NOVEL WEB Chapter 761: 761
Find out what happened right now
The two-day North Korea-Japan summit ended successfully.
[The story behind the North Korea-Japan summit.
Prime Minister Koizumi arrived at the airport this morning on a government plane. On the North Korean side, Kim Yong-nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, came out to greet him.
There were a large number of reporters waiting, but there was no welcome from the crowd or military band.
Prime Minister Koizumi, with his face set in stone, had a brief conversation with Standing Committee Chairman Kim Yong-nam under the stairs before boarding a limousine headed to the Taedonggang State Guest House, the meeting venue.
(syncopation)
About 150,000 Korean residents in Japan are watching the North Korea-Japan summit meeting held today with both anticipation and concern.
Japan was left in turmoil by the news that the talks would address the kidnapping of Japanese citizens by North Korea.
Prime Minister Koizumi's statement that the issue of Japanese abductions is an unavoidable obstacle for the normalization of diplomatic relations between North Korea and Japan and that there will be no diplomatic relations between the two countries unless it is resolved is becoming a hot topic.] [Chairman Jang Song-taek acknowledges and apologizes for the kidnapping of Japanese nationals.
At the North Korea-Japan summit, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Jang Song-thaek admitted to the kidnapping of 14 people.
The Japanese government claimed that 17 people were kidnapped in 12 cases, but Chairman Jang Song-taek admitted that 14 people were kidnapped.
Chairman Jang Song-taek acknowledged that the Republic's special agencies had conspired with Chongryon agents to kidnap 14 Japanese citizens and apologized to Prime Minister Koizumi.
Of the eight people who have already died, it has been decided to return the remains of six of those whose remains have been identified.
Five of the six survivors conveyed their intention to return to the North Korean government, and the Japanese government handed them over.] [Half-successful North Korea-Japan summit.] [Reunion of families of Japanese abductees and frustration.] [Dramatic conclusion of negotiations on claims against Japan between the North Korean and Japanese governments. However, there was no apology.] [Handshake between the two leaders. Great progress in negotiations to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries.] [North Korea and Japan promise continued economic cooperation.]
All Korean media outlets covered the North Korea-Japan summit in detail.
KBC broadcast the summit results live, and other broadcasters also interrupted their regular broadcasts to cover the North Korea-Japan summit.
I smiled as I turned off the TV.
"Everything ended up going as planned."
Myungsoo, who was watching the news with me, said bluntly.
"It's just a show after all the negotiations are over, you know? And that's not important to us."
As Myeongsu said, what was more important was not what had ended, but what would happen next.
China was putting the brakes on not only my company but also other companies' businesses.
"What did the Chinese ambassador say?"
"They just keep repeating the same thing. They don't know anything about it, and they are demanding the repatriation of their citizens."
The Chinese government has never officially issued an executive order.
These were unofficial sanctions imposed because they could have led to disputes under WTO rules.
"Didn't you say there would be absolutely no repatriation?"
"Of course. Now it's a matter of pride."
Public opinion was not bad.
It seemed like President Yoon Chang-ho's approval rating was rising as he took a hard-line stance against China.
But on the contrary, it was reported that dissatisfaction with the government among large corporations had reached its peak.
"I heard that big companies are very dissatisfied with government policies?"
"Oh my. What are you talking about? The National Assembly threshold is almost worn out because of the Daegu teams."
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"How is the government responding?"
Myeongsu shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "There's no other way."
"We are preparing to file a complaint with the WTO. We are trying to negotiate with the Chinese government through the ambassador to China, but it is said that it is difficult to even meet with high-ranking officials."
"Really? Isn't it a bit ambiguous to file a complaint with the WTO?"
"We have to do something. We can't just rely on you. There are many people in the Blue House and the ruling party who are against this situation. President Yoon Chang-ho's will is so strong that he is suppressing the opposition. If this goes on any longer, it will explode someday."
There was worry in Myeongsu's voice.
Yun Chang-ho was very angry about this incident because of the spy.
