Dear Comrade

Chapter 7. Ryugyong Hotels (8)

Chapter 7. Ryugyong Hotels (8)

Papa Papa Pang!!!!

Fireworks colored the Pyongyang sky.

It was an event rarely seen in North Korea, where the mutual criticism and surveillance system of each other monitoring each other was established.

The only people invited today were Pyongyang citizens belonging to the core class in North Korea, but they entered the event hall with large-printed placards with excited faces.

– Early achievement of the 400-day battle goal for Ryugyong Hotel construction! Achieve the historic revolutionary task of the Republic with the leadership of the President and General!

– Celebrating President’s 76th Birthday! Please stay strong and lead this Joseon for a long time!

The crowd, mainly party officials, military officers and their families, entered the pollen-blowing event under strict security.

And as soon as they entered the venue, what caught their eye was the view of the huge Ryugyong Hotel with its back to the podium.

Thanks to the layout of the ceremonial hall so that everyone entering the venue could see its grandeur at a glance, it was no problem to watch the Ryugyong Hotel even from the very back row of the audience seats, which could be called a sea of chairs.

“Look at that. Up close, it looks even bigger. Even if it wasn’t built, that’s about it, but can’t you imagine how much it will be when the construction is finished?”

“Guilty, it seems that our republic has become a strong and prosperous country, this is the taste of living in Piyang (Pyongyang). A bowl of Okryugwan naengmyeon from the top of that head is a big deal, right?”

“I heard that a lot of comrades died during the construction period. I will rejoice in tears in the underworld.”

“Shh! this man! What nonsense is that on Memorial Day? Can’t you see the officers of the General Guard over there?”

What they said was true.

With the Ryugyeong Hotel in the background, around the podium, strong soldiers of the First Bureau of the Guards Bureau, who were in charge of the security of today’s event, were staring at the visitors with their ax eyes open.

Those with a keen eye could see that they were elite troops belonging to the First Bureau, which is the core of the General Guard Bureau, and especially the First Guard Department.

And if you were more familiar with the internal affairs of the escort country, you would have been surprised to see their numbers and realize that something rare happens at today’s event.

It was precisely that the two ‘sun’ of the republic, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, both showed their faces at one event.

And there was a person who secretly sighed a sigh of relief when he saw the officers of the General Guards Bureau, who are generally the object of awe and fear in North Korea, gathered together.

‘So far, everything is as planned. Now, if Baek Seung-cheol just follows what I said…’

“Well, from now on, the historic revolutionary task of the Republic, the ceremony for the completion of the 76th floor of the Ryugyong Hotel begins. Before proceeding with the ceremony, we will sing the national anthem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, our dear comrade leader, ‘Song of General Kim Il-sung’.”

30 minutes

“Jang~Baeksan~Stem Stem~”

Jeonghwan, who was sitting near the podium with a disturbed expression on his face while listening to ‘Song of General Kim Il-sung’, a hymn to the (substantial) national anthem of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, glanced at the Japanese wristwatch nervously.

Although he was rarely embarrassed, he had to work very hard to hide his tension today.

‘I’ve already heard the report that the preparations are complete. As long as Baek Seung-cheol doesn’t do anything in vain, all the things he’s been patiently waiting for until today will come to fruition.’

After General Kim Il-sung’s song ended, Jeonghwan thought to himself as he saw the factors of the party and military filling the podium one by one in descending order.

Although he was not yet in a position to go up to that podium, he sat in the ‘construction official’ seat in the tent about 100 meters away from the walls of the bodyguards, but Jeonghwan did not bother him at all.

In the next 20 minutes or so, everyone sitting on that podium, including the most important goal, Kim Jong-il, will die.

20 minutes

‘I had a plan B in place just in case… but I hope I don’t have to use it…’

“General Kim Il-sung, the leader of the nation and the eternal leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is here!”

With thunderous applause, an old man wearing glasses and a fat man with a large lump on the back of his neck entered the dining room.

