The Reunification of the Korean Pennisula (short story)

Kim stared deeply into the eyes reflecting back at him in the bathroom mirror. He glared menacingly at himself, straining not to flinch or even to blink. Remember the plan, he said to himself, and don't give the bastards an inch!

"Hae Mang, shi!" shouted the KCIA (Korean CIA) agent, interrupting Kim out of his trance-like state. The KCIA agent rapped his fist from outside the bathroom door, "Hae Mang shi! It's time for us to go."

Kim forced down the lump in his throat and straightened his tie. He grabbed his carbon fiber suitcase and joined his escort outside the bathroom door.

They headed deep underground inside a military bunker, a 50's era relic fashioned with exposed iron beams and several thousand tonnes of industrial strength concrete. The two headed in silence down a seemingly endless maze of stairs and dimly lit hallways, all of which were empty save for surveillance cameras watching their step. After several minutes, they arrived at the Meeting Room, furnished sparsely with two metal chairs, lamps, a couple ashtrays, and a single hard wired phone. The agent showed KHM to his seat, and then stood guard next to the South Korean entrance to the room. KHM waited in silence, 5,000 feet beneath the 38th parallel, for his counterpart from North Korea to appear.

A few minutes later, KHM heard a pair of footsteps making their way to the Meeting Room. Then, a small man in military uniform appeared, accompanied by a much larger North Korean soldier. The soldier showed the representative his seat across from KHM and then took his position at the North Korean entrance. The small man set down his briefcase, smiled politely and extended his hand across the table,

"Lee Wi Hum, pleased to meet you."

KHM shook his hand and smiled in return. "Thanks for joining me today."

"Ah, say nothing of it, brother," said Lee gregariously. "May I call you brother?"

KHM was taken aback at Lee's friendliness, but nodded in return at this show of goodwill. I need to loosen up, he told himself.

"So, by our count," Lee said in his best boomy radio announcer voice, "this is the 62th meeting between the two Koreas to discuss peace on the Korean pennisula, reconciliation between one people, and the political reunification of the two Koreas. Is this your understanding as well?"

"Yes, this is our understanding."

Lee slammed his hand down on the table, startling KHM. "Then, as sole representative of the true people's republic, we must insist that South Korea remove their security presence of the 38th parallel, the Demilitarized Zone, and surrender control (peacefully, of course) of all southern territories. All foreign occupiers must be expelled at once. Then (and only then), can we promise that all South Koreans will be given amnesty for their past misdeeds. What say you?"

Hot and angry, KHM spat back, "These demands are ridiculous - you and North Korea are in no position to demand anything from the South Korean government! I know what North Korea is - a rogue country that is holding a knife to the throat of innocent peoples around the world, all in exchange for a few bags of rice." Looking past Lee, KHM could see that the North Korean guard was getting agitated and was already motioning toward a gun that was surely tucked away in his back pocket. Not that it mattered to KHM at the moment. "Your visit here was ill-advised. I will report this idiocy back to the President and..."

"Hey hey, brother," Lee said in a softer, almost soothing voice, "Clearly, you've never done this before." Lee quickly removed an American cigarette from a small metal tin and offered it across the table. KHM shook his head and crossed his arms, all while staring intently into his North Korean counterpart.

"Listen to me," Lee continued, taking on a conciliatory tone. "Usually you guys send a General or something like that. I don't know who briefed you on the situation, but this is exactly what you should have expected to happen, brother."

"Of course, I did," Kim responded quickly, "but your position is not based in reality! I was not aware that they would send someone to a meeting like this to spout rhetoric..."

Lee put up his hand to cut him off again. "Maybe it's you that's not taking this seriously, brother. Do you really think this whole meeting is more than a formality? A gesture, a...sign of goodwill.I have an intimate understanding of the situation. Even if you and I, right here, right now, were to create a solution - what then? Decisions like these are in the hands of politicians and soldiers, not errand boys like you and me. Nothing we say in here will be taken seriously, and that's the truth, brother."