It was revealed that several secretaries, including the chief secretary, passed information to China.
Now, Yun Chang-ho could no longer back down.
"The seeds that have been sown will start to move all at once. Just wait."
Now that he was used to it, Myeongsu nodded and checked his wristwatch.
"Let's get going now. It's almost time for our appointment."
We arrived at the meeting place.
"Oh my, our new minister! It's been a while."
Myeongsu greeted a man while acting cute.
"Secretary General. Didn't you see us at the party-government meeting a few days ago?"
When the Minister of Information and Communication, Shin Dae-sung, asked what he meant, Myeong-su spoke with a hurt face.
"That and this are the same? I feel hurt."
"haha······."
Shin Dae-seong looked at me with an awkward smile at Myeong-su's nagging.
Myeongsu, who saw that gaze, put his arm around my shoulder and said, without any playfulness.
"Do you know who this guy is?"
Shin Dae-seong nodded and extended his hand to me.
"This is Shin Dae-seong. President Kim Mu-hyeok."
"Nice to meet you, Minister Shin Dae-seong."
After shaking hands, I sat down facing him.
Shin Dae-seong kept coughing in vain, as if he was feeling a little uncomfortable in this position.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, Myeongsu spoke first.
"By the way, I think our minister said he used to work at Ilsung Electronics, right?"
"It's a story from long ago."
Shin Dae-seong was someone who had worked at Ilseong Electronics for quite a long time.
"So why did you want to meet me today?"
"Oh, it's not me. It's this guy who said he had something to do."
Shin Dae-seong turned his gaze to me. I said with a good-natured smile.
"When trying to introduce the iPhone into the country, there were many obstacles. So I came here to ask for some changes to the related regulations."
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"iPhone······. It's a device I'm also very interested in."
"Would you like to take a look?"
He also seemed to be interested in the iPhone, as he works in a related industry.
I took out my iPhone and handed it to Shin Dae-seong.
"Oh, this is an iPhone."
Shin Dae-seong looked at the iPhone with an interested look.
He soon turned on his iPhone and checked various things.
"The response speed is definitely good. There's no physical keyboard at all······."
As expected from someone with an engineering background, he evaluated the iPhone meticulously.
"It's definitely a device that's years ahead of its time. Domestic companies will never be able to keep up."
His face hardened as he put down the iPhone he had been looking at for a long time.
"Did you say earlier that you were going to introduce the iPhone to Korea?"
"Yes. We are already negotiating with Korea Telecom for exclusive supply of iPhones. We are considering simultaneous releases in the US and Korea."
"Exclusive?"
"Yes. Apple has a policy of signing exclusive contracts with one telecommunications company in each country and distributing its products. This is the same policy all over the world, including the United States."
Shin Dae-seong said, narrowing his eyebrows.
"Hmm······. The opposition from the news agencies must be no joke."
"What can Apple do about that policy? It's not like there aren't cases where domestic carriers have monopolized the supply of terminals. But do you know what the bigger problem is?"
"It must be WIPI."
The answer came immediately. I nodded.
"Apple also didn't even consider launching in Korea because of WIPI. So I hope WIPI is withdrawn and various regulations are lifted.
"······It's difficult. Deregulating for one company could turn into a controversy over preferential treatment."
WIPI is a platform that makes the introduction of foreign mobile phones more difficult, and is also receiving criticism from developers because the development environment provided by each telecommunications company is different.
Since it is a platform that will disappear anyway, all I am trying to do now is to bring that date forward a little.
"It's not difficult. Besides, WIPI is not a good policy for Korea either. I'm sure the Minister knows that."
"······."
"After all, wasn't it the government that stepped in and standardized it because of the telecommunications companies' fight? Because of WIPI, Korea will be called the graveyard of foreign terminals. This will accelerate the Galapagosization and cause us to lose our competitiveness overseas. It would be better to withdraw it before it becomes mandatory."