At the appearance of Kim Il-sung, the father of all the people, who is like a living god in the republic, the citizens of Pyongyang who were seated in their seats burst into shouting cheers, and some of them even burst into tears of joy.

Although most of the real powers except for military personnel authority were recently transferred to his son Kim Jong-il, it was a moment that showed that Kim Il-sung’s position in the republic was still solid.

Even though the magic of makeup, costumes, and lighting could not hide the signs of aging, in any case, Kim Il-sung shook hands with the key executives seated on the podium and stood in front of the podium to correct his voice.

As soon as the voice of the living god resounded in the ceremony hall, many of the citizens of Pyongyang who were seated even raised their handkerchiefs and wiped their tears as if they could not believe they were hearing the voice of the leader directly.

As if responding to them, Jeonghwan also raised a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead, but of course it wasn’t because of emotion.

Because I knew the countdown had started.

As soon as the speech began, Jeonghwan turned and instructed the woman sitting next to him.

“Now, in the midst of a crisis of the nation, nation, and people, the entire party, the entire army, and all the people unite under the socialist ideology, and under the guidance of the Workers’ Party of Korea, enter the strong and prosperous country called the Ryugyong Hotel on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the country… .”

10 minutes

“Master Yu, do you know what to do? Call that person.”

“I got it. More than that, Comrade Jeonghwan.”

“……what? You have to hurry. Less than 10 minutes left…”

“Your hand is shaking.”

“…………”

Surprisingly, Junghwan looked down at his hand in surprise at the point of higher-ranking Yoo Hye-rim, the woman next to him, who was calmer than him.

It really was.

As she said, Jeonghwan’s hand was trembling slightly involuntarily.

He tried to deny it himself, but his hands were shaking unknowingly in front of the event of a lifetime that was about to happen in front of his eyes.

“……..Chootae-kun who is troublesome, this. It’s only because the wall is so small, so maybe what Director Baek Seung-cheol said was right.”

“Give me your hand.”

“…….yes?”

poof

“…………”

Jeonghwan was stunned for a moment at the warm body temperature that suddenly came through his hands and looked at Yoo Hye-rim’s face.

Yoo Hye-rim, who held Jeonghwan’s one hand tightly with her two hands and stayed there for a while until the shaking stopped, smiled and smiled at Jeonghwan.

“I’m not trembling anymore.”

“…………”

“Don’t worry too much, comrade. Everything will be fine.”

“……”

“…even if something goes wrong, I will be with my comrade until the end.”

“……Come on. before anyone sees it.”

Junghwan said only like that, and turned his gaze away, avoiding Hyerim Yoo’s gaze looking at him.

It was fortunate that everyone around them was so focused on Kim Il-sung’s speech that they didn’t see them.

Clap clap clap clap ………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Soon, there will be a flower bouquet delivery ceremony and a singing contest of hymns by the comrades from the ordinary middle school in Pyongyang city to thank General Kim Il-sung for his blessings.”

5 minutes

As soon as Kim Il-sung’s speech was over, Yu Hye-rim quickly disappeared from the crowd to bring someone who had been ordered by Jeong-hwan in advance.

At the podium, the children of party members wearing red scarves sang songs for the leader of the nation, President Kim Il-sung, and delivered bouquets of flowers.

When all the flowers were delivered, the presenter announced the appearance of the real hero of the event with a voice that was as loud as, or perhaps even louder, than when the moderator announced the appearance of Kim Il-sung with a nervous face.

“The successor of General Kim Il-sung, a standing member of the Politburo of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a member of the military, a party secretary, a respected leader, and General Kim Jong-il are entering!”

“Waa!!!!”

With cheers, people rose from their seats as if something had been written on them, and clapped like crazy.

Kim Jong-il, a small, stocky man dressed in civilian clothes, appeared from afar and began to approach the podium.

No one noticed that one of the party officials, who was sitting on the podium and waiting for Kim Jong-il’s arrival, had disappeared, all around them with applause and cheers.

