a coup."
"······It was not our government's intention. Didn't President Hu Jintao publicly state that he supported the chairman?"
"If you say you support something after it has already happened, doesn't that make it go away?"
Wen Jiabao furrowed his brows at Jang Song-taek's strong response.
But soon he pulled himself together and continued speaking quietly.
"Our government supports the chairman and, as an ally, will provide maximum support for his return."
"They are allies. The Prime Minister may think so, but does President Hu Jintao think the same way? I don't trust President Hu Jintao. Of course, I know the circumstances. President Hu Jintao went into hiding because of an assassination threat. But that's just an excuse."
"Look, Chairman. That's crossing the line."
"Am I crossing the line? It was not our republic that crossed the line first, but your country."
Despite Wen Jiabao's words, Jang Song Taek still showed a sharp reaction.
As the atmosphere became tense, all participants from both countries present in the conference room hardened their expressions.
"I have already expressed my apologies several times through the ambassador."
"Everyone can apologize verbally."
The conversation between the two people continued to go on at parallel lines.
"Chairman. Let's talk just between the two of us, the chairman and I."
Wen Jiabao sighed and made a suggestion, perhaps feeling that nothing could be done as things were.
But surprisingly, Jang Song-taek accepted the offer without hesitation.
Jang Song-taek spoke to the frozen Foreign Minister.
"Foreign Minister Baek Nam-soon, please guide the diplomatic corps from China separately. Go to the banquet hall and enjoy the party."
"Yes, Comrade Chairman."
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Baek Nam-sun, with his head bowed, left the conference room with other members of the diplomatic delegation following Jang Song-taek's instructions.
Only Jang Song-taek and Wen Jiabao remained in the conference room and continued the meeting.
"Chairman. Now that we're alone, let's talk freely."
"Yes, that's right."
"What do you want? What on earth do you want, Chairman?"
"From now on, the Prime Minister will have to look into that himself."
I thought that the atmosphere was tense because there were so many eyes watching, but even when only the two of them were left, their reactions were not much different from before.
Wen Jiabao took a deep breath and met Jang Song-taek's eyes.
"Are you saying that you will never restore relations with us? Do you think that is helpful to North Korea?"
"I can't trust China. Of course, I trust the Prime Minister as a close friend. He is an old friend. But I can't trust the Chinese government anymore."
The problem was that Jang Song-taek's distrust of China had deepened too much.
Eventually, Wen Jiabao decided to bring up the name.
"······Didn't CEO Kim Moo-hyuk say something?"
"I received a call. They told me to resolve the issue amicably."
"Since they share a border with us, our government must restore relations with North Korea. We will make many concessions, so talk to them. We have already received a promise from Chairman Kim. We will have to make many concessions. It is regrettable that it is not the chairman but us."
Only then did Jang Song-taek's stiff face soften a little.
During Kim Jong-il's time in power, we had no choice but to be dragged around by China.
However, we have already strengthened our relations with Korea, Russia, and Japan, and are now doing big business together, so our dependence on China has decreased significantly.
If time goes on like this, China's influence on the Republic will almost disappear.
Jang Song-taek also held out like this because he knew better than anyone that what was urgent was not North Korea but China.
After enduring like that, I finally got a bite.
― Instead of receiving an official apology, receive more things that will help the North Korean economy. What North Korea needs right now is the economy, more than just an apology. Remember, the economy first, and the economy second. North Korea cannot exist if it cuts ties with China forever. This is the same for China. However, China also has a Maginot Line, so try to reach an agreement to some extent.
This was a request from Kim Moo-hyuk, who contacted us from Seoul before Wen Jiabao visited Pyongyang.
"then······."
Jang Song-taek, following Kim Moo-hyok's advice, began to talk about what he could get from China to normalize diplomatic relations.
As Wen Jiabao listened to Jang Song-taek's demands, his expression hardened.
"Isn't that too much to ask?"
"If you think my life is worth less than that, I have nothing more to say. From now on, I will treat you as my close friend, but don't expect anything more from me."
Most of what Jang Song-taek demanded from China was economic aid.
But China wanted something several times larger than what it had originally set out to do.
"It was not our Republic but China that unilaterally broke the promise between countries. Am I making excessive demands?"
"If you look at it that way, wasn't it North Korea that stopped the development of Sinuiju that we had decided to do?"
"China struck first, so we simply struck back appropriately."
A sharp reply came back without a single word of hesitation.
Won Jiabao said with a deep sigh.
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"I will talk to President Hu Jintao. If he accepts all of those demands, can we resume development of Sinuiju?"
"If all the demands are accepted, our republic will consider China an ally again."
The two continued their talks and reached several agreements.
As negotiations progressed, the night deepened.
Jang Song-taek, who checked the clock on the wall, was the first to get up from his seat.
"Let's go to the banquet hall first. We can discuss the details again tomorrow. The Prime Minister will give a definitive answer only after receiving President Hu Jintao's permission, right?"
Although Wen Jiabao had full authority, he still had to get permission from Hu Jintao.
Wen Jiabao and Jang Song-taek opened the door to the banquet hall and entered.
The lively atmosphere of food and drinks suddenly became quiet as if it were a lie.
Jang Song-taek waved his hand lightly with a good-natured smile.
"Why are you all so cold on this fine day? We should all be enjoying the dinner. Isn't that right, Premier Wen Jiabao?"
Wen Jiabao and Jang Song-taek nodded and walked together across the center.
The two men reached the round table at the very front and raised their wine glasses as they spoke.
"For the friendship between our republic and China!"
