February 3, 2021, 09:30

  The National Crisis Situation Room in the underground bunker of the Blue House, Jongro-ku, Seoul (the Office of the President)

  Having stayed up the whole night observing Japan鈥檚 first counteroffensive in the situation room, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kang I-shik visited the National Crisis Situation Room in the underground bunker with the foreign minister. Their purpose was to report on the total damage to Jeju Island, but the more important thing was to have a consultation. Specifically, the problem was that the US, which had professed neutrality in the war, was assisting Japan. Chairman Kang continued his reports on the status of the war on multiple fronts in the office of the president, with other high-ranking officials in attendance to address this very issue.

  Then, after Chairman Kang鈥檚 report had concluded, the president stared out his window at the peak of Mount Bukak, which was blanketed in snow. After a moment, he broke the silence with a quiet question to Foreign Minister Kim Jae-hak.

  鈥淢inister Kim!鈥?

  鈥淵es, Mr. President!鈥?

  鈥淲hat do you think is the reason the US would go to these lengths to help Japan like this?鈥?

  It was a difficult question. However, after rubbing the back of his head once, Minister Kim Jae-hak answered plainly.

  鈥淚t鈥檚 money, Mr. President. If their prior ideology was a structure of opposing communism to promote freedom and democracy, then presently that ideology has evaporated, and international affairs flow only in the way that relates to their own country鈥檚 benefit, based on capitalism. And they have judged that in this respect, Japan means more money to the US than the Republic of Corea.鈥?

  鈥淵et, if you look at the current situation economically, hasn鈥檛 our country surpassed Japan?鈥?

  鈥淵es, that is correct, Mr. President. Economically speaking, Japan isn鈥檛 a worthy adversary to compare with our country.鈥?

  The president asked another question, with a perplexed look on his face.

  鈥淚f that鈥檚 the case, then shouldn鈥檛 the US be seeking to make their alliance with us more of a priority, according to your argument?鈥?

  鈥淢r. President! You鈥檝e left something out. Of course, there鈥檚 the fact that in the Wartime Control Agreement of 2019, all US troops stationed in our country were withdrawn. We are in a state of increasing military might along with our economic progress, and we don鈥檛 need the weapons of the US. However, that鈥檚 not the case with Japan. If you look at the rankings of countries with powerful economies, they are performing the role of benefactor to the US by importing an innumerable amount of US military equipment. In other words, if you were the US, between two great economic powers, one that buys your own country鈥檚 weapons and one that doesn鈥檛 need them, and is in fact working to surpass your military power, which would you choose?鈥?

  It was a fragmented reason, but the minister had accurately analyzed the current situation of the Republic of Corea鈥檚 relationship with the US.

  鈥淚t hadn鈥檛 even occurred to me that the US was so embedded in capitalism like that, but it鈥檚 hard to say they鈥檙e not, either鈥︹€?

  鈥淢r. President! I agree with what Minister Kim has said.鈥?

  Head of National Security Na Kang-soo leaned forward and inserted himself into the conversation.

  鈥淎ll current international affairs are totally based on capitalism. Ideology is now an old idea, and doesn鈥檛 each country now change its policies based on how international affairs affect its own interests? This is especially true since the Trump administration took power in 2017, and has fallen into the idea of 鈥楢merica First鈥?in total opposition to the prior administration.鈥?

  鈥淭hat鈥檚 right, Head of National Security Na. I know exactly what you鈥檙e saying. If that鈥檚 true, then we will have to find a method to deal with the US as it claims that it will look at the war from a neutral position, but really helps Japan behind the scenes. What good ideas do you have?鈥?

  At his question, the president鈥檚 office was once again filled with silence, and soon, opinions of several high-ranking officials in attendance were exchanged back and forth, transforming in the intense heat of the conversation.

  * * *

  February 2, 2021, 10:00

  The Emergency Situation Room of the Cabinet in Tokyo, Japan.

  Japan鈥檚 first counterstrike! It had partly succeeded鈥攖his was the conclusion of the Head of the Joint Staff Office about the recent counteroffensive operation.

  Though it hadn鈥檛 exactly fulfilled Prime Minister Abe鈥檚 expectations, it had been relatively fruitful, and the prime minister gave the Head of the Joint Staff Office some encouragement.

  鈥淗ead of the Joint Staff Office Masaki! You鈥檝e done well. However, my anger towards the bastards hasn鈥檛 been satisfied just with this. Do you understand what I鈥檓 saying?鈥?

  鈥淵es, I understand, Mr. Prime Minister. I will take the initiative and try not to let down your expectations.鈥?

  鈥淵es, of course, you should do so. Do all you can to be able to occupy some territory on Jeju Island, even if it鈥檚 not on the Corean peninsula.鈥?

