21st Century Goguryeo

January 12th, 2024, 16:00 (New China Time: 15:00)

The outskirts of Langfang City, Hebei Province, New China (temporary residence of the Central Military Headquarters)

The People's Statement was prepared in a hurry. Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong arrived at the Jungang-gun press center, where cameras from various TV stations and a large number of reporters awaited his arrival. Soon, the press center began ringing with the sound of camera shutters bursting in unison.

Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong approached the podium and exhaled deeply before placing the document on the podium and reading the first sentence.

"Dear New China citizens! I'm Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong. The purpose of today's announcement of the People's Statement is to say something about the current nationwide disturbances."

To avoid inciting people's emotions, Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong used the word disturbance rather than riots.

"I completely understand how people are feeling right now. Also, I'd like you to know that not only the party but also the General Staff, are deliberating over the root cause of the current crisis."

After that, Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong walked to the side of the podium and made a deep bow. It was very unfamiliar to see the second-ranked, the prime minister, bowing to the people and apologizing to them.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation after the end of the war and severely punish the commanders of all front-line units who have engaged with the Korean military using the people as shields. In addition, the person responsible for ordering the use of gun force against the protesters has been arrested and we will put him on trial. Our respected citizens! Currently, our New China is having a war against the Korean military."

Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong, who had apologized with a sincere expression, now had a serious expression on his face and said powerfully, looking at the broadcast camera.

"People exist only when there is a country, and when there is a country, there are people. To put it in another way, the people and the country are the same things. If one goes missing, everything is over."

After reading the prepared manuscript, Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong continued to issue the People's Statement for 30 minutes.

"Lastly, I hope you trust our party once again and endure the anger that rises in your heart for a moment. Please go back home and watch and support our party and the General Staff who are going through the current difficulties."

Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong, who came out to the side of the podium and bowed once again, left with a big round of applause from reporters.

"Whoohoo, Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong prepared well. Hmph!"

After visiting the press center where the People's Statement was held, President Wang Jing-wi remarked sarcastically.

President Wang Jing-wi, who was sitting on the sofa in his room, drinking a glass of wine, watched the TV and spat out vague words that even he couldn't tell if they were compliments or sarcasm.

His expression was solemn. He was also aware that the current situation was deteriorating rapidly. However, because of his self-righteous and selfish personality, he did not accept it as a rational judgment and instead drank every day while denying reality.

President Wang Jing-wi, who was holding a wine glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other, waddled to his seat and sat down with half-open eyes.

"Damn it, where did it go wrong..."

Meanwhile, when Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong's statement was broadcast across the country, some citizens stopped protesting and returned to their homes.

Those who were living in temporary shelters without a place to go to continued to complain and took even more drastic measures. The reason for this was that, even in this situation, President Wang Jing-wi, the country's number one leader, chose not to show his face and instead had the prime minister deliver the statement on his behalf.

This was what Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong was concerned about.

As a result, despite Prime Minister Shu Xiaolong issuing the People's Statement, the riot grew uncontrollably larger, as if adding fuel to a fire.

* * *

January 13th, 2024, 10:00

Namju National Intelligence Service (Director's Office) in Gangnam-gu, Seoul

The head of the National Intelligence Service, Lee Young-jin, read the report with a happy expression, and across from him sat a middle-aged man who gave a slightly sharp impression.

His name was Kim Won-jun, and he was the director of the Special Operations Bureau.

The Special Operations Bureau, which looks like a military organization, was a secret department under the National Intelligence Service created after the first Northeast Asian War in 2021 when the war broke out and a paramilitary organization was raised. It runs a total of six departments, and most of the agents were from famous special forces such as the 707 Special Brigade or UDT/SEAL, and there were several from the Reconnaissance Bureau of the General Staff, the best special forces during the North Korean regime.

In peacetime, the Special Operations Bureau receives various high-level training comparable to that of special forces in the country, but when war breaks out or irregular warfare is necessary, it infiltrates the area and performs tasks such as collecting information, aggravating the enemy, and inducing riots.

Even when the Korean-Russian War broke out this time, special departments one and two infiltrated Moscow and other important cities to perform their missions, while agents from departments three and four were secretly infiltrated and were carrying out various missions in New China. It's been a few days since their hard work has been noticed.

They were behind all of the riots that were currently taking place throughout New China. They also spread rumors that the New China army was using their own people as shields on the battlefield, and they were the ones who took and distributed photos of the indiscriminate use of firearms against protesters in front of the Central Military Headquarters, which was what had initiated the nationwide riot.

In addition, it was the Special third Division agents who pioneered a smuggling route to the Republic of China or the Eastern Republic through the border.

"Well, you did much better than I thought!"

After reading the report, Lee Young-jin, head of the National Intelligence Service, said.

"That's what I'm saying. In fact, we didn't expect it to spread this fast either."

"Anyway, I think it's a great thing for us."

"Haha, that's right."

"Take care of the agents who are putting their lives in danger in enemy territory so they can return safely. Aren't they the most significant contributors to the Korean-Chinese war?"

"Yes, and I didn't mention it in the report, but one agent was apprehended by the Republic of China border guard early yesterday while trying to bring illegal immigrants into the country."

