21st Century Goguryeo

Novermber 17, 15:00, 2023 (Russia time 09:00)

Moscow, Russia Kremlin Palace (Presidential Executive Office)

There was a secret conversation between President Putin and SVR (Foreign Intelligence) Director Evgeny Lebedev at the presidential office in the Kremlin Palace.

"Everything is going according to plan?"

"Yes, Mr. President! Pyeong-yang is now indeed a volcanic area. You never know when it's going to erupt..."

"Fair enough. We've been planning for a month, and that's how it should be."

President Putin, who looked pleased on the sofa, inhaled the smoke deeply and exhaled.

"Jo Myung-rok will arrive in Russia with our agents today after completing the mission."

"That guy! Make sure to get things done once he lands in Russia."

"Yes sir, everything is under control. As soon as he arrives in Russia, we'll get rid of him."

"You know, there is a saying that goes like this in Asia - kill the useless hound after hunting is over. Hahaha!"

"Is that so, sir? I'm very impressed by your Asia Literature knowledge, Mr. President!" Director Evgeny Lebedev, who had been in a dog house with the president ever since he ruined the given opportunities, did not hesitate to flatter him because he wanted to gain his trust back by completing the mission.

"Don't be too impressed! Woo-hoo…"

President Putin knew they were just flattering comments but was pleased nonetheless.

Director Evgeny Lebedev received a call as they continued to have a pleasant tea-time conversation.

"Yes, this is Director Evgeny Lebedev.

…

What? Are you serious?

…

And...

…

Damn it, I see."

Director Evgeny Lebedev, who was grinning from ear to ear while talking to President Putin, changed completely after the phone call.

President Putin sensed something was wrong and asked, "What is it?"

"Um, that… that is..."

"Hurry up and tell me!"

"I just received a report that Jo Myung-rok was caught by the Corean Intelligence when he tried to escape Pyeong-yang."

President Putin, who immediately got annoyed, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and yelled, "WHAT?"

"It's the call from an agent who is supposed to accompany him from Pyeong-yang to the Russian border."

"Jo Myung-rok, how the hell did he get caught? Maybe the information might have been leaked in advance?"

A month ago, President Putin and Director Evgeny Lebedev, who had abandoned the Hokkaido transfer case after the Corean government discovered that Russia was behind the assassination of Minister Kang Kyung-Hee in Tehran, Iran, came up with another ruse.

They attempted to distract Corea with the former chairman of the National Defense Commission, Kim Jong-un. As a first step, SVR (Foreign Intelligence) approached Kim Hyung-won, a member of the People's Labor Party and one of the closest allies of Kim Jong-un, and unveiled a massive proposal.

In addition to astronomical financial support, SVR had promised to provide military assistance if necessary, so that North Korea can withdraw from the Federation and become a self-governing independent country in the future, suggesting Kim Jong-un's assassination as a condition.

Later, when Kim Hyung-won accepted the mission and ordered a character named Jo Myung-rok to carry out the assassination, Russia's SVR (Foreign Intelligence) also approached Jo Myung-rok and gave him an irresistible offer while keeping Kim Hyung-won in the dark.

In fact, Jo Myung-rok was fully dissatisfied with the current government and former North Korean officials who were now riding high. After reunification, most of the officials from North Korea secured their positions and did well in the unified government, whereas he felt like he had hit rock bottom after being abandoned like a loner and emerged with a vengeance.

Meanwhile, Russia's SVR (Foreign Intelligence) incited him to take his revenge as he was given another chance after Kim Jong-un regained consciousness. If he could kill Kim Hyung-won and members of the People's Labor Party including Kim Jong-un with a bomb, then all his family members would live in cover with their new status in Russia.

In response, Jo Myung-rok secretly sent his family to Russia and modified the instructions given by Kim Hyung-won, ordering the Foreign Intelligence Unit 1 to assassinate all major figures attending the inauguration ceremony, including Kim Jong-un and Kim Hyung-won. Upon the success of the assassination, the Foreign Intelligence Unit 1 would be removed by the agents from the Reconnaissance General Bureau, then he would be able to transfer to Russia with the agents. However, he missed the boat when he got engaged in an unexpected skirmish with the PLA (People's Liberation Army Special Forces) while trying to escape from his hideout and was later caught by Lee Ja-sung and the counter-terrorism forces.

"That's absolutely not the case, sir. If it was, the assassination would have failed. Anyway, I apologize for all the mess."

Director Evgeny Lebedev couldn't bear to lift his head from embarrassment in front of President Putin.

"I hate when things don't go as planned, you understand? What if Jo Myung-rok tells the guys from Intelligence what he knows? Information related to us."

"That, that you don't need to worry about, sir. Our agents are keeping his family just in case this would happen. He should know that his family's lives will be in danger if he shares information related to us."

President Putin took what Director Evgeny Lebedev said with a grain of salt. "Do you think Jo Myung-rok is the type of guy who would put his family before himself?"

"Um…," Director Evgeny Lebedev couldn't finish his sentence right away.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"

"No, no, sir. I'm certain he will sacrifice himself."

"That's what you want to believe. I can't just count on you like I did in the Tehran case and be backstabbed by the Corean government!"

