1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 46



Only Krnovel

Episode 46

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“Who won?”

The chief secretary receives a report over the phone and speaks to me.

“It’s not all out yet, but it looks like Bush will win.”

The very next day after Pope Paul passed away.

November 6, 1984 was the day of the US presidential election.

The candidate is George Herbert Walker Bush, also known as Father Bush, who ran as the Republican vice presidential candidate in the previous election and lost.

Bush’s Republican primary opponent was Reagan.

Despite his previous defeat, Reagan ran again for the Republican nomination.

This time, his running mate and vice presidential candidate last time was Bush, who was his primary opponent.

The result was a Bush victory.

The cause was the growing public opinion among Republican supporters that Reagan, who had already lost the presidential election once, should be given another chance.

The Democratic Party’s candidate for president was former Vice President Walter Mondale, who stepped down after serving two terms as Jimmy Carter.

President Carter’s popularity at the end of his term was not bad.

The U.S. economy was slowly recovering from the oil shock, and the stock market was showing its best performance ever.

Although the unemployment rate was still high, it seemed to be gradually recovering, and although there were various minor problems, President Carter’s popularity seemed to have increased after his reelection compared to his previous term.

But the problem lay not with Carter but with candidate Mondale.

The mouth was the problem.

He gives the worst speech during the presidential campaign.

“Mr. Bush is going to raise taxes. And so am I. He won’t tell you the truth, but I’m telling you the truth here.”

In the history of the original, that statement led to his defeat by then-candidate Reagan.

This time, he made the same remarks again, even though the opposing presidential candidate was different.

The meaning behind it may have been different, but in any case, that statement was truly the worst thing a politician could say, especially during an election campaign.

Where in the world would a voter like to hear talk of raising taxes?

Naturally, after this remark, his approval rating plummeted, and the election ended in a landslide victory for his father, Bush.

“When will I be able to speak to the winner?”

He asks the senior security diplomacy official standing next to him.

The foreign policy chief seems to hesitate slightly, then answers.

“Perhaps… after Japan, Western European countries, and China are finished… it will probably be possible···.”

“Whew… Is that so….”

No matter how much unification and development there has been, this is still the reality of South Korea.

The reality of Korea is that it is still only a developing country.

‘There’s still a long way to go…’

Then suddenly a young secretary comes running in from outside.

“What is this in the office right now! How frivolous!”

The chief of foreign affairs yells and scolds his secretary.

The secretary seemed momentarily taken aback by the shouting.

“Sorry.. I’m sorry. It’s such an urgent call···.”

I calmed down the chief of foreign affairs and asked the young secretary.

“It’s okay. I can jump, but why is it like that?”

The secretary spoke in a trembling voice.

“That… That… President-elect Bush… contacted me personally.”

At this time, it was probably just after the announcement of the winners, so it was safe to say that this call was the first call.

“Is that true? Please change it.”

“Yes.. Yes..! Understood. I’ll call you right back.”

A moment later, I pick up the phone and hear a fluent Texan English voice on the other end.

“Hello! President Kim Jong-guk! This is George W. Bush.”

“I know. Congratulations on your election, Mr. President.”

“As I heard, your English is very fluent.”

Normally, these kinds of phone calls between leaders would be made through an interpreter, but since I can speak English or Japanese to some extent, I often spoke without an interpreter.

“Haha. Thank you. But I never dreamed that you would contact me so immediately.”

“Isn’t Korea a blood-related ally of the United States? Of course, I should be the first to contact you. President Kim Jong-guk is also very popular in the United States. I have often been impressed by President Kim Jong-guk’s speeches and such. That’s why I wanted to be the first to contact you after being elected.”

“That’s too much praise. I’m truly honored that the leader of the United States, with whom I will work together in the future, has contacted me first.”

“Hahaha.. I am truly honored.”

After that, we exchanged simple congratulations and chatted briefly.

And then, as the conversation was coming to a close, President-elect Bush suddenly asked me in a slightly worried voice:

“By the way, has anyone found an American prisoner of war in a North Korean prison camp?”

‘So this was your true intention.’

“Are you talking about the American POWs who were kidnapped during the Korean War? We don’t have an exact count of all the people in North Korea, but we know that there are a small number of American soldiers still alive.”

“Really..! Really.. really.. I’m so glad.”

George Bush.

He is a typical American conservative president.

Although he failed to be re-elected due to economic problems, he is credited with leading the Gulf War to victory.

Of course, politically, neither he nor his son Bush were particularly popular, even within the United States, but their personal qualities were so good that they were considered among the best of all American presidents.

And he is the person who will take the lead in this matter more than anyone else.

