Chapter 453 |
Before I went to war with China over the Zhou Auto technology theft issue alongside the United States, negotiations between North Korea and the United States broke down.
At that, the North Korean media began to lambaste the United States, and I was also lumped in and criticized. I still haven't forgotten the words of the so-called "Pink Lady," the most famous news anchor in the world.
'We must not leave alone the arrogant, senile old man who has not yet come to his senses and is acting wickedly, and the cunning South Korean speculator who clings to him and plays around disgustingly, throwing a tantrum. To pick a fight with a company from another country, accusing them of copying technology, is a world-class joke that would make even a three-year-old child laugh out loud!'
She swore so eloquently that the news scene was uploaded to YouTube and received over 10 million views.
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong had a slightly displeased expression.
Well, he probably didn't expect to hear such words to his face from a person who holds the position of "one person below, ten thousand people above" in North Korea. But it's only because it's me that I can say it.
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong glared at me with a cold gaze, and I did not avoid his gaze.
Minister of Unification Yoon Je-hoon deliberately laughed out loud and said.
"Haha! Isn't that what all the media outlets are like?"
At my words, Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong's expression softened.
"When I return, I will warn them not to speak such nonsense."
After the greetings, we sat down.
I was with other businessmen. There were more CEOs of small and medium-sized enterprises than chairmen of large corporations. The most noticeable person among them was Han Byung-sun, the president of Eunsung Kumgang.
Eunsung Kumgang has carried out many projects in North Korea, such as the Geumgangsan tourism and the Kaesong Industrial Complex. At the time, there were high public expectations, but in the end, they withdrew with a loss of over 1 trillion won.
It can be called the most representative company in inter-Korean economic cooperation. After the Heo Chang-min administration took office, inter-Korean summits were held, and as a mood of reconciliation was created, its stock price also rose significantly.
However, in order for actual business to proceed, there are more than one or two problems to be solved, such as international sanctions.
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong took the microphone and said.
"I would like to thank President Heo Chang-min and the many businessmen who have gathered here. I hope that this meeting will be an opportunity for the relationship between the North and the South to develop further in the future."
President Heo Chang-min also responded with a smile.
"I am deeply moved to be here today. I have no doubt that we can resolve any difficulties together through dialogue and cooperation."
I think it would be good to have some doubts about that.
The North Korean staff quickly served the meal.
"This is naengmyeon made with ingredients brought directly from the Okryu-gwan in Pyongyang. I hope you all enjoy it."
I never thought I would get to eat authentic Pyongyang naengmyeon in my life.
It's a shame that Ellie couldn't come with me. The dinner was strictly an inter-Korean meeting, so it was difficult for Ellie, who is a foreigner, to join.
Today is just a dinner, and the official meeting schedule is still being coordinated by both sides.
The fact that there would be an inter-Korean summit was somewhat predictable from the moment the Minister of Unification attended.
The relationship between the North and the South always goes back and forth between hot and cold. A mood of reconciliation is created, but then it turns into a hostile relationship as if nothing had happened, and they engage in military provocations, but then suddenly extend a hand.
This time is no different. It was just last month that they launched a short-range missile into the East Sea. But suddenly, they decided to participate in the forum.
The international media interpreted this as an intention to find a breakthrough through economic cooperation with China, Russia, and South Korea first, as the negotiations with the United States had reached a stalemate.
As the meal was finishing, the conversation naturally turned to inter-Korean economic cooperation.
As expected, North Korea was hoping to restart the Rason-Khasan project. This project was first proposed about 20 years ago.
The plan was to renovate the railway between Rason and Khasan, and to proceed with the construction and modernization of the Rason port wharf, to make this area a logistics hub in Northeast Asia.
Furthermore, a specific plan was also proposed for the three Koreas and Russia to cooperate in connecting the Trans-Siberian Railway with the Korean Peninsula's cross-country railway, and to bury a gas pipeline to send natural gas from Siberia to South Korea.
South Korea imports all of its energy from overseas, and all of its natural gas is also transported by LNG carriers. If a gas pipeline is built, the transportation cost can be reduced to less than one-tenth, even including maintenance and management costs.
In this case, there are concerns about what to do if North Korea shuts off the gas pipeline, but in reality, it is not easy. In that case, it is highly likely to turn into a dispute with Russia.
Russia is good because it can sell gas, South Korea is good because it can buy gas cheaply, and North Korea is good because it can collect transit fees without spending a single penny of its own money.
As always, the plan is very good. It would have been even better if it had been implemented.
But why didn't it work out?
The reason is that North Korea conducted a nuclear test. When they were having fun with nuclear tests, they didn't care what happened to the economy, but now that the nuclear development is over, it seems they want to have economic cooperation again.
In the past, socialist countries thought that their regimes would collapse if they accepted capitalism. But China and Vietnam succeeded in accepting capitalism economically while maintaining socialism politically.
There is no law that says North Korea cannot do the same. That's why they are testing the waters like this.
When making an investment, what should be considered is not a strong anti-communist spirit, a sense of ethics, or an ideology.
If that were the case, South Korea would have stopped trading with China and Vietnam, where the communist party is in power, and would have cut off diplomatic ties with dictatorial countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The reason why the Western world remains silent about China's human rights abuses, and why global companies are scrambling to enter the Chinese market despite all the problems, such as forced joint ventures with domestic companies, forced technology transfer, and technology theft, is only one.
Because they love China so much... no, because it makes money.
