21st Century Goguryeo

Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon's tone was gentle, but there was an undeniable fact in every word he spoke. "I would also like to express that the Republic of Korea is willing to end the war peacefully if Russia ever wants it."

"Prime Minister! Are you saying that the EU, under the influence of the United States, is trying to keep the Republic of Korea in check with NATO?"

"I think reporter Jermaine Jones might know better about that, isn't that correct? Ever since the U.S. Secretary of State Maine Johnson's remarks at the last Board of Representative Directors meeting, the EU has started acting suspiciously. Did you not know about this?"

"Th-that's...." Reporter Jermaine Jones hesitated, unable to answer. Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon pushed harder.

"Heh heh, if you're an American journalist, shouldn't you at least be aware of the direction your country's government is leading the international state of affairs?"

"Even if you're a journalist, you won't know every single detail of what your government is doing."

The press conference room was suddenly turned into a war of words between Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon and reporter Jermaine Jones.

"Everyone knew it, but Jones, a political reporter, failed to notice."

Reporter Jermaine Jones' face burned red. Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon was a master of speech. His tone was always calm, but there was a certain type of strength in his words that was able to pressure his opponent.

"It hasn't been set in stone yet, so there's no need to argue. Ah! Is the EU summit taking place tomorrow? Reporter Jones, shall we watch what decision is made at the EU summit together?" Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon finished speaking with a laid-back smile on his lips.

After the agenda of economic sanctions on the Republic of Korea and NATO's intervention had been moved from the Board of Representative Directors to the EU summit, Maris Felsix, the Chairman of the summit, had been bribed by Secretary Maine Johnson. He had tried, with all his power, to schedule the summit within a week.

However, the leaders of friendly countries, such as Germany and Turkey, who had been opposed to putting those topics on the agenda, were able to delay the date of the summit by using their national schedules as an excuse. As a result, the summit date was scheduled three days after the day Minister Maine Johnson had planned for – the 18th at 4 p.m. Latvia local time.

They were able to delay the summit by three days, even though Korea had been at a disadvantage, due to the help of the leaders of friendly countries, but it was also a result achieved by the continuous unseen diplomatic battles that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been fighting.

It was also a stroke of luck for Korea to have the summit delayed by three days, as the Korea-New China war had ended in victory for Korea just before the EU summit was held.

The victory was a very important outcome that could have a profound impact on the heads of EU member states at the EU summit the next day.

The unexpected surrender of New China meant that Korea could focus on the Korea-Russia war, giving a significant advantage to the Republic of Korea. The leaders of the EU member states, who had planned to agree to economic sanctions and NATO intervention on the side of America, had no choice but to be troubled by this news. As a result, the chances of the topics regarding the Republic of Korea being dismissed at the summit became likely.

It was for this reason Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon had smiled when he spoke of the EU summit.

"Isn't the claim that the United States is trying to keep the Republic of Korea in check using the EU and NATO a rather one-sided claim?" Reporter Jermaine Jones asked as the last resort. Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon had been preparing to wrap things up, but at Reporter Jones' statement, his face turned stern.

"You say it's a one-sided claim? I'm sure that most of the reporters here know of Secretary of State Maine Johnson's statement at the Board of Representative Directors meeting. Isn't that evident in itself?"

"No. That seemed to me like a normal political action that the United States, as the leader of world order, should be taking for the safety of Europe."

"Political activity for the safety of Europe...I would like to ask one thing—Is it for Europe's safety that the EU and NATO are keeping the Republic of Korea in check instead of Russia?"

Reporter Jermaine Jones, whose role had now changed to an interviewee from an interviewer, could not readily respond. Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon dug a bit deeper into the hesitation he showed.

"What do you think? Be honest, it doesn't quite make sense to you either, does it?"

"W-well, the war is in the vicinity of Europe, so wouldn't the intervention of NATO be something on a defensive level, to stop the spread of war in Europe?" Reporter Jones responded, after thinking long and hard about it.

"The location of where the Korea-Russia war is currently taking place is nowhere close to the European border. And you're still thinking that the Republic of Korea might attack Europe? Even if we do assume that this was the case, NATO should be keeping both Russia and the Republic of Korea in check. The observed movement of NATO forces seems to be that of keeping the Republic of Korea's Armed forces, dispatched to southern Russia and eastern Ukraine, in check. Even though there has yet to be a decision made at the upcoming summit."

"Prime Minister, as I've stated earlier, NATO is only moving on a defensive level."

"Defensive level...If it is as you say, on a defensive level, then NATO forces should be setting up their defenses in the countries that are bordering Russia, like Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and the coastal areas of the Black Sea of Bulgaria and Romania, but according to recent reports, it has been confirmed that some of the NATO units are preparing for a military operation using the Black Sea. Well, it is currently just the American troops that belong to NATO that are moving." Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon attacked with the facts, even using the military information that he had recently come to know.

"I, I am not a military journalist." Reporter Jones eventually fell to his knees, overwhelmed by Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon.

"I see. I'll say just one more thing to summarize what we've just talked about. As I said earlier, those countries with the fearful delusion that the war will expand into a world war, please take a look at the reason why the Korea-Russia war started in the first place. I hope that you avoid making decisions you'll regret." Prime Minister Lee Yoon-yeon's statement was a warning to the EU member states that were standing on the side of the United States, as well as the United States itself.

* * *

January 17th, 2024, 18:30 (Russian Time: 12:30)

Bunker State R-13 (meeting room), Moscow, Russia

The atmosphere was tense in the meeting room where the high-ranking government officials and commanders of the General staff, as well as President Putin, all held their breaths, their eyes fixed to the large TV installed on the wall.