KHM shook his head in disbelief. What an incredible waste of time, he thought. "Wi Hum shi," KHM started, "I am no fool. I know it unlikely that we would ever reach a decision, but I can assure you that my President takes these meetings seriously. If we are to continue this meeting, I strongly advise you take a different approach here."

Lee bit his lip and then leaned back in his chair, lost in his own thoughts. He picked up the cigarette, lit it, and inhaled deeply before blowing lazy blue smoke rings into the still air. KHM watched as Lee played idly with the large red star stitched into the shirt pocket of his uniform. Is this a trick? KHM asked himself.

After a few more drags of the cigarette, Lee set down his cigarette and looked over at his adversary on the other side. "Kinda makes you wish MacArthur did drop the nukes, don't it?"

"Don't be silly." answered KHM.

Lee laughed gently to himself. "Listen, Kim. Let me ask you a few questions. First, who is South Korea's greatest ally?"

"The United States," answered Kim.

"And who is North Korea's greatest ally?"

"The People's Republic of China."

"Good! See, we're agreeing already, brother. Progress is being made. This is good." Lee gingerly picked up his cigarette and rewarded himself with another puff. He tilted his head toward the concrete ceiling and blew out a small mushroom cloud of smoke. "Next question - in who's best interest is it for there to be an divided Korea?"

Now it was Kim's turn to laugh. "No one's. This standstill...this armistice doesn't benefit anyone. The United States has security interests in Japan and South Korea, as well as Taiwan. The unification of Korea under a true democracy, or even the replacement of the current leadership can only help the United States. China, I imagine, has a similar interest - South Korea is a threat to communism and as a staunch ally to the United States, represents an enemy. The unification of Korea under communist rule obviously will be boon for the Chinese."

Lee crushed the cigarette into the bottom of the ashtray, then leaned forward in his chair. "Doesn't benefit anyone, eh? Nonsense. But in any case, it will be enough for me if you understand that we have nothing to worry about." Lee then stood up from the table, bowed politely and motioned for the North Korean guard to escort him out of the room.

Now totally confused, Kim snapped his fingers to get Lee's attention. "Hey, this meeting isn't over yet. What do you mean we have nothing to worry about?"

With the guard already standing next to him, Lee nonetheless turned back to face Kim. "Well, I'll say this. Regardless of an actual armed conflict (which is certainly possible), do you believe that in the next twenty, thirty years, China will rise to become a power to challenge the United States for supremacy?" When Kim didn't answer, Lee stated apologetically, "it is possible that in the event of a power struggle, either country could win or lose. And the situation will be different. Think about that."

And with that, Lee bowed his head again and left the room, but not without first saying, "See you next year brother. And next year, bring me some American pound cake, will you?"

"Pound cake?" asked Kim, now on his feet.

"Yes, that's what the President brought me last year. I loved it, and would like to have it again sometime."

"I thought that you had never worked with a politician before," called out Kim to Lee, who was almost out the door.

"I lied."

Kim could almost see the smile creeping across Lee's face as the North Koreans left the room.

The South Korean guard ran over to KHM, who seemed just as lost and confused. "Sir! Those North Koreans are just playing mind games with you. What was that all about?"

KHM, however, was deep in thought. What was Lee trying to tell him? What was all this nonsense about the U.S. and China? What did they have to do with anything?

And then it made complete sense.

KHM picked up his unopened briefcase and began to walk out the South Korean side, with the flustered sentry walking alongside him.

"Sir, please, I don't understand what happened here. I, too, must give my official report, but am unsure what I should say. Please, tell me what you're thinking!"

After they had climbed a few flight of stairs, KHM stopped the sentry in a portion of the stairwell that had no surveillance camera. He whispered into the guard's ear,

"What's important is having these meetings, North and South, brother and brother. I am confident that we will be reunited, not right away but sometime in the future. Under whose flag, that's unknown - but those are just details."

"But sir," the guard whispered back, "those are very important details."

"No, brother," answered KHM in a much louder voice before again climbing up the staircase. "The only detail you need to remember is to order a poundcake for my visit next year."