January 5, 2020, 10:50

  Olympus Base at Bongmu Mountain in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province.

  When An Yeon-wu went down to the seventeenth floor underground level of Olympus Base, he was greeted by management staff and guided to the reception room. Now, he was trying on a pair of sunglasses that was on one of the desks. Designed for bodyguards, the sunglasses had a built-in TAR (Tactical Augmented Reality) feature.

  “This is an amazing device,” he exclaimed.

  When the lights were turned off in the conference room, he pushed a small button on the temple area (earpieces), and the sunglasses switched to the infrared mode. Like night vision goggles, the sunglasses made everything appear as glowing green forms. The researcher, Kang Gyu-taek—who was on the other side of the room, showing and explaining the device to him—showed up in colors indicative of his body heat.

  “The first button is for the infrared mode. This time, try the second button,” the researcher Kang Gyu-taek said, turning the lights back on in the conference room. When An Yeon-wu pressed the second button, the sunglasses switched to the inverter mode, and he was able to see through the wall of the conference room to the objects on the other side.

  “Now, look at this briefcase,” the researcher said as he put a briefcase on the desk. An Yeon-wu turned toward the briefcase, and this time, he could see through the briefcase, its contents becoming visible. He noticed red dots forming into the shape of a square, pointing at something inside the briefcase.

  “What is this?” he asked the researcher, then went on to say, “it seems that there’s a dotted red square sign, and it’s pointing to an object inside the briefcase.”


  “That’s right,” the researcher answered. “It detects and points out flammable substances or gunpowder, and it’s pointing out a flammable substance it found inside the briefcase,” Kang Gyu-taek explained to An Yeon-wu with a little smile before opening the briefcase and taking out the object that was inside. It was a C4.

  “Oh, wow. I can see through things and even detect bomb materials. This device will definitely be very useful to us.”


  “I’m glad you find it useful,” the researcher said.

  “By the way, will you be able to come up with the quantity we need in time?” An Yeon-wu asked, concerned, before taking off the sunglasses.

  “Don’t worry. We currently have enough sunglasses and protective suits in stock. We’ll send thirty pairs of sunglasses and thirty protective suits to the NIS by tomorrow through our security staff,” assured the researcher.

  “I guess my concern was needless. I really appreciate it, Mr. Kang.”


  * * *

  January 6, 2020, 10:50

  Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Pyongyang, North Korea.

  “What do you mean they want to change the venue for the meeting?” Lee Byung-chul, the deputy director of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), asked. The look on his face clearly showed that he was angry.

  Kim Yo-jong, the first vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission, hand-signaled to Lee Byung-chul, who had raised his voice, to quiet down.

  “Do you even know why they want to change the venue?” she asked Party Secretary Kim Young-chul.

  “There’s no particular reason, ma’am,” Party Secretary Kim Young-chul said. He then went on to tell them about the request he received a few days ago from the South Korean government about changing the venue for the South-North talks.

  “It’s just that there have been several meetings over the years, and they want to have the meeting in South Korea this time to show us their hospitality. Well, if you ask me, I don’t think it’s a bad idea, considering what’s been going on lately.”


  “What do you think?” First Vice Chairman Kim Yo-jong asked, looking at the other senior officials who were attending the meeting.

  “I really don’t think it matters. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to hold meetings alternately in the South and the North, especially during a time of peace, instead of holding them at the truce village of Panmunjom, which is a neutral area, all the time.” This opinion came from Kim Ki-nam, the chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly. Apparently, he was voting in favor of the idea.

  “I agree. Don’t you think we should grant the South Korean government’s request once in a while so that we can gain their support in return? This is a time when we should think about our practical interest and how to get the most from them.” This was the opinion of Kim Hyung-won, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly. Now that even Kim Hyung-won expressed his opinion in favor of the idea, Lee Byung-chul was all the more infuriated, and it showed on his face.

  He screamed, “If anything happens, are you willing to take full responsibility?”


  General Secretary Oh Chun-hwan, who was not on good terms with Lee Byung-chul, butted in and gave him a sidelong scowl. “Deputy Director Lee Byung-chul! It sounds like you’re hoping for something bad to happen. Don’t say anything if you can’t clearly state what’s on your mind, please!”


  “Excuse me? Don’t talk as if you know what I’m hoping for! Listen, Oh Chun-hwan. Do you always have to act like a jerk?”


  “That d*mn bastard. I swear, if I get this done successfully, the first thing I’ll do is rip him apart,” Lee Byung-chul thought.

