21st Century Goguryeo

December 15, 2020, 23:00 (U.S. Standard Time 10:00), in a building outside the suburb of Washington D.C., USA

The U.S. was the world's supreme military power and had raised its authority over international affairs after growing its economy through World War I. It had established itself as a leader of capitalist nations.

After World War II, the U.S. had become the protector of democracy across the world after winning the war in both the European and Asian fronts. By espousing an ideology that opposed that of the Soviet Union, the U.S. had bolstered its international status, had become the world's defender of democracy, and, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, played a major role in maintaining international order.

However, the force pulling America's strings was not Donald Trump, who had won the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton, but rather a secret organization known as the United States Supreme Security Council or the USSC.

The USSC was formed in 1956 after an alien spacecraft was found in Nevada by 13 prominent American families who held socioeconomic powers. The families privatized the alien spacecraft and built an underground laboratory in secret. Afterward, the USSC had poured a substantial amount of funding to support extensive research on the alien spacecraft.

As a result, the organization was able to obtain advanced technology that was nonexistent yet in current times. They used this newly obtained technology and shared it with various American corporations to uplift the nation's economy and accumulate wealth. In time, the USSC had spread its influence over the cultural and political spheres as well. In truth, the USSC held the power to influence and move America according to its will.

No American president or politician had not received political funds from the USSC since its inception. Its grasp on the political sphere was beyond imaginable. With its influence, the USSC was more powerful than the White House and controlled the on-goings within the U.S.

Each of the 13 families selected one representative from their family that would hold the title for 10 years. These 13 representatives comprised the committee to govern the organization. The chairman of the committee was selected from the family member who held the land in the Nevada Desert where the spacecraft crashed; that same family has held the position for the past 70 years.

The 13 representatives from the 13 families in the USSC organization all wore masks and never revealed their true identities. They only address each other by their nicknames.

The USSC held 10 percent of the world's capital. A large portion of its wealth comes from the weapons industry. The civil wars and battles occurring in less developed nations across the world could be attributed to the workings of the USSC; this made them also a world-class criminal organization. They instigated wars across the globe, thus, increasing the demand for weapons to fight the war. This further increased their wealth through the weapons industry, and thus, increased their capital infinitely.

The occasional provocation of war between North and South Korea was also from the workings of the USSC. By fanning the flames for Korea and Japan's arms race, they would increase their weapons exported to both nations.

However, in 2015, something unexpected happened that the USSC could not have prepared for. The relationship between South and North Korea improved rapidly, and the atmosphere between them had transitioned from war to peace. The USSC had planned a terrible conspiracy as a response. They were behind the terrorist bombing on August 15, 2015, at Kim Il-sung Square. They were behind the attack that killed the Korean President.

The USSC had used black funds to buy Lee Byung-chul, the Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea from the North Korean political sphere. After careful planning, the Pyeongyang terrorist bombing took place. The result was a great success. The rapidly improving relations between the South and North were interrupted, and the threat of war became imminent. Japan also used this chance to show their hidden militarism and began to import the latest weapons from America by paying high prices.

The flow of East Asian politics that the USSC had manipulated suddenly shifted in 2017 because of Korea's actions. Korea had begun to announce its production of modern medicine that the world had not thought of; thus, turning small and middle-sized companies, which were previously on the verge of bankruptcy, to produce products that applied new technology, thus, stirred the world economy. In short, Korea was becoming the center of the world's economy.

The Korean economic revival had shown unprecedented growth after only two years. The statistics were incomprehensibly rapid and high. By 2019, President Suh Hyun-woo had used the nation's economic growth as a basis to regain their independent national defense capability, wartime control. Finally, they sent the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in Korea back to the States.

In 2020, talks of peace returned between South and North Korea. During the reunification talks, the USSC had planned another conspiracy with Lee Byung-chul, the Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea. However, their conspiracy was foiled by Korea's NIS, which had uncovered their plans before they were implemented. As a result, Lee Byung-chul was executed. Luckily the Korean government's NIS had not identified the USSC.

Regardless of the USSC's intent, Korea entered into war with China. The 13 members of the USSC had calculated to see whose side would profit them the most. The USSC concluded to maintain a neutral stance in the Korean–Chinese war. When Korea would begin to fall or lose, USSC would then ask for Korea's new technology by exporting weapons and providing military aid. However, the tide of war favored Korea unlike how the USSC hoped for.

The one-sided attacks from Korea had pushed China on the verge of handing over their capital. Now, Japan and Russia had entered into the fray, stirring speculations of an impending World War III. The USSC did not want World War III to start. They only wanted a consuming war that would result in no one being victorious.

Inside the old building at the suburb of Washington D.C., USSC's 13 Committee members were holding a meeting about the East Asian war.

"Victoria! Are we going to just watch over Korea and not take any action?"

When one of the 13 masked figures with a gruff mask spoke to the person seated at the center, the person responded in a feminine voice. It was the lady nicknamed Victoria, the Chairman of the USSC.

