November 1st, 2023, 16:30

  The South State, Seoul, Jongro-ku, the Blue House (the press center)

  TV channels across the world were plastered with the news of Corea’s bombing of Iranian military facilities at 09:00 local time. Each broadcasting network showed the footage of the Iranian military facilities in ruins with black and red smoke coming out of them, while the newscasters explained the outcomes to the viewers.

  BBC had Professor Robert Warwick from the University of Kent’s international relations on the broadcast. He commented, “Corea, which started the East Asian War two years ago, had lit a giant spark at the large powder keg that is the Middle East. This could lead to a third world war, and the entire world was now in danger.” Professor Warwick also gave a surface level analysis stating that “This attack could be a retaliatory one against the third oil shock.”


  While a bunch of assumptions was being made by the world press, the Corean government’s communication department emphasized the need for a national address by the president. President Choo Un-hee had stepped up to the podium of the press center to address the citizens about the truth behind the attack on Iran.

  “Beloved citizens! Corean people across the world! Today at 14:00, our nation commenced an attack against Iran. The world press is making wild claims about our nation’s actions without any facts to back them. That is why I would like to explain to everyone why we took military action against Iran.” President Choo Un-hee, who was known to be kind-natured, emitted charisma while looking directly at the camera.

  “I am sure you are all aware of the terrorist attack on Minister Kang Kyung-hee’s life on October 16th as she was headed to the Tehran government building on the highway. The Iranian government had claimed it was the work of the IS, but based on the investigation of our intelligence agency, the culprits behind the attack was the Iranian government under the supreme leader’s approval. We also have evidence to our claims.”


  President Choo Un-hee’s emotions ran high, and she continued to read her address after taking a deep breath.

  “Attacking an ambassador from another nation has always been considered a clear violation of the law and an evil act ever since nations were founded in ancient times. Therefore, our government had sent an unofficial letter of protest to the Iranian government and set a deadline of 10 days for it to respond. However, the Iranian government ended up not responding and ignoring the deadline. We attempted to contact the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before taking military action, but the Iranian government answered the same as before, claiming it was the work of the IS.”


  The press center was abuzz after hearing the president’s statement.

  “Citizens of Corea and those living overseas! Corea is not a warmongering nation as the B broadcasting channel’s panel claims, and our military actions are not a retaliation against the Arab League for the third oil shock. What is clear is the fact that our military action against Iran is justified since Iran is denying the terrorist attack it made against Minister Kang Kyung-hee even though we have evidence.”


  President Choo Un-hee slammed the podium with her fist while speaking.

  “The Iranian government must make an official apology for its heinous act. Also, it must stop making further military movements against the Republic of Kurdistan. If any nations in the Middle East intend to join Iran’s heinous acts, I would like to warn them about the true nature of the nation before taking action. Thank you.”


  * * *

  November 7th, 2023, 17:00

  The South State, Seoul, Jongro-ku, the Blue House (the President’s office)

  After she had finished her national address, President Choo Un-hee sat on the sofa and calmed down. Chief Secretary Lim Jong-won followed her and smiled.

  “Madam President! That was an impactful national address.”


  “Really? That’s good. I had the mind to tell everyone about Russia too.”


  “Haha, I see.”


  Russia’s unofficial apology and the nullification of the hand-off of Hokkaido had President Choo Un-hee exclude what Russia did from her address. It was regretful to do so, but she was satisfied that the issue of Hokkaido which had been bothering everyone for years was now finally over.

  “I’m already tired from just trying to control my emotions from running high.”


  “Madam President! Please have some tea and rest.”


  “Yes. I guess I should.”


  While the chief secretary and the president spoke to each other, the minister of national defense rushed into the room.

  “Madam President! It’s an urgent report from the joint chief of staff. The Iranian military is moving towards the Republic of Kurdistan, ma’am.”


  President Choo Un-hee had an exhausted look on her face after hearing Minister Kang Ui-sik’s words and slammed the table.

  “I guess Iran is a nation that can’t be helped. I even made it clear during our national address……”


  “Madam President, should I call for an NSC meeting?” Chief Secretary Lim Jong-won asked the president after coming up to her.

  “Yes, please do so. Minister Kang!”


  “Yes, Madam President.”


  “Tell the joint chief of staff they have the authorization to take action as we have planned.”


  “Yes, ma’am.”


  An hour later, the NSC gathered at the underground bunker, and with a unanimous vote by the attendees, the motion for war against Iran was sent to congress. If congress and the senate would come to an agreement, then Corea would officially go into war against Iran.

  * * *

  November 1st, 2023, 17:30

  The South State, Seoul, Yongsan-ku, B2 bunker (ROK military joint command center)

  The main screen installed at the bunker had a map of Iran’s West and East Azerbaijan on it, and there were numerous icons in different colors littered across the map. The blue icons represented the Corean peacekeeping forces, while the green ones represented the Republic of Kurdistan’s defensive forces, and finally the red icons were the Iranian military.

  The red icons were slowly moving west to the state of West Azerbaijan, which could be considered the border between the Republic of Kurdistan and Iran.