"For!"
The music that had stopped reverberated through the banquet hall again, and that was how the first day of the meeting passed.
* * *
Tensions were high in China following the fall of Cheon Liangwei from his horse.
The Shanghai Party Committee and government called for stability and reform, while the central government and media declared that eradicating corruption was a top priority.
The Shanghai Communist Party organ, Liberation Daily, bowed down in a commentary defending the central government's decision on Shanghai.
Along with this, rumors were circulating in Beijing that the political forces of President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao had taken over Jiang Zemin's Shanghai faction.
It was only natural that the tension was greater in Shanghai, where the rumor originated.
He Guoqiang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, was dispatched to Shanghai on the day that Chen Liangwei was dismissed and arrested.
He attended the Shanghai enlarged meeting chaired by Han Zheng, the acting Shanghai Party Secretary, and emphasized the integrity of party officials and declared war on corruption that was rampant throughout Shanghai.
And Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, a native of Shanghai, came forward to defend the decision, making Shanghai's surrender official.
Meanwhile, news that Bo Xilai had been appointed as the new Shanghai Party Secretary was spread throughout China through state-run media.
"It seems like it's been a long time since I've been to Shanghai."
I arrived at Hongqiao International Airport to attend Bo Xilai's inauguration party.
After the completion of Pudong International Airport, most international routes were moved to Pudong Airport, and Hongqiao Airport was upgraded to an airport exclusively for domestic flights.
However, with the permission of the Chinese government, I was able to land my private plane at Hongqiao Airport as an exception.
As soon as I left the airport, I clicked my tongue without realizing it. There were so many security guards surrounding me.
There were dozens of bodyguards that I could see right away.
"Isn't that too much?"
Even though they had raised their security level to the highest level, this was still too conspicuous.
"Black Bear and I think this is also insufficient."
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I couldn't help but nod at Director Ma's firm tone.
I'm doing this for my own safety, so I can't criticize you anymore.
I got into the prepared car and headed to the location of the inauguration party.
"We invited all the representatives of the Chinese companies we invested in to the party. What did they say?"
"We got a call saying they'll all come."
After Wen Jiabao visited North Korea, as promised, the pressure on the companies I had invested in disappeared as if it were a lie.
I called them all to Shanghai.
Among them, there were those who tried to keep their loyalty to me until the end, and there were those who tried to cut off ties with me as the Chinese government demanded.
"That's great. Let's get everything sorted out today."
As I spoke with a cold smile, Director Ma nodded.
I had no intention of leaving alone the person who turned his back on me when I was having a hard time.
Thanks to landing at Hongqiao Airport, I was able to quickly arrive at the party venue.
The area where the party was taking place was controlled by armed police and the People's Liberation Army.
As a number of vehicles, including mine, approached the barricade, armed police pointed their guns at us.
"Let me check your identity first. Everyone, please get off."
"Boss, I'll go and clean up."
I nodded to Director Ma's words.
Chief Ma got out of the car and started talking to the soldier.
"I'm from Korea."
The commander asked with great tension at Chief Ma's words.
"Are you, by any chance, President Kim Mu-hyeok?"
"The boss is inside, and the other vehicle is filled with bodyguards to protect him. I understand that this has already been discussed."
"Yes. I received it. But I still need to confirm the face······."
Before the man could finish speaking, Director Ma cut him off coldly.
"Are you telling the boss to get out of the car now?"
"That, that's the principle······."
If I keep going like this, I'll catch someone. Before the conversation gets any longer, I roll down the window and call Director Ma.
"It's okay, sir. It's work, so there's nothing I can do. Ask him to check."
A cheerful armed policeman turned his head towards me.
He must have already become familiar with my face, because he recognized my face through the open window and saluted me with a measured posture.
"Welcome to President Kim Moo-hyuk!"
As soon as Chief Ma got into his car, staring indifferently at the armed police with their uniforms fully raised, the barricade opened.
We went further in, past the open barricade.
I too was surprised to see the entire downtown area of Shanghai being cordoned off to hold a party to celebrate the inauguration of the Party Secretary.
To the people of Shanghai, Bo Xilai was a stranger.
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So it seemed like they prepared the inauguration ceremony more extravagantly.
As we parked our car in the parking lot, a man wearing a party uniform approached us.
"Are you President Kim Mu-hyeok?"
As I nodded, the man guided me with a bright smile.
The stage for the party secretary was erected on a huge platform.
The stage was filled with Chinese national flags and Communist Party flags.
Following the man's guidance, I arrived at my designated seat right in front of the stage.
It seemed like they had arranged for bodyguards to sit around me.
"Thank you for your consideration."
I thanked the party member who guided me, and he waved and turned away.
As I sat down and looked around, my eyes met with Jiang Zemin's, who was sitting in the VIP section on stage.
He must have seen me too, as he was glaring at me with sinister eyes.
I raised one corner of my mouth and smiled like a winner.
But the standoff didn't last long.
"The star of this inauguration ceremony, Shanghai Party Secretary Bo Xilai, is entering."
As traditional Chinese music filled the air, Bo Xilai, dressed in traditional Chinese attire, walked across the audience toward the stage.
As he was walking, he looked in my direction, bowed his head slightly, and then went up onto the stage.
"Look at you. Congratulations."
Jiang Zemin congratulated Bo Xilai on his inauguration and hugged him.
Bo Xilai's inauguration ceremony began with congratulatory speeches from senior Chinese Communist Party officials, including Premier Wen Jiabao.
< Let's all sort it out today > End
< Please organize both of you >