  Lee Byung-chul acted like he was angry about the idea, but in truth, deep down he was happy. If the venue for the talks changed from Panmunjom to South Korea, it would be difficult to accomplish what needed to be done, but if things went according to plan, then it would be possible to blame South Korea for everything. He might even be able to persecute all those who had voted in favor of the idea by holding them responsible.

  “Don’t you know the old Korean proverb that says ‘You must knock on a bridge before crossing, even if it’s built out of rocks’?” Lee Byung-chul asked. “All I meant was that we can’t be too careful when it comes to making such a change, and you just had to be a jerk and accuse me like that! Please, First Vice Chairman Kim Yo-jong, I can’t agree to the proposal.”


  Lee Byung-chul gave his best performance. He straightened his posture and clearly expressed that he was against the proposal. Kim Yo-jong had been feeling uncomfortable because Lee Byung-chul always seemed to go against what she wanted and always seemed to be looking down on her. She thought she should take this as an opportunity to ignore him and make him realize who the real boss was.

  She said, “I’m going to approve it. Go to South Korea and personally witness how much South Korea has developed. Knock yourselves out with their hospitality, too.”


  “Yes, ma’am. We will, our comrade, Ms. First Chairman Kim Yo-jong.”


  “Comrade Kim Yo-jong, this is not right. I can’t accept this.”


  “The decision is made. Now, please be quiet.”


  When Kim Yo-jong made it clear that the decision was final, Lee Byung-chul pretended to accept her decision, but deep inside, he was laughing.

  “You got it, ma’am.”


  * * *

  January 6, 2020, 13:50

  Residence of the Vice Chairman of the National Defense Committee, Pyongyang, North Korea.

  Upon returning from the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where he had given his stellar acting performance, Vice Chairman Lee Byung-chul made a phone call in secret.

  “We have to make some changes to the plan.”


  “You see, the venue of the meeting has been changed.”


  “Correct. So, do your best to be well prepared.”


  “Great. I will count on you then.”


  After finishing the phone call, Vice Chairman Lee Byung-chul got up from his seat and walked to the window. He could see The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun from here.

  “Not much time is left.”


  Vice Chairman Lee Byung-chul cracked a sly smile, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

  * * *

  February 1, 2020, 13:50

  Latitude 32 ? 06′ north, longitude 169 ?33′ east on the East Sea.

  An underwater loading operation was going on at the salvage and rescue ship, ROKS Tongyeong (ATS-31). The operation was guarded by a Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer, which belonged to the ROK Navy 1st Fleet’s 11th Destroyer Squadron, as well as Yang Manchun, another destroyer, at about 50 kilometers off the southwest coast of Ulleung Island. At the stern of the salvage and rescue ship, a black object weighing 120 tons and measuring 8.2 meters high and 4.1 meters in diameter hung from a crane and was just about to enter the water.

  KRRRR- TSUTSUTSU

  When the 30-ton black object entered the ocean, it created a massive column of water and white foam. As the crane line rotated, the black object slowly began to submerge deeper into the water toward the target depth of 3,000 meters.

  “The current velocity is 0.2m/s, and the current depth is 1,200 meters,” the agent in charge of the underwater loading operation reported while staring at the monitor.

  “All right. Continue to submerge while maintaining the same speed. Stop when it reaches 2,910 meters deep,” the controller of the operation ordered in response.

  “Current depth is 2,800 meters, 2,850 meters, 2,900 meters, and now 2,910 meters. Stop the crane!”


  “Stop the crane!”


  The crane operator stopped the crane when he heard the agent in charge of the underwater loading operation shout through the headset.

  “How many meters until it hits the bottom of the ocean?” the controller of the operation asked.

  The underwater loading agent replied, “The crane has stopped, and it’s now 28 meters from the bottom of the ocean.”


  “Good. Now, hold off for a moment.”


  Moments later, the Tongyeong controller reported to the Navy Underwater Defense Satellite Control Room, which was in the OSCAR Bunker in Daegu, through a communication channel.

  “We put a hold on the black object at the moment, and it’s 20 meters from the bottom of the ocean.”


  – I copy. From now on, we will take authority over the loading operation.

  “Roger that. Authority handed over.”


  The black object was the Poseidon I, an all-weather sea-based underwater satellite that was capable of carrying out early warning and interception missions in the sea. It was developed in June last year, and it had been tested for six months before becoming the first Poseidon to be fielded underwater in the East Sea after the completion of the OSCAR Bunker remodel.

  * * *

  February 1, 2020, 14:20

  OSCAR Bunker, Daegu (Underwater Defense Satellite KS-SD Poseidon I Control Room)

  A large screen in the center of the control room, along with a variety of screens surrounding it, were showing the destroyer Tongyeong from various angles.