"Of course I agree with that opinion, but aren't there domestic circumstances? Because of indiscriminate competition······."
I cut off Shin Dae-seong's protest.
"Isn't this something that the Minister wanted to do?"
"······That's true. I think the private sector should take the lead."
"So, we can leave it to the private sector. For the time being, the iPhone will probably be ahead in the smartphone market, but it will eventually catch up. Il Sung Electronics is already developing its own OS."
"I have received that report. But I don't know how many years it will take to develop it."
"But you know very well what will happen if we leave it like this. If you are afraid of the backlash from the telecommunications companies, don't worry."
Shin Dae-seong was a bureaucrat, but he was not a politician.
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He was a person who was appointed as minister by President Yoon Chang-ho solely based on his ability.
Thanks to this, although his political sense was lacking, his professionalism was higher than anyone else's.
But the excellent policies he put forward were often blocked by bureaucrats.
"I will take care of the pressure coming from above and below. I have already finished talking with the president. The secretary general here will also move the party to quickly pass the relevant bill."
Myeongsu quickly took note of what I said.
"Minister, the party will fully support you. If the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs insists on the abolition of WIPI, we will immediately support you. Let's take the lead this time. We will also pass the bills you are pushing for."
"Is that true?"
"Yes, I promise."
It must have been an appealing proposal for Shin Dae-sung, whose current policies have been repeatedly blocked.
I said with a smile.
"Even if you object, someone else will do it. This is an opportunity I am giving you. I will lay the groundwork for you to do as you wish."
The reason he met with Shin Dae-seong to discuss the already concluded story with the president was because that was what Yoon Chang-ho wanted.
"Umm······."
Shin Dae-seong swallowed his sigh and fell into thought for a moment.
Myeongsu and I looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders.
At that moment, the door we were in opened urgently.
In front of the door stood Director Ma with a hardened face.
I can't believe Director Ma opened the door so urgently without caring about what other people thought.
What the heck is going on?
"······Boss. I have something to report."
I could tell from Director Ma's low voice and serious expression that something big was going on.
"I will get up now. Please talk to the Secretary General separately and take care of the matter. I cannot wait long. The contract with Korea Telecom will be signed after the WIPI withdrawal announcement."
I said as I stood up. Before leaving, I didn't forget to lightly tap Myeongsu on the shoulder and look at him.
After confirming that Myeongsu had noticed my signal and nodded, I hurriedly went out the door.
"What's going on, sir?"
"It is said that Yoo Seong-jin and Kim Hyeon-jeong were arrested by the Chinese public security authorities."
"What did you say?"
Yoo Seong-jin and Kim Hyeon-jeong were the heads of a joint venture established with Hu Jintao.
Yoo Sung-jin was leading the multiplex business in China, and Kim Hyun-jung was leading the entertainment business.
"Let's go out and talk."
I hurried my pace and got into the car.
"Let's go straight to Pyeongchang-dong."
The car sped down the road, and I asked Chief Ma, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
"What on earth is going on?"
It was a joint venture involving Hu Jintao. Even if Jiang Zemin were to leave, there would be no way that the company involving Hu Jintao would be shaken, right?
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"They say that the police suddenly came out and conducted a search and seizure, and arrested two people during the process."
"For what crime?"
"I haven't received any reports yet."
"Find out quickly. There must be absolutely no chance of either of you getting hurt."
Just how far will these crazy kids go?
"What on earth is President Hu Jintao doing? And who on earth is moving?"
"Since the police have taken action, it seems likely that the Political and Legal Affairs Committee has taken action. However, I have not yet received a detailed report."
"Oh, this is driving me crazy. First, find out as quickly as possible. And try to contact President Hu Jintao somehow."
I was letting my guard down because it had to do with Hu Jintao.
Or has Hu Jintao been completely pushed out in the power struggle with Jiang Zemin?
"We need to activate every information system we can, mobilize our connections, and find out what happened immediately."
Those two had to be taken out unconditionally before any more time passed.
< Find out what happened right now > End
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