But Jeong Hwan-man knew where he, Jang Seong-taek, the head of the youth division was.

1 minute

“Comrade Jeonghwan, what the hell is going on? What is it that brought me to such an important event?”

“Welcome, Comrade Jang Seong-taek. I don’t know if you are enjoying the event well.”

“Having fun and what, he called me, was there any chance of having fun? Let me tell you what’s going on quickly. Even if your officer said that he had something to tell me urgently, he should be receiving the general from the podium right now… Come on, tell me. Why did you call me all the way here?”

“It’s nothing. Do you remember what I said about Estonia the last time I met you in the general’s office?”

Jang Seong-taek, an executive summoned by Yoo Hye-rim, had an expression full of dissatisfaction, perhaps because he was called in a hurry, but when Jung-hwan talked about it last time, his face hardened slightly.

He quickly blinked his eyes and took a step closer to Jeonghwan and asked.

30 seconds

“I still wanted to ask you about it. Actually, about two weeks ago, as you predicted, there was a huge uproar in Estonia. What kind of magical powers did you use to figure it out?”

“It’s psychic, it’s just a prediction based on facts. Aren’t the leaders and generals the only ones who show magical powers in this republic? It’s like the Axis Act or something.”

“…………”

Jang Seong-taek unknowingly looked around and put his finger to his mouth at the sarcastic tone of Jung-hwan’s words.

Fortunately, knowing that no one was listening, he breathed a sigh of relief, but Jung-hwan, the person involved, was sweating for a completely different reason.

10 seconds

‘There’s only one minute left. After Kim Il-sung goes down from the stage and Kim Jong-il begins his speech…’

6 sec, 5 sec, 4 sec, 3 sec, 2 sec, 1 sec…………..

“Watch your mouth, the last time you looked at me once, so I’ll skip that statement. But, if you don’t tell me what the hell your prediction came from last time, I’ll have no choice but to accuse you of your counter-revolutionary remarks! Aren’t you the US spy? If not…”

Originally, Jung-hwan opened his mouth to say a word to Jang Sung-taek’s arrogant threat.

But at that very moment, something happened that very few of the people present, or even those in Pyongyang, knew about it, even Jeong Hwan, but did not know the exact time.

Whoops!!!!

At the appointed time, several bombs installed somewhere in the steel frame supporting the base of the Ryugyong Hotel, which stood like the Baekdu-daegan behind the ceremonial hall where the event was in full swing, exploded.

Although no one in the ceremony hall heard the explosion, which was not a huge explosion, and Kim Jong-il’s exaggerated speech was resounding, it was enough to produce the effect expected and expected by those who installed the bomb.

Fitting it hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey

Curl rumble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Soon, with an ominous sound like a moan, the Ryugyong Hotel began to collapse horizontally from the lower part.

Although only a few small bombs exploded, it was the result of various problems such as reinforced concrete construction that was not suitable for high-rise building construction, materials for the latter part that were too qualitatively different from the first part, and, above all, poor construction that focused on speed.

A large part of the wreckage of the Ryugyong Hotel, which began to collapse, fell to the ground and scattered in all directions when the base collapsed, unable to bear the load.

However, befitting its magnificent majesty, the insignificant debris became a tidal wave of concrete and metal and swept over the podium, starting with the ceremonial hall.

“That, that, that…………………………………”

“Ahhh!!!!!!!”

“Ahhh!!! Save me!!”

“Oh man………………”

Kwokwwwwwwhhhness

The waves of debris quickly engulfed the podium as well as the elite units of the General Guards Bureau who were guarding the surroundings.

Most of them died instantly, and the rest of those who survived died less than five minutes after the rubble struck.

As a result of the accident that day, more than half of the elite units of the First Bureau of the Guard, which escorted Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung from the closest distance, disappeared.

However, it was only the prelude to the bloody dark struggle and power struggle that raged in Pyongyang for about a month after the incident that later became known as the ‘Ryukyong Hotel Collapse Accident’ .