So, will business with North Korea be profitable?
It will be profitable. North Korea's cheap labor and resources are attractive enough. That's why the Kaesong Industrial Complex could be created.
But there are too many variables to just jump in based on that. The biggest variable is the country of North Korea itself.
Basically, a state operates on the basis of trust. But North Korea overturns even the contracts that the state has signed as easily as flipping its hand.
Any country can break a promise. But in that case, there is a backlash of a decline in credibility. But North Korea doesn't have to worry about that at all. Because its national credibility is at rock bottom, so there's nowhere to fall.
Even China, which can be called North Korea's closest ally, has been stabbed in the back more than once or twice.
So why does South Korea keep pushing for inter-Korean economic cooperation even though it is deceived every time?
Because if it works out, that's the best. Money is more addictive than drugs, so once you taste it, it's hard to get out.
Therefore, the plan is to show North Korea the sweet taste of capitalism, make it dependent on it, and lead it to reform and opening-up through this.
But the North Korean leadership's thinking is that they can taste the money, but the people cannot. Because there is a risk that the system will be shaken.
A normal country considers whether it will be profitable or not to be the most important thing when conducting economic cooperation, but North Korea only focuses on the stability of its system.
If they judge that it will be harmful to the maintenance of the regime, even a little bit, they will immediately stop it, no matter how profitable the business is.
Would Mao Zedong be proud to know that there is a country that is still diligently practicing such a weed theory in the 21st century?
But today, the atmosphere was amicable.
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong said with a constant smile.
"The Chairman is also very interested in this matter. He said that he felt that our hospitality last time was insufficient, and he asked me to convey his message that he is looking forward to meeting the President soon."
"Haha, that's a relief."
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong spoke gently with an active attitude, and President Heo Chang-min also responded with a smile.
As I was quietly watching the scene, Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong suddenly pointed at me.
"I believe that there is nothing we cannot achieve if our people unite. The fact that the world's richest man came from South Joseon, surpassing the United States, shows the potential of our people, doesn't it? I would like to hear CEO Kang Jin-hoo's thoughts on this North-South economic cooperation."
I shook my head.
"I don't think this is the right place for me to speak."
"The story of CEO Kang Jin-hoo's investment skills being like a ghost's is well known in the Republic. It's okay, so I would like you to give me your honest opinion."
Minister of Unification Yoon Je-hoon gave me a look, and I had no choice but to take the microphone and stand up.
I thought about it for a moment. I decided to speak honestly as I was asked.
"I think inter-Korean economic cooperation is a very good thing. The economic effects will be great, and we can also greatly reduce military tensions through joint cooperation. If it proceeds as planned, it will be a great help not only to the North and the South but also to the whole world."
Both Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong and President Heo Chang-min had satisfied expressions.
"Haha, if the best investor in South Joseon... no, the best investor in the world thinks so, then there will be no problem."
I'm not finished yet.
"There is a problem. Even if we are talking with a smile like this now, there is no law that says something else won't come up when we are about to proceed with the work, is there?"
At my words, the people in the room were surprised.
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong, who had been smiling, distorted his expression. Minister of Unification Yoon Je-hoon quickly tried to smooth things over with an awkward voice.
"CEO Kang Jin-hoo. This is not the place for such talk..."
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong interrupted him and asked me.
"Then, what do you think our Republic should do to be trusted, CEO Kang?"
Even a robber with a knife can be negotiated with if you can talk to him. But there is no answer for a madman. A madman is someone who shakes your hand with a smile while punching you with the other hand.
Therefore, it is necessary to have a minimum safety device. The method I thought of is simple.
North Korea doesn't care about its national image. But it would be a different story if it were the supreme dignity. What would the people think if the respected supreme leader did not keep his word?
"How about the Chairman guarantees that the project will proceed no matter what and promises to stop all political and military provocations until the project is completed?"
The atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly froze.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on me. It feels like I'm standing naked in the middle of Siberia.
I could feel the killing intent in the expressions of the North Korean working-level officials, and sparks flew from Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong's eyes. If this were North Korea, wouldn't I have been shot or dragged to the Aoji coal mine?
"What did you just say?"
I said calmly.
"It's as I said. Wouldn't it be more trustworthy if the Chairman gave his word in proceeding with the inter-Korean economic cooperation?"
Bang!
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong slammed his fist on the table.
"Are you saying you can't trust our Republic!?"
I nodded my head as if it were a matter of course.
"Has North Korea ever stabbed us in the back... no, broken a promise just once or twice? Every time, the South Korean companies that invested in North Korea suffered great losses."
Vice Chairman Ri Hae-yong gritted his teeth and shouted.
"How dare a South Joseon capitalist dare to mention the supreme dignity and make reckless remarks and act violently just because he has some money! The Republic will definitely hold you responsible for this!"
Then he stormed out of the room. At that, all the North Korean personnel stood up and followed him out.
The once-amicable banquet hall became deserted.
A moment later, Minister of Unification Yoon Je-hoon, who had come to his senses, shouted as if scolding.
"CEO Kang Jin-hoo! What do you think you're doing? Do you know how difficult it was to arrange this meeting?"
President Heo Chang-min stood up and asked in a cold voice.
"Are you against inter-Korean economic cooperation, CEO?"
The president's term is fixed. Therefore, he would want to achieve tangible results within his term in some way.
But...
I said bluntly.
"That's not it. I just said it in the hope that what happened last time will not happen again. If you rush, even things that can be done will not be done."