  “From now on, we’ll proceed with Poseidon Fixing Task. Turn on the automatic centralizer and shoot eight anchors.”


  “Turn on the automatic centralizer! Shoot eight anchors!” The operations operator repeated the operation controller’s command and pressed a button. Eight anchors flew toward the bottom of the ocean at a 45-degree angle from the eighth anchorage of Poseidon’s outer wall. They moved at lightening speed and lodged deep into the ocean floor.

  “Eight anchors were fired successfully.”


  “Proceed with the next step! Operation Fixing Anchor.”


  At the controller’s order, the eight anchors spread out at a 45-degree angle and became fixed in place as Poseidon slowly sunk to the bottom and finally came to rest on the ocean floor.

  “Fixing has been completed.”


  “Turn all the powers on Poseidon.”


  “Turn all the powers on Poseidon.”


  Before, Poseidon was merely a black object, but now, with its plasma generator and various communication systems, including IUSW-I Sona, turned on and operating, it began to glow.

  “Confirm the current power output status.”


  “The current power output is forty-five percent. It’s going to take an hour before it reaches one hundred percent.”


  “IUSW-I sonar confirmation data link on the main screen.”


  “IUSW-I sonar confirmation data link on the main screen.” The sonar operation operator loudly repeated the command while manipulating a few systems on the console device. Soon after, hundreds of dots in various colors, each with a number tag, appeared around Poseidon on the large screen.

  On the screen, the Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer (DDH-971), which was right above Poseidon, the Munmu the Great (DDH-976), and the Tongyeong (ATS-31) were marked in blue dots, which, according to the IFF (identification friend or foe) system, signified that they were allies. Basic information about each vessel was also on the screen. All the fishing boats anchored on Japan’s Okanoshima Island and Nakanoshima Island were marked with green dots, and some of the numerous ships that were either anchored or sailing on the ocean west of mainland Japan were also detected and marked in various colors.

  After this, the Tongyeong (ATS-31) deployed Poseidon satellites No. 2 and No. 3 in the South and West Sea, respectively, and became capable of round-the-clock detection of vessels and submarines infiltrating any of the three sides of the Korean Peninsula. In the West Sea, in particular, it could identify illegal fishing activities by Chinese fishing boats in real time and share the information with the Coast Guard through data linking so that they could put a stop it.

  * * *

  February 10, 2020, 14:20

  Jayu-ro, Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

  Six North Korean official vehicles were driving on the Freedom Road in Paju. They were guided by several South Korean official vehicles. One of the passengers in the North Korean vehicles was Party Secretary Kim Young-chul. He was crossing the Tong-il Daegyo Bridge and was on his way to attend a South-North working-level officials’ meeting.

  “It’s been a long while since I’ve visited South Korea. I see it has changed a lot,” Kim Young-chul said, looking out the window at Paju’s factories and buildings. Many industrial complexes were built in the Paju area when the economy in South Korea started reviving in late 2017. This construction boom was followed by explosive population growth, consequently leading to another construction boom, during which numerous commercial buildings and apartments were constructed to accommodate the rapidly growing population.

  “I see we have a long way to go before we catch up with the South.”


  About thirty minutes later, the official vehicle that was carrying Party Secretary Kim Young-chul arrived at its final destination, which was the front yard of the Tong-il People’s Hall in Tong-il Park, Paju. Since he was the first high-ranking North Korean government official to visit South Korea in four years, numerous reporters from in and out of the country were waiting at the park and started taking photos when he arrived. Many other broadcasting crews were also busy trying to capture photos of his visit, fighting with others over the best location in order to have a better vantage point than the rest.

  Moments later, Party Secretary Kim Young-chul got out of the vehicle.

  “Welcome! Welcome! Mr. Party Secretary.”


  “I’m glad to be here. Because it’s been so long since I visited here, it feels like I’ve come home.”


  “Haha, is that right?” Unification Minister Oh Seung-tae said. “I’m glad to hear that’s how you feel about this visit.” He had been waiting outside for Kim Young-chul, and when Kim Young-chul got out of the car, the minister smiled and stretched out his hand for a handshake.

  “Please, let’s get inside,” the minister said. “It’s cold out today.”


  “This is like summer compared to what it’s like in the North.”


  Minister Oh Seung-tae and Party Secretary Kim Young-chul exchanged some pleasantries as they walked into the Tong-il People’s Hall. They were followed by tense agents, who belonged to the North Korean convoy.