Chapter 454 |
I returned to the hotel and told Ellie what had happened at the banquet.
At that, Ellie narrowed her eyes and said.
"I like Pyongyang naengmyeon too. Did you enjoy eating it alone?"
"...Was that the important thing?"
"I'm kidding. But why did you do that? Weren't you in favor of inter-Korean economic cooperation?"
"That's true."
Leaving ideology aside, no one in the country would want a war to break out. And economic cooperation is the best way to lead North Korea to open up.
If they get a proper taste of money, they probably won't even think of launching a nuclear missile.
"I just didn't like their attitude."
But North Korea is different. It was a high-handed attitude, as if they were doing us a favor by giving us the opportunity to invest.
It wasn't just this time; North Korea has always shown the attitude that they have nothing to be sorry for in various negotiations.
It's not just once or twice that they've unilaterally canceled negotiations right before they were scheduled, or stormed out of the negotiation room over a trivial matter.
"In a negotiation, the side that is in a hurry loses. Instead of being dragged along from the beginning, it's better for someone to say what needs to be said."
It's a heavy burden for the government to do so. The same would be true for other businessmen. That's why I stepped up and said it.
"Is this a good cop, bad cop strategy?"
At Ellie's words, I let out a small laugh.
"It's not quite that, but they need to know that there's an opponent who doesn't go their way."
They've dispatched a high-level delegation this far, so they probably have no intention of returning empty-handed. If they just go back, they can just look for the next opportunity.
"The one in a hurry right now is North Korea, not South Korea. If they're in a hurry, they'll arrange another meeting on their own."
Any country that wants to develop its economy needs to buy technology and production facilities from abroad, and to do that, it needs foreign currency... in other words, dollars.
That's why North Korea criticizes the United States so much, but loves American money so much.
North Korea has been earning foreign currency through the sale of resources, the dispatch of workers abroad, the sale of weapons and technology to third world countries, and the sale of drugs. It is also an open secret that they print counterfeit 100-dollar bills. For this purpose, it is said that there is even a separate bureau for counterfeiting.
There are more than one or two people who make counterfeit bills, but North Korea is the only country in the world that does it at the state level. It is so sophisticated that it is impossible to distinguish with the naked eye, let alone with a machine, and it is called a "supernote."
North Korea laundered and remitted these supernotes through the Banco Delta Asia (BDA) bank in Macau. When the US Treasury Department noticed this, it froze BDA's North Korean assets. As a result, the distribution of counterfeit bills also became difficult.
As the international community joined the sanctions against North Korea, the sale of weapons and technology to the third world, as well as the sale of resources and the dispatch of labor, were restricted.
Currently, the only country that trades with North Korea is China. But if there is only one place that can buy resources or labor, the price is bound to fall.
That's probably why they brought out the economic cooperation card again.
Ellie reviewed a few possibilities and then smiled.
"The South Korean government should be grateful to Jin-hoo."
"It didn't seem like that. But what are you doing?"
Ellie, who had come back first and washed up, was sitting in front of her laptop wearing a gown and glasses.
"Of course I'm working. I have to write a report and send it quickly."
I really didn't just come to play, so I have to meticulously write a report on the trends and atmosphere of the forum and the impact of the joint statement to be announced on the world economy and send it to the branch manager.
These materials will be of great help to Golden Gate in making investment decisions in the future.
Seeing her working hard with her black-rimmed glasses on for the first time in a while, I felt another charm. I see her face every day, but she's really pretty.
When I stealthily approached and hugged her from behind, Ellie shook her head.
"No. I'm not done with work yet."
"How much do you have left?"
"About two hours."
"It takes that long?"
"So don't disturb me and play by yourself until then."
I flopped onto the bed.
"I just got an earful, so my heart hurts. I need someone's comfort. I'm so lonely today."
Ellie, who had been pretending not to hear, closed her laptop as if she had no choice when I kept whining.
"Alright. Just one hour. You can't disturb me after that."
"Really?"
When Ellie tried to take off her glasses, I said urgently.
"Just keep your glasses on."
"Why? I'm not working."
"I think they look good on you today."
At my words, she laughed as if she was dumbfounded.
"What? You like this kind of thing?"
Ellie lay down next to me and hugged me. At that moment, the phone suddenly rang. I looked to see who it was, and it was Taekgyu.
I didn't answer because I was annoyed. Then the phone rang again right away.
Why is this guy calling at this time?
"Go on, answer it."
I had no choice but to answer the phone. Then, a hurried voice came from the other side of the phone.
[Hey! Did you see the Korean Central Television?]