  鈥淵es, Mr. Prime Minister, we鈥檙e currently preparing the equipment of our landing forces and general organization for a strike.鈥?

  鈥淰ery good. It feels like this congestion that鈥檚 been there for 10 years will suddenly be relieved if we can just occupy Jeju Island. Hahaha.鈥?

  * * *

  February 3, 2021, 15:00

  Seoul, Yongsan-ku, Bunker B2 (Situation Room of the Joint Command and Control Center for the Republic of Corea Army)

  鈥淗ow did it turn out?鈥?

  This question, from the Chief of Strategic Planning, Lieutenant General Na Tae-yoon, was the first thing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kang I-shik heard as he returned to the B2 Bunker by the main car of the hyper loop train.

  鈥淗aha! Is this that urgent, Lieutenant General Na? Please, let us catch our breath鈥︹€?

  鈥淎h, I鈥檓 sorry! I was just so curious鈥︹€?

  Chairman Kang took the coffee cup handed to him by the aide-de-camp and brought it up to his mouth.

  鈥淭his coffee tastes terrific!鈥?

  Chairman Kang said this as he savored the fragrant smell of the coffee as it blossomed upward, and gave a grateful wave to the aide-de-camp.

  鈥淣othing has been decided fully yet. The president will speak directly with President Trump on the phone tonight, and afterward, it looks like it will be set!鈥?

  鈥淚s there really a need for our president to talk one-on-one with the president of the American empire like that?鈥?

  Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, General Choi Ho-il approached and said this sarcastically. Chairman Kang I-shik turned his head in response and chuckled as he answered.

  鈥淕eneral Choi Ho-il, in any case, the US and Korea have had friendly relations for seventy years before unification. Of course, the president needs to at least engage in a confirmation process as the head of an allied nation.鈥?

  鈥淚f that鈥檚 the case, well, I have nothing else to say.鈥?

  General Choi Ho-il, whose animosity towards the US had begun even before unification, spoke so gruffly because the US president had been mentioned.

  鈥淎ide-de-camp!鈥?

  Chairman Kang I-shik called his aide.

  鈥淵es, Mr. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff!鈥?

  鈥淧lease tell all the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to convene in the Strategic Briefing Room tonight at 11:00.鈥?

  The Chairman鈥檚 aide, Staff Sergeant An Seon-hee, replied with a disciplined tone of voice that belied his delicate appearance.

  鈥淵es, sir.鈥?

  * * *

  February 3, 2021, 15:10,

  The US Embassy in the Republic of Corea, in Gwanghwamun, Jongro-ku, Seoul

  Minister Kim Jae-hak immediately made his way to the US embassy after leaving the Blue House.

  鈥淢inister Kim, to what do I owe the pleasure?

  Ambassador Willie Gold, who had no diplomatic events going on in the midst of the war, had just been at the embassy when the notification came from his secretary鈥檚 office that Minister Kim had arrived. He came down to the first-floor meeting room and greeted him.

  鈥淚鈥檓 here because I have something very urgent to tell you.鈥?

  鈥淲hat kind of message could he have? It hasn鈥檛 even been 24 hours since we last met. This is so annoying,鈥?Ambassador Gold thought.

  Although he was smiling, his inner thoughts were not as pleasant.

  鈥淚s that so? Please, sit down here.鈥?

  The ambassador intentionally greeted Minister Kim Jae-hak in the first-floor meeting room, not the one on the second floor, which was for guests of honor. The conventional practice was to greet high-level government officials in this special office. This was especially the case for the minister of the foreign office of that country, who was always greeted on the second floor鈥攂ut Ambassador Gold flaunted this practice, and this in itself was circumstantial evidence of his current way of thinking.

  鈥淲hat is it that you wanted to tell me?鈥?

  鈥淏efore I tell you, have you communicated what we talked about yesterday to your department of state?鈥?

  鈥淥h, that? I haven鈥檛 been able to yet.鈥?

  Ambassador Gold answered, his face expressionless as if he didn鈥檛 think this was a very important issue.

  鈥淩ight now, our country can鈥檛 afford to waste minutes or even seconds, but you seem to have time to spare. I suppose there鈥檚 nothing so urgent about this situation from the US perspective?鈥?

  鈥淩eally, that鈥檚 not the case. It simply got held up because of other matters I had to attend to. I will make sure to communicate it to the state department tomorrow.鈥?

  鈥淵ou needn鈥檛 worry about that now. There鈥檚 no need.鈥?

  鈥淩eally? Why would that be?鈥?

  鈥淭he president says that he will directly contact President Trump tonight.鈥?

  鈥淵ou mean through the hotline? Because I didn鈥檛 pass it along today?鈥?

  鈥淚t鈥檚 not because of that. Although, of course, if you didn鈥檛 communicate that yesterday, it would be included in today鈥檚 discussion.鈥?