"Rudolf, didn't we decide during the last meeting, to wait and see? Isn't that the reason why we opposed the bill introduced by China in the UN Security Council?"

The man with the gruff voice was nicknamed Rudolf.

"At that time, we expected China's military expenditure to be great, and when Korea began to lose, we were going to ask for their new technology in exchange for military aid, right? But contrary to our expectations, China is losing the war completely, and now Japan and Russia have entered the war as well!"

"I agree with Rudolf. I don't think we should leave Korea to its own devices."

The masked man seated in the far right said. Based on his voice, the man seemed to be at least 70 years old.

"What do the other members think of this?"

Victoria asked the other representatives as she looked at them.

"I vote for sitting out and observing a bit longer. If we look at it, the situation is not unfavorable for our organization. Based on the intelligence reports, the Korean weapons being used excel in performance compared to the ones we own in the U.S. If Russia and Japan pressure the nation, then they would need our intervention. I suggest we wait until that time comes."

"Black King! Thanks for your input. Anyone else?"

"I also agree with Black King. I, however, suggest we grant the weapons export requested by Japan."

"Chessman! Are you speaking of the U.S. weapons stored in Japan currently?"

"Yes, exactly, Victoria! We do not want an outcome to the East Asian War, do we? When the opportunity presents itself, all we should do is sell weapons to warring nations to hold the balance. Don't you think so?"

"Very well. I would like to hear opinions from other members."

However, no more opinions came forth.

"If that is all, then I would like to call for a vote regarding the U.S. weapons sale to Japan. Please raise your hand if you agree."

As soon as Victoria finished speaking, she glanced at the black-masked men sitting on the round table.

"Eleven votes agreeing to the sale. It's decided to sell U.S. weapons to Japan. Mr. Mars . . ."

"Yes, Victoria."

Mars, the man in charge of weapons sales, answered.

"Please take care of this by notifying the White House as you have done before."

"Yes, of course."

"Well, let's call this meeting to an end, and see you again in the next one."

Victoria stood up first after she finished speaking and left the room through a black curtain behind her. The other masked men stood up from their seats and left as well.

* * *

December 16, 2020, 11:30; the Presidential Palace, in Pyeongyang, North Korea

Inside the meeting room, a conference was in progress for the federal reunification between South Korea and North Korea. The bureaucrats of both nations needed to discuss the operations of each department and educate the high-ranking government officials from North Korea since there were only 15 days left before reunification was to take effect.

To carry out this plan, the Republic of Korea had sent Minister Oh Seung-tae from the Ministry of Reunification Policy once known as the Ministry of Reunification. National Security Director Oh Jang-soo and 200 employees from the ministry were also present to finalize the plans for the reunification. Also, the Vice Minister of National Defense, 5 generals, and 100 officers from the South Korean military were sent over since October 1 to carry out the process of unifying the nations.

The most pressing issue was concerning the reform of the North Korean military. North Korea's military consisted of 17 corps and 89 subordinate divisions. These were reduced to 4 corps and 12 divisions along with 8 brigades. The 4 corps consisted of 2 automated sentry corps, 1 artillery corps, and 1 special force corps. Displaced members of disbanded military organizations would be allowed to sign up for long-term service or employment by the government for the Northern state development project.

The second item on the agenda was figuring out where to station the government workers in North Korea after the federal unification, and the process of educating them. Since the government officials from North Korea had been inculcated with communist ideals for over half a century, there were challenges in teaching them the work ethics of their South Korean counterparts. However, with the use of professional instructors, their ideology would hopefully change in time.

"The President asked me to express his full gratitude to Vice-Chairman Kim Yeo-jeong."

National Security Director Oh Jang-soo expressed this just when the morning meeting was coming to a close.

"There's no need is there? North Korea is more thankful. From the food and medicine we are receiving as aid, there is a vast improvement in the health of many of our citizens."

"We will become one nation in 15 days. It is our duty to take care of our citizens."

"Yes indeed. We are becoming one nation."

Director Na Won-il from the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces joined the conversation and asked a question.

"Director Oh Jang-soo, comrade. When will the 8th Special Forces Corps trained with the new weapons be deployed to battle?"

The 8th Special Forces Corps (or the 8th Special Forces command) was similar to Korea's paratrooper special forces, and they are perceived as North Korea's most powerful military force in the movie "Swiri." The 8th Special Forces Corps was founded in 1969 and based on the 124th Force that had infiltrated the Blue House on January 21, 1968. In wartime, they were tasked with infiltrating Korea's rear lines, destroying facilities, and assassinating key individuals using their AN-2 planes. To South Korea's military, the 100,000-men-strong special forces were a threat.

"Hahaha! I am sure the Ministry of National Defense will request for their aid soon."

"The men from the 8th Corps seem to be getting restless. Since they are being fed well and using the latest equipment, their morale is at an all-time high. Hahaha."

"Yes, I am looking forward to seeing them in action as well, Director Na Won-il!"