  While the numerous icons started to move around dizzily on the map in real-time, the smaller screens had the footage from the Apollo reconnaissance satellite and drones in UHD. It was as if the joint chief of staff was tracking the movements of the Iranian military from the comforts of their home.

  “Hmm, is that the revolutionary guard’s division?” Chairman Shin Sung-yong asked while pointing to the footage on screen number three.

  The intelligence director, Lieutenant General Oh Dong-gwun answered him, “Yes, sir. That’s the 6th revolutionary armored division. They were the second most powerful force within the revolutionary guard behind the 1st revolutionary armored division, but thanks to the Russian equipment their capabilities have increased greatly.”


  The revolutionary guard’s 6th armored division consisted of Soviet T-72S tanks. However, they were supplied by Russia a month ago with T-14 Armata tanks, Kurganets-25 armored vehicles, Pancheri S KAMAZ-6560 anti-air vehicles for support, and MI-28 Havoc attack choppers also known as the predator of armored forces. Now it had become one of the most powerful military forces in the Iranian military.

  * The T-72S tanks were made by the Soviet Union and Poland in 1991 and were improved to become the T-72As. The TPN-3-49 night-vision scope was not laser-guided, but it could aim 100m further than the 1K13-2 with a maximum distance of 1.3km. The tanks also used 125mm APFSDS rounds to pierce through 500mm platings. The Iranian military currently operated 561 T-72S tanks.

  “They’re all from Russia. Are those the T-14B Armatas? The ones with unmanned turrets with rail guns……,” General Youn Gi-youn, who was watching the screen, joined the conversation.

  “No, sir. The T-14Bs are the ones equipped with rail guns, and all the tanks given to Iran have been confirmed to be ordinary T-14s.”


  “That’s a relief. I still remember the times our White Tiger tanks faced off against the American ones and had their plating destroyed.” General Youn Gi-youn must have recalled the battles against the American tanks and sighed in relief.

  “Ha ha, I didn’t know you would fear anything, Deputy Chairman Youn,” Chairman Shin Sung-yong who was listening to the conversation started to laugh.

  “Railguns that can pierce through the White Tiger tank’s armored plating could be detrimental, sir,” Chairman Youn Gi-youn answered truthfully.

  “Deputy chairman, there’s no need to be concerned, sir. The new and improved C-3A1 White Tigers are now equipped with devices that can deal with railguns equipped on the American Warthogs or any other tanks.”


  During the East Asian War, the American Warthog tank’s metal railgun rounds had taken down many White Tiger tanks. The Corean military started to improve the White Tiger tanks after the war. The Olympus base improved the hydronium plating’s defensive capabilities and equipped a semi-permanent shield (SD-1) based on the shielding system.

  Thus, the standard White Tiger tanks were now equipped with an outer shield on top of the standard plating. The tanks had the greatest defensive plating that was now capable of withstanding up to 32MJ class rail gun rounds. The only downside was the production costs doubling from the original.

  “Lieutenant General Yang! Of course, I have heard about that. Didn’t they say a heart once scared will frighten easily?”


  * * *

  November 1st, 2023, 17:40 (Kurdistan Standard Time 11:40)

  The Republic of Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, Maku, the Azerbaijan Park (1st reconnaissance platoon’s forward base)

  The 1st reconnaissance platoon that had been spending their days at the Azerbaijan Park’s forward base since last month was ordered to retreat to Maku by the company commander. The members of the 1st platoon were busily moving about preparing for their retreat.

  The men were busy loading and taking down the Republic’s defensive forces’ barracks, numerous equipment, and materials.

  The Iranian military was only 10km away and when they heard the news about them moving towards the border, everyone started to move busily. The Iranian military was now within range to begin their artillery strikes if they wanted to.

  “Hey! Hurry up! We only have 20 minutes,” Lieutenant Kim Un-gyu, the 1st platoon’s commander shouted while glancing at his watch. The company commander had ordered them to start retracting by 18:00.

  “God, he’s so damn loud…… If he has time to shout, I just wish he would carry something instead,” Corporal Kim Sung-ho, who was carrying a box of 30mm smart grenades to the armored vehicle, started to complain.

  “Corporal Kim, sir! How about you leave things here to me and help your girlfriend?”


  “What?”


  “Over there, sir.”


  Private Gwak Young-hwan smiled and pointed to where the Republic’s defensive forces were. Standing among them was Rosarin from the defensive force’s female unit.

  “Who says she’s my girlfriend, huh?”


  “Hey, come on, sir. Don’t be like that. You brought her a bunch of snacks yesterday.”


  “That, that’s-! Those are just leftovers that I thought would be a waste to throw away!”


  “If that’s the case, why didn’t you just give it to us instead, sir? Man!”


  “Hey! Well, you said you’ll take care of things here, so I’m gonna get going.”


  Corporal Kim Sung-ho wiped the dust off of his hands and rushed towards where Rosarin was. Private first class Gwak Young-hwan laughed.

  “He he he, I knew you were gonna do that……”