"Huh?"
[What? You still haven't seen the Korean Central Television?]
I was dumbfounded and asked.
"No, am I supposed to watch it?"
Anyone would think it's a channel I usually watch.
Taekgyu said in an excited voice.
[Yeah. The People's Hero Anchor just called you a 'son of a bitch from hell'!]
"..."
***
The fact that President Heo Chang-min and Kang Jin-hoo had a dinner with the North Korean delegation at the Asian Economic Forum and would hold future talks was covered as major news.
This is the first inter-Korean summit since the negotiations between North Korea and the United States broke down. Therefore, the eyes of the world were focused on Vladivostok.
Various reactions poured out on the internet.
-Wow! What will happen if Kang Jin-hoo's capital enters North Korea?
-LOL, isn't he going to play SimCity in North Korea?
-North Korean coins are going to skyrocket. I should buy North Korean stocks now.
-You idiot, how are you going to buy North Korean stocks?
-I'm buying North Korea-themed stocks, you idiot.
-It'll be a real jackpot if the railway is connected through North Korea. You can even travel to Europe by train.
-Just take a plane. Planes are cheaper and faster.
-Travel is one thing, but cargo transportation will be cheaper and faster. Imagine sending things to Europe by rail instead of by ship.
-Aside from that, just lowering the military tension is a huge gain for South Korea. If the gangster living next door calms down, the house prices are bound to go up.
-Let's go, unification!
While there were positive reactions, the negative reactions were also considerable.
-Good grief. I thought the president was going to the economic forum to take care of the economy, but he went because of North Korea.
-It's a left-wing government, as expected, they're kissing North Korea's ass.
-They're going to give them more money.
-A government that helps with nuclear development with the people's taxes LOL
-You leftists! You still haven't come to your senses after being stabbed in the back so many times?
-Sigh! How long does this country have to be dragged around by the communists?
-Stop taking care of North Korea and take care of the people!
Various conservative groups and Park Sa-mo (a fan club of Park Geun-hye) held a large-scale joint protest. Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Gwanghwamun.
The lawmakers of the Free Korea Party also joined them. Amidst the waving of hundreds of thousands of Taegeukgi and Stars and Stripes, Representative Yeon Nakyeong took the microphone and shouted.
"This government's policy toward North Korea is a wrong policy that ignores the people and only reveres North Korea. We must now stop the train of hypocrisy, incompetence, and dictatorship. We must end the evil rule of the left! This government, which has abandoned the people's livelihood and only looks at North Korea! This is too much!"
The protesters shouted slogans in unison.
"Stop giving money to North Korea!"
"Stop it! Stop it!"
"We oppose inter-Korean economic cooperation!"
"We oppose it! We oppose it!" "Heo Chang-min, resign!"
"Resign! Resign!"
"Arrest the pro-North Korean communist Kang Jin-hoo!"
"Arrest him! Arrest him!"
Just as they were enjoying the feeling of being united for the first time in a long time, completely unexpected articles poured out as breaking news.
[(Breaking News) Kang Jin-hoo, I can't trust North Korea in inter-Korean economic cooperation!]
[The Chairman's guarantee is needed for investment in North Korea]
[The entire North Korean delegation left the banquet hall after Kang Jin-hoo mentioned the supreme dignity]
[The North Korean representative is considering withdrawing the forum delegation]
[Vice Chairman Ri Hae-ryong, there will be no future negotiations with South Korea without an apology from Kang Jin-hoo]
Not long after the news of what happened at the banquet broke, an elderly female anchor dressed in a pink hanbok appeared on the Korean Central Television news and shouted with her eyes wide open.
"...I have once again realized that the South Joseon gangs are nothing more than a collection of shameless, cunning, and vicious capitalist scoundrels! The son of a bitch from hell, Kang Jin-hoo, must kneel down and beg for forgiveness in front of the people of our Republic, who are trembling with shock and anger!"
This scene was instantly spread around the world through the media, and the internet was in an uproar.
-LOL, a son of a bitch from hell.
-It's so funny hearing it in person~
-His Excellency and the Chairman, they finally agree on something!
-It was a spirited and penetrating voice that touched the hearts of the people.
-Haha, Kang Jin-hoo is crazy again. Didn't he just ruin the inter-Korean relationship by mentioning the supreme dignity in front of the president?
-Who is it? Who called Kang Jin-hoo a communist?
-My grandfather, who used to curse Kang Jin-hoo as a pro-North Korean communist at home every day, is genuinely flustered ^^
-By the way, what about the people who are cursing Kang Jin-hoo as a communist in Gwanghwamun right now?