"He didn't get hurt?"

"One of the illegal immigrants stepped on a landmine, but fortunately, the agent seems to have safely reached the Republic of China."

"Fortunately, the Republic of China is currently in a close relationship with us, so there won't be much difficulty, but instead of handling it ourselves, why don't we ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist us?"

"Yes. I have already asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for cooperation. Perhaps tomorrow, we will be working behind the scenes at the Korean Embassy in the Republic of China."

"Well, I got it. Please report to me immediately if any unusual situation occurs concerning that case."

"Yes, I will."

"How's it going in Russia?"

"The Russian side will summarize and report the progress within a few days."

"Okay."

The intercom rang at that moment, and the beautiful voice of the female secretary emerged.

"Director! You have a lunch appointment with the president. You have to leave now."

"Okay, we'll leave in five minutes."

"Yes, we'll get ready."

"I should get going now."

Director Kim Won-jun stood up from his seat.

"I hope the Russian side will have good results as well."

"Yes, it will be up to your expectation."

"But don't push the agents who are risking their lives."

"Haha, I see. Then I'll get going now."

Director Kim Won-jun left. The head of the National Intelligence Service, Lee Young-jin, rose from his seat, put his coat on, packed a briefcase containing the report, and pressed the button of the intercom receiver.

"I'm going out now."

"Yes, we're ready."

* * *

January 13th, 2024, 22:00 (Russia time: 16:00)

Moscow bunker state R-13 (conference room) in Russia

The general staff, who finally noticed that a division-level Korean Marine Corps had been dispatched to Ukraine's Verdansk private airport the previous day, was on alert.

It was not strange to say that Russia's current air reconnaissance capability fell to the ground, even though hundreds of military carriers flew 17,000 kilometers.

The appearance of Korean Air Force fighters in Russian airspace had significantly decreased as a result of the Atlas reconnaissance satellite, which the US secretly supported; however, Russian Air Force fighters were also unable to sortie at will, despite being in their airspace. It only obtained air rights in the western region centered on Moscow, and various aircraft sortied and performed reconnaissance and air defense missions.

But now even this had become difficult.

CUF-22P Phoenix unmanned fighters from the 12th Carrier Group at the northern tip of the Persian Gulf extended their operational radius to Ukraine and southern Russia, threatening the air superiority of the Russian Air Force.

In response, the Russian General Staff mobilized all available air defense units, including S-300 Grumble and S-400 Triumph and S-500 Triumfator, to various parts of Ukraine's northern and southern regions, but the problem was that no radar could detect the CUF-22P Phoenix unmanned fighter which is classified as the seventh-generation stealth.

In other words, it was air defense power. No matter what, it was one air defense power.

"Right now! You have to ask the U.S.?"

Air Force General Commander Aziz Ibrahimov, who pointed to the round table and spoke urgently, soon turned his head and looked at Minister Mikhail Ivanov, who had the authority to make the decision.

He looked desperate.

"Well, that part is..."

Minister Mikhail Ivanov's voice trailed off and did not explain what was wrong.

"It's not the time to argue about that. If the Korean Air Force is given the right to the western region, not just Moscow but here won't be safe either."

Minister Mikhail Ivanov nodded as if he knew, but he did not respond coolly.

"Excuse me!"

"Oh, I know! I know! However, when the U.S. reconnaissance satellite enters orbit in the western part of the country, isn't it like giving up our home turf to the U.S.? The president doesn't like that either."

"Didn't I tell you earlier? We don't have time to think about that. Undetected drones on the Triumfator radar could fly in and bomb Moscow right away. If we give up like this, the newly deployed Marine Armored Army in Ukraine will freely sweep and advance to Moscow. In addition, the United States would have been already obtained all the reconnaissance information of our troops in the western region as well as the Moscow air defense network using their Atlas reconnaissance satellite."

Following General Aziz Ibrahimov's continued persuasion, the Moscow Capital Defense Commander Sanjar Tursunov intervened in the conversation.

"For now, I think General Ibrahimov is of the right opinion. The United States must have already obtained all the information of our Russian troops from the time it operated the Atlas Reconnaissance Satellite. So, before it's too late, we'd better ask them to cooperate with the reconnaissance satellite."

When the head of the Capital Defense Command expressed his opinion, Minister Mikhail Ivanov asked other commanders.

"What do the other generals think?"

"Yes, I agree with Captain Ibrahimov. Why don't we put out the fire that is right in front of us?"

When the general commander of the Western Military District, Pagaz Galileen, agreed, the general commander of the third Army, Navy, and Air Force also voted in favor.

"Well, I see. I'll seek the president's approval and the cooperation of the United States. However, I'm not sure if the president will agree. The United States is now assisting us strategically, but isn't the United States our eternal enemy?"

Minister Mikhail Ivanov said with a bitter look.

"Then come with me, Minister!"

General Chief of Staff Vladimir Beschastnich, who had only been listening to them, spoke.

"Will you do that for me?"

"What are you talking about? Let's go together as soon as the meeting is over."

"Right."

Minister Mikhail Ivanov's expression brightened up a little when the Chief of Staff said he would go with him.