President Putin squinted his eyes and pressed the intercom button on the table.

Beep!

-Yes, Mr. President!

"Call the Ministers in by 2:00 pm!"

-Yes, sir, Mr. President!

"Better move up the next plan!" President Putin gave the order to his Secretary and muttered to himself.

* * *

November 17, 16:00, 2023

Seoul, Jongro-ku, bunker under the National Emergency Situation Center in the Blue House

Towards the end of the four-hour NSC (National Security Council) meeting, the Chief Secretary's assistant rushed into the NSC's conference room.

Despite the top-secret meeting, Assistant Yoo Dong-hoon unexpectedly opened the door and reported with a pale face, "A, a riot broke out in Pyeong-yang right, right now and the Governor of the Northern State wants to have an emergency call with the President."

"Riot? You mean riot, not protest?" Chief Secretary Lim Jong-won asked as the President was speechless with surprise.

"Yes, the term riot was used."

Although there were large-scale protests against dictators in the history of the current government, there was never a single demonstration that escalated to a riot. The use of the term riot implied how serious the situation was.

"Call him here immediately," President Choo Un-hee, who was frightened for a moment, kept her level head and made a command.

"Yes, I will contact him immediately." The Secretary left the conference room as soon as he answered.

Soon, the central screen of the NSC's conference room turned on, showing Governor Ahn Dong-tae and Mayor Kim Kyu-jin of Pyeong-yang, who were panicking and not knowing what to do.

"Tell me the details."

Mayor Kim Kyu-jin, who greeted the president's question, was the first to open his mouth. "We are in great danger, Madam President. Currently, as many as 100,000 rioters have shown up throughout downtown Pyeong-yang. For now, 20,000 local police officers have been urgently deployed to control the riot, but the riot is so intense that it is difficult to suppress it. The number of rioters continues to grow."

Then, Governor Ahn Dong-tae interrupted his conversation. "Madam President! As governor, I would like to deploy the Northern State Guard to quell the riots. I need your approval, Madam President!"

Governor Ahn Dong-tae, who had control over the State Guard in a case of emergency, needed the President's final approval to move the troops.

"Is it serious enough to send an army?" On behalf of the President, National Security Director Kang Hyun-soo asked again.

"Yes, there is a report saying some of the rioters have personal weapons, and this could severely harm the citizens. Here is the video footage."

The screen turned into a split-screen right after the Governor's remarks, and on one screen, countless people wearing masks were gathered around with various iron pipes, wooden weapons, and flags, destroying and burning down public building facilities as well as retail shops. Another video footage played soon after.

The 12-lane road was filled with countless people wearing red hairbands, and they were marching while holding flags with different letters on them. The flag contained numerous phrases criticizing the current government, including "We don't want the current government that killed Chairman Kim Jong-un!" and "The current government behind the northern political extermination should step down."

"What the hell is going on there?" Prime Minister Lee Youn-yeon took out his magnifying glasses and asked, as if he couldn't believe it even though he was looking at the screen.

"Right now, we're trying to figure things out, but it's going to take time. What's serious is that a lot of people are now flocking to Pyeong-yang. Police won't be able to stop them. I will have to deploy the State Guard," Governor Ahn Dong-tae urged for the President's approval.

"No, no. that's not allowed. The troops that exist for the safety of the citizens should not be deployed to subdue them."

In response, Governor Ahn Dong-tae insisted in a firm voice, despite the opposition from the President. "Madam President, have you seen the video? They are not the citizens; they are nothing more than rioters who are trying to overthrow the country. If you don't approve it, I'll declare a first-degree emergency against the Northern State and place the State Guard under the authority of the Governor."

"Governor Ahn! Do you really mean it?" The President shouted as she got upset with Governor Ahn's statement.

"My apologies, Madam President, I should get going now to get my job done."

"Governor Ahn! Cut it out," President Choo Eun-hee even stood up and said that, but Governor Ahn Dong-tae bowed his head and disappeared from the screen. Mayor Kim Jin-kyu, who sat next to him, gave her a perplexed look.

In a hurry, Minister of National Defense Kang Yi-sik shouted, "Mayor Kim! Get the Governor immediately. We have to stop him. If things go wrong, the citizens of Pyeong-yang could be seriously injured. We need to stop him while I contact the Commander of the Northern State Guard."

"Oh! Yeah! Yeah! Me? How could I..."

"Do everything in your power to stop him."

Major Kim Kyu-jin replied to Minister Kang Yi-sik as he was being pushed, "Oh, I got it."

Mayor Kim Kyu-jin then disappeared from the screen without saying anything else, and now Governor Ahn Dong-tae could be heard yelling in the background.

"Governor Ahn, are you out of your mind? Deploying troops over rioters... Call the Joint Chiefs of Staff right away, Minister Kang."

South Korea had had a tragic history during the 518 Gwangju Incident, where countless innocent citizens were massacred under the name of rioters. Thus, the current government that had inherited the civilian government, could never imagine the troops suppressing citizens even if they were in fact, rioters.

"Yes, Madam President! I will do so right now."

Minister Kang Yi-sik immediately took out his cellphone and contacted the Joint Chiefs of Staff.