The TV was currently showing Vice President Chen Wei Ting reading the announcement document with a gloomy face, glancing repeatedly at the reporters.

President Putin started to scowl when Vice President Chen Wei Ting announced New China's surrender to the Republic of Korea. He clicked his tongue and muttered, "As expected, they were of no help."

Seeing him leaving behind the stage with a grim expression on his face, President Putin waved his hand as if he didn't need to look any further. "Turn it off."

"Yes, sir."

When the secretary turned the TV off with the remote, the conference room became deathly silent. Everyone knew that President Putin was greatly annoyed. All of the high-ranking officials and commanders who had attended the meeting looked around the room at each other nervously, not one of them able to speak up.

At that moment, a loud voice rang throughout the conference room. It was Vladimir Beshastnich, Chief of the General Staff. "Sir, Mr. President!"

"You may speak."

"With all due respect, I believe that it is time for us to make our decision."

"Make our decision about what?"

"Since New China has surrendered to the Republic of Korea, the situation at the northwest front will only get worse from here on. Shouldn't we give up on that front and focus all our efforts on the southern front?"

"Is what you're suggesting even a plan?"

"I'm sorry that I have to say this as the commander of the Russian Army. But we're in a situation where we now have to face reality, sir."

"No! You must protect both fronts. We can't have the Korean b*stards steal away even a single piece of territory from us."

"Mr. President!" Chief of General Staff Vladimir Beshastnich called the president with as much strength as he could muster up, but President Putin didn't look at him. He remained firm.

"Minister of Foreign Affairs!"

"Yes, Mr. President!"

"Contact the EU presidency right now."

"What should I tell them?"

"Tell them that we approve for NATO forces to advance into our territory."

"Sir? Regarding NATO, the EU summit has not yet been held..."

"Contact them regardless of whether or not it's been held! Contact the United States as well, and let them know that we'll accept U.S. reconnaissance satellites throughout all of Russia!"

Just a few days ago, President Putin had been opposed to the entry of the U.S. Atlas reconnaissance satellite in the sky above Moscow. However, given the circumstances, President Putin seemed like he was, by any means, doing everything he could to set up military defenses against the Republic of Korea.

* * *

January 18, 2024, 09:30

B2 bunker (Korea Armed Forces Joint Command and Control Center Situation Room), Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Namju

It was the morning of the official end to the Korea-New China war. A digital map showing the entirety of New China was displayed on screen number two in the Situation Room of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On various parts of the digital map, tactical symbols indicated the battle areas.

There were still New China Army units, not yet aware of the surrender, engaging in battle with the Korean Army. These battles weren't large, but there were more than 100 locations where battles were taking place. The cause of this was communication loss, and as a result, the clean-up period after the end of the war was expected to be longer than anticipated.

In most areas, the New China Army disarmed voluntarily and surrendered according to surrender procedure, but in mountainous areas or in fronts where communication had yet to be restored, the units were still attacking the forces of the Korean Army.

"Haha, this is an unexpected problem."

Vice Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Yong-hyun looked at screen number two with a lonesome smile.

The commander in chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff this morning was Vice Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Youn Gi-youn, but because of the inspection meeting regarding the response operation plan related to the American Navy's Pacific Fleet, scheduled at 10 a.m., many commanders and generals had gathered in the Situation Room, to watch the current situation.

"It's no joke. The communication network has been on fire, saying they were being attacked by the New China Army from all over the country since dawn."

"Oh my, is that so? What did you tell them?"

"You know my personality! I told them to step on them. It's their fault if they attack without knowing the war's over, isn't it? I'm not someone to let them get away with things so easily."

"Yes, I do agree. It's not possible to let them know that the war is over during battle."

"Right, eh, what was that again? I wonder if I need to drop some fliers as we did for the 'flattening operation' last time."

"Hahaha, maybe. You could discuss that with the chairman."

While they were joking, the entrance to the situation room opened. Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Shin Sung-yong appeared along with his assistant generals.

At this, all the soldiers in the room stood still. The highest-ranking soldier among the group, Vice Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, saluted as the representative.

"Salute!"

"Salute!"

"Thank you for your hard work as commander since dawn today."

"It's not much, sir."

Chairman Shin Sung-yong had come into the Situation Room to check in on the current situation before the meeting. He sat down in his seat, looking at the various screens and asked the commander of this morning, Vice Chairman Youn Gi-youn, "Haha, did anything special happen?"

"I don't have anything specific to report, but there have been several sporadic engagements with the New China Army since dawn." Vice Chairman Youn Gi-Youn handed him a tablet that had a neatly organized report of everything that had happened during his shift, giving him the oral version of the report at the same time.

"Mm, the damage from these engagements are small, but there are many locations where these engagements have been happening. This is unexpected."

As he tilted his head slightly, flipping through the tablet, Vice Chairman Kim Yong-hyun suggested, "Vice Chairman Youn and I spoke about this jokingly just a few moments ago, but shouldn't we drop some fliers in the areas where engagements have been happening, and in the areas occupied by the New China Army that have yet to hear the news of the surrender?"

"Flyers?"

"Yes, sir. It seems these engagements may keep happening, causing more casualties, if we don't take measures similar to that."

"Let's do that, then. We should use any method to avoid unnecessary attrition warfare. Let's leave that part to the head of the Strategic Planning Division and head to the conference room for now."

Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Shin Sung-yong glanced at his watch and got up from his seat.