Chapter 308
February 27th, 2021, 09:00
Seoul, Jongro-ku, Blue House’s press center
President Suh Hyun-woo arrived at the first floor of the press center to make his address to the public about Corea’s use of tactical weapons at 05:30 this morning. Both domestic and foreign press agents started to take photos and the numerous flashes greeted the president.
President Suh Hyun-woo walked up to the podium from behind the stage and adjusted the microphone after he bowed politely.
“Hello, everyone. This is President Suh Hyun-woo,” the president briefly introduced himself and bowed once more. Then, he started to discuss the topics for his national address.
“Japan had used tactical nuclear weapons to the Corean military forces headed toward the Yokota base in Tokyo five times as of February 26th at 19:00. Our military and Japanese citizens both suffered casualties in great numbers. Over 1,000 men from the Corean military passed away in the line of duty and Japan is estimated to have suffered 500,000 civilian casualties.”
The press agents from Corea and foreign nations gave an outcry of grief.
“As you are all aware, Japan is a member of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty). Its use of tactical nukes is a clear violation of the treaty, and its actions can be considered a crime for attacking another member of the treaty.”
Unlike his previous addresses, President Suh Hyun-woo had rage in his eyes and his tone was firm.
“Therefore, our military fittingly retaliated against Japan after it had used nuclear weapons against another nation that was a part of the NPT. The entire nation has been struck by our military’s ballistic missiles and bombs from our bombers, including major cities, apart from the Kyushu area.”
When the president finished speaking, a screen at the left of the podium lit up to show the horrific scenes of the Japanese cities in ruins. The press agents were all beyond surprised and expressed their shock. They were aware Japan had been attacked by Corea but didn’t know it was this severe. Based on the footage on the screen, Japan was on the verge of collapse.
“The Corean government and military had refrained from using unethical or tactical weapons while fighting the war against Japan. Even if we did use them, they were targeted at military bases. However, Japan created and used tactical nuclear weapons in secret despite being a member of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and used suicide bombers to commence its attacks across cities in a Kamikaze fashion reminiscent of World War II. These reasons are more than enough to justify our military’s use of tactical weapons as a retaliation. Our beloved citizens of Corea! I would like to use this opportunity to offer a chance to surrender to the Japanese Prime Minister’s cabinet. That would be the only way for both nations to coexist in the future, and if they don’t, then Japan must suffer second and third attacks that are similar to the one made this morning. With that, I would like to conclude this address. Thank you all for attending.”
President Suh Hyun-woo moved from behind the podium and bowed once more.
The foreign press agents all raised their hands to ask questions.
“Robin Henderson from ABC News. Mr. President, just one question, sir.”
There were no plans to take questions from the press, but President Suh Hyun-woo gave a signal to his staff to allow it. Speaker of the Blue House Kang Soo-young, who was attempting to stop the newsagent, stepped back.
“Yes, we will take one question,” President Suh Hyun-woo pointed to Robin Henderson and answered him.
“Thank you. Mr. President, you have just stated that the Corean government and the military were justified in commencing a brutal attack across Japan that could be considered inhumane based on the reasons that the Japanese government created and used nuclear weapons despite being a member of the NPT. But do you still think the attack is still justified despite the millions of Japanese citizens that died from the attacks, sir?” the ABC News reporter asked sharply.
“Yes, to a nation that is not fighting the war, our reasons could be seen as excuses to attack the enemy. I will not deny it. However, for our nation that had been under the subject of Japanese imperialism for 36 years, things are a bit different. Therefore, these reasons seemed to be justified for our nation, and I believe our military’s actions were not too harsh. An inhumane action... Weren’t all wars throughout history inhumane? Now, I think that is enough for my statement. It’s time to call for an end to this address.” President Suh Hyun-woo, who had always given his speeches in a calm and warm tone, answered the question coldly and powerfully to pressure the entire room.
Once President Suh exited the stage, the foreign press agents all busily started to report back to their networks so they can break the news.
Soon, every news channel across the world started reporting about the progress of the war between Corea and Japan. It outlined how this morning the Corean military had used every available tactical weapon to retaliate against Japan’s use of tactical nukes. The attacks had turned the entire nation into a living hell where millions of Japanese civilians were killed. The news report also mentioned the Corean president’s offer to Japan for their surrender and how the nation would commence additional attacks like the one this morning if they didn’t. Every single news network was a buzz about the Corean president’s statement this morning.
Some of the nations that were friendly to Japan had criticized the Corean military’s actions as inhumane and cruel for causing so many civilian casualties, while other nations had criticized Japan for breaking the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) by creating nuclear weapons in secret and using them in this war. The news reports from different nations were on two extremes based on how friendly the nation was to either Corea or Japan.
* * *
February 27th, 2021, 11:00
Downtown Tokyo, Honshu, Japan
Five hours had passed since the Corean military had bombed every area of Japan excluding Kyushu. Large flames were burning across every area in Japan and outlined the brutal scene. The 20th armored division, capital armored division, and the 9th mechanized infantry division that had evacuated to the suburbs finished their maintenance and commenced their final occupation by moving toward Tokyo.