-LOL, it's just plain absurd.
The Gwanghwamun protesters were in a state of extreme confusion.
Unlike their unified appearance earlier, everyone was murmuring while looking at the articles on their smartphones.
"W-what is this? Wasn't this guy a pro-North Korean communist?"
"Why is Kang Jin-hoo screwing over the communists?"
"No, why are they fighting amongst themselves?"
"C-could it be that this guy wasn't a communist?"
"T-that's a big mistake! Kang Jin-hoo is a spy!"
The person standing on the podium, the chairman of Park Sa-mo, said in a flustered voice.
"Everyone! Don't be fooled! This guy must have some other ulterior motive!"
"What ulterior motive?"
"Even if it's Kang Jin-hoo, didn't he do a good thing this time?"
"Could it be that he's acting in collusion with the communists?"
He quickly shouted.
"T-that's right! That's it! Don't be fooled by Kang Jin-hoo's two-faced tactics!"
The YouTubers who had been criticizing Kang Jin-hoo as a pro-North Korean communist were also flustered and spouted all sorts of nonsense.
***
The North Korean side immediately threatened to withdraw the entire forum delegation and return to the North.
At the persuasion of Minister of Unification Yoon Je-hoon, Vice Chairman Ri Hae-ryong said angrily.
"The entire Republic is angry about CEO Kang's remarks. I make it clear that there will be no future negotiations with South Joseon unless he apologizes in person!"
The idea was to get the South Korean government to push him and get an apology from Kang Jin-hoo. But the person in question didn't even pretend to listen.
When asked by reporters about this, Kang Jin-hoo answered briefly.
"Is it so difficult for a head of state to promise that an investment or economic cooperation will proceed well? Wouldn't this make it difficult for foreign capital to invest?"
It was a tone that made it clear that South Korea's investment was "foreign capital," in contrast to North Korea, which emphasizes "among our people" in inter-Korean economic cooperation.
The North Korean side unilaterally notified the South Korean government of its policy to completely exclude South Korea from the Rason-Khasan project and to cooperate only with China and Russia.
This kind of brinkmanship diplomacy is familiar to North Korea.
In the case of other countries, if an investment falls through, the government is criticized by the opposition and the public, but North Korea, where everyone lives happily under the supreme dignity, has no such worries.
But...
Contrary to North Korea's expectations, the situation began to flow in a strange way.
As soon as it was known that Kang Jin-hoo was negative about inter-Korean economic cooperation, Russian and Chinese companies all reviewed the risks of investing in North Korea.
"Seeing how Kang Jin-hoo is acting, isn't economic cooperation with North Korea difficult?"
"Looking at the cases of Kumgang tourism and the special economic zones, the risks are high."
"Could it be that OTK Company has obtained some other source of information since they are pulling out?"
"It seems that North Korea is pretending to proceed with this project and has some other ulterior motive."
"Think about it. If it was a profitable business, there's no way Kang Jin-hoo wouldn't jump in."
The South Korean political circle was also in a cautious mood, watching the reaction of public opinion.
If the negotiations fall through later or there are problems in the process due to Kang Jin-hoo's remarks, they could be criticized for proceeding without a safety net. Also, it was the same for South Korean companies to review their investments.
Therefore, despite the president's will to improve inter-Korean relations, it was difficult to push forward with the work enthusiastically.
In this situation, President Ronald added fuel to the fire by tweeting.
[Kang Jin-hoo acted very wisely. The best negotiation strategy in negotiations with those who do not keep their promises is not to negotiate. That is why I did not shake hands with Chairman Kim. If North Korea had kept its promise, the US-North Korea negotiations would have been concluded long ago.]
Only then did Vice Chairman Ri Hae-ryong realize that he had underestimated Kang Jin-hoo.
Kang Jin-hoo's fame was much greater than North Korea had thought.
And rightly so, he had achieved tremendous success in all his investments so far. The money he earned is comparable to South Korea's GDP.
If he were a North Korean, North Korea would not have had to go out to attract investment. (Of course, if that were really the case, he would have been executed or sent to a political prison camp before he could earn all that money.)
It was already difficult to attract investment due to all the sanctions, and it was frustrating that even existing trading companies were showing signs of reviewing their investments or pulling out.
Voices of criticism against the negotiating team flowed out from the North Korean leadership.
After being harshly reprimanded by the respected supreme leader over the phone, Vice Chairman Ri Hae-ryong shouted in anger as soon as the call ended.
"Kang Jin-hoo! You vicious reactionary son of a bitch!"