  鈥淲ell then, what鈥檚 the reason for using the presidential hotline to鈥︹€?

  鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you exactly what the details are. Please just tell the White House that President Seo will be calling through the hotline tonight.鈥?

  鈥淗mm鈥?I think I understand.鈥?

  鈥淚n that case, I think I鈥檒l be going now. You seem very busy.鈥?

  鈥淎h! At least have one cup of tea before you go, please!鈥?

  鈥淚 apologize. You came all the way down to the first-floor meeting room for this, but I鈥檓 a little busy and must leave now.鈥?

  Minister Kim said this, referring sarcastically to the fact that Ambassador Gold had met with him on the first floor, and then stood from his seat.

  * * *

  February 3, 2021, 22:30,

  The Office of the President in the Blue House, Jongro-ku, Seoul

  President Seo Hyun-oo took some time to directly contact President Trump through the hotline.

  鈥淗ello, President Trump?鈥?

  鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time, President Seo! The fact that you actually called me like this鈥︹€?

  鈥淲hat else would it be about? I鈥檓 calling to make some requests if there are any, and some demands if there are any of those as well.鈥?

  鈥淎h, requests and demands鈥?I guess depending on the standpoint, what you鈥檙e saying could mean something very different, potentially?鈥?

  鈥淵es, that鈥檚 correct.鈥?

  鈥淲ell, alright. Go ahead, please.鈥?

  鈥淲e know that the US is currently helping Japan indirectly.鈥?

  鈥淚ndirectly helping?鈥?

  鈥淧lease hear all that I have to say until you give your answer.鈥?

  President Trump let the silence answer for him, as if his mood had been worsened by President Seo鈥檚 heavy-handed tone of voice.

  鈥淐urrently the US stationing bases in Japan have allowed a significant number of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to be stationed there as well. In other words, this means that our forces cannot attack those bases, but the Japanese soldiers in the US bases are attempting attacks to their hearts鈥?content from where they are. Besides, a large amount of the military equipment that the US congress has limited for export due to worries about leakage of technology is being sold only to Japan. This is not to mention the information we鈥檝e received about the Japanese forces being provided the same weapons that US forces stationed in Japan are currently using. Are all these things consistent with your stated position of neutrality?鈥?

  From the tone coming over the phone, President Trump could now sense President Seo鈥檚 mindset when he made this call. He seemed incredibly displeased.

  鈥淲ell, President Seo! That鈥檚 all because of the new agreement, the strengthened US-Japan Military Consolidation Agreement that we have now.鈥?

  鈥淗ave you made a US-Japan Military Consolidation Agreement?鈥?

  鈥淵es, we have, that鈥檚 right.鈥?

  鈥淒oes that agreement apply to other similar allied nations?鈥?

  鈥淲ell, that, now鈥?it could be different at different times, couldn鈥檛 it?鈥?

  鈥淎t different times? Are you saying that alliances can change depending on the situation?鈥?

  At this piercing question, President Trump hesitated momentarily, and President Seo pushed ahead even more vigorously.

  鈥淎re you saying that alliances can change with the times? Does the Republic of Corea mean nothing more to you than that?鈥?

  鈥淧resident Seo!鈥?

  President Trump called President Seo with more urgency, as though he felt himself constantly slipping up and wanted to change the mood of the conversation.

  鈥淚 hope you will answer my question first.鈥?

  As President Seo was not tripped up, he continued speaking in a voice louder than President Trump.

  鈥淏ut, didn鈥檛 Korea withdraw from the US-Korea Wartime Control Agreement in 2019, and of course, also requested that our troops withdraw?鈥?

  鈥淭he US-Korea Wartime Control Agreement was carried out as a mutual agreement, and the troop withdrawals took place because of another agreement about independent self-defense and US defense expenditures. It wasn鈥檛 just a one-sided demand from our country. Is it possible you鈥檙e using this as an excuse to discriminate against our country, even though we have the same alliance relationship as with Japan?鈥?

  As the call went on, President Seo spoke more coldly.

  鈥淗ey, instead of discrimination, it would be- just look at it as, as things stand currently, which country is a more important ally to us, I think.鈥?

  鈥淚 see. Then, this means that Japan is a more important ally than the Republic of Corea?鈥?

  President Trump let out a fake cough, and rather than answering, let the silence continue.

  About half an hour later, after finishing the call with President Trump, President Seo sat back deeply in his chair and took out one of the cigarettes that was hidden in his drawer. He then stuck it in his mouth and lit it. He took in a deep drag from the cigarette and blew out the smoke. He was a bit dizzy as he hadn鈥檛 smoked for a while, but it also felt like his mind had been relieved after being stuck on something.

  After a minute, he stopped smoking and stubbed out the cigarette in an ashtray, extinguishing the flame, then picked up the receiver to make a call to someone else.