“Really? Are you in good health?”

“It is difficult to say that the people who are alive are in great health due to malnutrition and other reasons, but our government is still providing treatment and monitoring the situation.”

“Malnutrition? Well, I too… I saw the article. The food in the camp was like that, so it’s only natural that he would suffer from malnutrition. But it’s fortunate that he’s not dead.”

‘This is an opportunity to become intimate.’

Close relationship with the President of the United States.

World diplomacy has always been cold and realistic, but at least when it comes to trusting someone, it is true that from our perspective, we trust the United States more than China, Japan, or the Soviet Union.

There is no need for it to become like the relationship between the United States and a colony, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to maintain a good relationship.

“I still need treatment, so I won’t be able to fly long distances for the time being, but by the time the president-elect is inaugurated, I’ll probably be well enough to travel to the United States.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Even now, the best medical staff in Korea’s hospitals are working hard to treat patients. They are not only American heroes, but also Korean heroes.”

Bush’s voice pitch goes up several notches.

The return of war heroes upon inauguration.

In a country like the United States where there is such respect for the military, this was sure to bring about a huge boost in approval ratings from the start of his term.

“Would you mind if we sent these people to the United States in time for your inauguration? Of course, we will also tell you that this was done at your request.”

“.. .. .. .. ..”

President-elect Bush suddenly becomes silent.

‘Did I do something wrong…?’

“Mr. Winner?”

“President Kim Jong-guk, I feel like we could be really close friends. On behalf of the United States, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your consideration.”

“I also want to become good friends with the elected candidate in the future.”

“But… would only America be able to receive such a wonderful gift?”

The story is about telling people what they want.

I didn’t intend to accept it, but if you tell me this, it’ll be a different story.

‘Let’s talk about it.’

“Then, can I ask you one thing?”

“Of course. Just tell me.”

“In fact, our country, Korea, is preparing to host the 1992 Olympics.”

“The 1992 Olympics···.”

Bush trails off.

Because he also knows that this is not easy.

“Yes. I think there is nothing better than the Olympics to promote our unified Korea.”

“Mr. President, I know it won’t be easy. There are continental rotations. Wouldn’t it be better to aim for the next one?”

“Of course, there is a continental rotation, but isn’t that actually not a clearly written regulation?”

“.. .. .. .. ..”

Bush hesitates for a moment, then answers.

“Understood. The United States will support Korea as the next host of the Olympic Games.”

“Thank you, Mr. Winner!”

America’s support was not just a vote.

With this, Korea gained a slightly advantageous position in its bid to be selected for the 1986 Olympics.

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A year of confusion over unification has passed and 1985 has arrived.

The North Korean region has also stabilized to a certain extent, and most areas are starting to allow free movement.

In 1984, the average per capita national income was $3,800.

This is an absurdly high increase, considering that the historical average was $2,200.

There were many factors, but one of them was that the war greatly stimulated the military industry.

Many countries that saw the Korean K9 and K2 in action during the Korean War came to buy these weapons with wads of money.

Of course, in the case of the F35, sales were not permitted due to it being a national secret, but in the case of the K9 and K2, it was judged that they could be sold, so exports to several countries began.

The country that received the most attention was Israel.

As of 2023, Israel remains the most conflict-ridden region in the Middle East.

Weapons that powerful were desperately needed.

Of course, there were quite a few people who opposed the sale for various reasons.

“Israel is the axis of evil! How can you sell weapons to such a country?!”

“That’s right! Stop selling arms to Israel now! Stop it!”

Companies were reluctant to sell weapons to Israel.

But I instructed the company not to care and to proceed with the export contract.

They don’t give away weapons for free, and they sell them after charging a high premium.

There was no reason not to sell it since it wasn’t even an enemy country.

I don’t think their wars or anything like that are 100 percent justified.

But that was a problem the parties involved had to resolve.

I am the president of the Republic of Korea and my job is to develop the Republic of Korea and make it a powerful and advanced country.

I am a person who puts the people of the Republic of Korea first and foremost.

The rest, for me, came later.

However, selling to Israel in this way did not mean that relations with countries that were particularly hostile to Israel became bad.

The reason is that they sold them even when countries hostile to Israel wanted to buy K9 self-propelled howitzers.

It didn’t matter where, as long as it wasn’t a country hostile to South Korea.

In the first place, even if you buy it, it’s not something you can disassemble and make yourself with today’s technology.

I was willing to sell it if given any amount of money.

Since then, the Middle East has been witnessing the ridiculous spectacle of countries fighting each other with weapons made in Korea.

And before we knew it, time was slowly drawing nearer to the National Assembly election day.