The areas that were directly hit by the plasma cluster rounds still had large flames coming out from the cracked earth. Some of the flames were 10m high. The 26th armored battalion under the 20th division was moving through these areas. Even though five hours had passed, some of the regions were hard to approach due to the high heat.
“Wow! This is crazy, isn’t it? We’ve seen this during the war against China, but it seems the explosive power has been upgraded since then. What do you think, Master Sergeant Oh, sir?” Sergeant First Class Kim Young-joo, the gunner of the 712 tank, said as he looked around the Shinjuku area resembling a living hell through his aiming scope.
“This is horrific! These must be more powerful than any nuclear bomb.”
The roads bent and twisted like taffy. There were a few cars on the roads with only their burnt frames remaining.
“Whoa! Master Sergeant Oh, at our 3 o’clock, sir.” Sergeant First Class Kim Young-joo had pointed to the location where the Tokyo City Hall—which Master Sergeant Oh desperately wanted to take over—used to stand. The building had collapsed on itself, and the site was now covered with debris and piles of rocks.
“Hey! That’s where the Tokyo City Hall used to be right?”
“Yes, you’re right, sir. It’s turned to dust.”
“Man. I think that building used to be at least 40 stories high.”
The Tokyo City Hall used to be the symbol of Shinjuku, and it was a landmark full of tourists from across the world. It had an observatory deck on the south and north towers. On a good day with nice weather, visitors could see Yokohama and Fuji Mountains. The 45th-story building also had a watchtower with a high-speed elevator that can reach the top in 55 seconds.
* * *
February 27th, 2021, 18:00
The depths 5km south of Tomakomai Port, Hokkaido, Japan (the Kuroshio’s (SS-596) helm)
Darkness was creeping toward the skyline when the three Oyashio class Kuroshio (SS-596), Yaeshio (SS-598), and Mochishio (SS-600) submarines with the deputy prime minister’s entourage aboard started to rise to the surface from 120m below the ocean.
The Kuroshio (SS-596) had attempted to contact the new Yokota bunker and the Tomakomai Port’s naval base an hour ago, but they did not get any response from both places. The captain of the Kuroshio (SS-596) decided to approach the port’s vicinity at 5km away and check the surroundings with a periscope after careful consideration.
“Our depth is 30. We are now at a depth to use our periscope, sir.”
Captain Ichirio Hideyo raised the periscope over the surface and checked the surroundings after hearing the helmsman’s report.
There were no ships to be seen on the surface. Captain Ichiro Hideyo became wide-eyed and exclaimed after seeing the Tomakomai Port as he turned the periscope slowly toward its direction.
“Ugh!”
“What is it? Captain!” the first mate asked him, when he came up.
“Take a look.” Captain Ichiro Hideyo let the first mate use the periscope and stepped back. The expression on his face was grim and full of despair.
“Th-that’s Tomakomai Port, isn’t it, sir?”
Tomakomai Port was burning, and flames were dancing around at numerous parts of the area. All the ships docked there had sunk, and some masts were seen floating on the surface.
“It seems they were attacked by the Corean military’s airstrikes, sir,” the first mate said after taking his eyes off the periscope.
“That seems to be the case. This is bad! We must move to a different port!”
“Then, where should we sail to, sir?”
“Hmm, which port in Hokkaido could our submarines dock at?”
The helmsman answered the captain, “Muroran Port would be optimal, sir.”
“Muroran Port? That would take us far away from Misawa base!”
“What choice do we have, sir? I believe the only route we can take is to dock there and go by land.”
“Very well, set the routes, and I will go speak with our commander.”
“Yes, captain.”
* * *
February 27th, 2021, 18:10
The depths 5km south of Tomakomai Port, Hokkaido, Japan (the Kuroshio’s (SS-596) bridge)
“Is that true?” Commander of the Navy Murakawa asked after hearing Captain Ichiro Hideyo’s report.
“It seems they were directly hit by the bombs, sir. Tomakomai Port and the city near it must have been subjected to heavy fire since it is still burning.”
“Damn it! Then, we cannot dock there!”
“Yes, so we are planning to sail to Muroran Port, Commander.”
“Muroran Port? How far is it from Asawa base?”
“Using the roads, it will be about 80km away.”
“Hmm, that’s not too far! The deputy prime minister’s health is failing!”
The deputy prime minister was bedridden on the captain’s bed from either severe stress or being seasick from boarding a submarine for the first time in his life.
“All right, set sail toward Muroran Port! How long will it take?” Commander Kinato Takeshi, the air force’s chief of staff asked.
“Yes, it will take us about two hours, sir. There’s one more thing. We cannot contact the new Yokota bunker and Misawa base.”
“How long has it been since our last contact?”
“We have reopened communications an hour ago, sir.”
“So, you’re saying we haven’t been able to contact them for over an hour?”
“Yes, Commander!”
“Perhaps it’s the EMP waves from the Tomakomai Port bombing that’s causing communication issues?”
“That could be a possibility, sir.”
“All right! Let’s sail to Muroran Port as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get things prepared!”
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