Chapter 520: Season 2 Book 21 Shadow of War 2 – 2-3 Perspective of Individuals
Exactly six hours before the start of the summit.
The night before, Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan was appointed special envoy by President Choo Un-hee and was sent to Riga, Latvia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, as a special envoy, he was given an important mission.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea tried to hold talks with the leaders of pro-American countries who had flown to Riga from all over Europe for the EU summit a week ago, but they did not show any willingness to meet despite informal requests for talks.
As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested an urgent amendment to a secret meeting with foreign ministers rather than a summit meeting. Fortunately, they had expressed their intention to accept requests for secret meetings at the ministerial level from five countries.
Italy, Spain, Austria, Sweden and Finland have expressed their willingness to accept it. In addition, six countries simultaneously accepted the form of a multinational meeting, and now, at the secret meeting place of the Radisson Blue Regenne Hotel, five diplomats were seated at a round table looking a little uncomfortable.
“Thank you for accepting this request for a meeting.”
Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan politely bowed his head and bowed to the five foreign chiefs. He was under the rank of ministers sitting at the round table, but he was entitled to be treated on the same level as the head of state because he had been appointed as a special presidential envoy.
However, Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan humbly showed courtesy to the diplomatic heads of the five countries.
“I am very grateful to all of you for taking such a difficult step. Today, I will tell you why I’ve requested this informal, confidential interview.”
Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan, who gave his thanks once more, went straight to the main topic. In addition, the gentle expression up until now was nowhere to be seen, and he gave them a serious look.
“In five hours, at the summit, before your leaders make any decision, I would like to share with you a few things from our president. As you all know, yesterday New China was forever lost to history due to the annexation along with the official surrender to our Republic of Korea.”
“Excuse me! Deputy Minister Kim! I don’t have much time because of the summit. Just briefly tell us what you would like to say,” Italian Foreign Minister Della Vedova interrupted the conversation, showing just how uneasy he felt.
“Ah! You misunderstood. This is the brief.”
“Yes?”
“Now that you’re already here, won’t you stay and listen?”
After speaking in a firm tone, Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan turned his gaze to the rest of the ministers and continued his speech.
“I am talking about the current international situation. Currently, the Republic of Korea has overtaken the United States to become the number one country in GDP. That’s a whopping of 32 trillion dollars.”
The Republic of Korea entered the rapid growth phase from 2018, reaching $2.69 trillion in GDP, ranking sixth in the world. They then reached the top with $25.55 trillion in GDP in 2022, surpassing the United States. As of 2023, their GDP was $322 trillion, allowing them to maintain the top spot. It was a huge high-speed growth that was 11 times more than 2018, which was unprecedented in history.
Speaking of economic issues, Foreign Minister Della Vedova’s expression contorted even more.
In the case of Italy, as the financial and economic crisis occurred in 2008, it entered a phase of stagnation, and in 2009, the financial situation deteriorated, and until now, it was struggling in a recession. Behind the scenes, the corruption of politicians was playing a strong role, and the economic situation in Italy could not be easily improved without major political reforms.
“Did you create this meeting to brag that you are a prosperous country?” At the words of Foreign Minister Della Vedova, who stopped talking once again with a displeased expression, Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan spread his hands with an unexplained smile.
“Did you think I meant it that way? Well, in a way, it might sound like I did.” Kim Myung-hwan, the second vice minister who replied in a tone that seemed to be sarcastic, looked at Foreign Minister Della Vedova as if he was going to make Italy the first target.
“Minister Vedova! As of 2023, the amount exported to Korea is about 6 billion dollars, right? Conversely, the amount imported from Korea is 5 billion dollars. As Korea, we have a trade deficit of about 1 billion dollars.”
“What do you want to say?”
“Yes, we are going to stop all trade with Italy.”
“What?”
In the end, the angry Minister of Foreign Affairs Della Vedova jumped up from his seat. But Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan didn’t seem to care, and he continued what he wanted to say. “On the premise that economic sanctions will be imposed on the Republic of Korea at the summit. Besides Italy, we will stop trading with all EU countries.”
The expressions of the rest of the ministers who had been listening to the slightly radical remarks changed little by little.
“Ministers, will the EU’s economic sanctions only harm the Republic of Korea? Naturally, the EU will also suffer huge economic losses. So which one will do more damage? Data has emerged that South Korea will suffer a little more damage if it is Korea versus the EU. However, the Republic of Korea has entered into economic alliances with more than 40 countries, including the Republic of China, the Eastern Republic, Southeast Asia, India, South America, and Africa. The combined population of all these countries is over four billion. It’s half of the world’s population. Do you know what I mean?”
After finishing his speech, Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan looked around at the various ministers with a rather serious expression.
“Do you mean to say that you will use the Economic Alliance to reverse the economic retaliation against our EU?”
Austria’s Foreign Minister, Heinz Berg, accurately summarized what Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan was trying to say.
“Yeah, you got it right. If so, which side will suffer the most financially? Perhaps within a year, a fiercely contested exit from the EU will occur. In other words, the EU will be disassembled.”
“Would that be all? In most European countries, tourism is one of the main importing businesses right? Currently, the Korean people are the most frequent travelers overseas, with an average of 1.5 times or more per person per year, with Europe being their number one destination. Now, what if we take a year-long travel ban on Europe and send a letter of cooperation to the Economic Alliance?”
In any European country, tourism has been one of the main projects of the country. If the tourism industry suffered a recession following economic retaliatory measures, it was obvious that it would lead to an unimaginable situation.
“Are you even threatening me now?”
When Foreign Minister Della Vedova, who was standing still without a seat, smirked, looked up, and spoke, Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan replied with a tilted head. “I hope it’s not a threat. I don’t think so. I am here to give you a present.”
“A gift, not a threat?” asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Della Vedova again nervously.
“I’m talking about the adverse effects that will come to all EU countries in the future if economic sanctions are imposed on South Korea at the EU summit.”
“Are you kidding me now?”
Finally, Foreign Minister Della Vedova slammed his table once and walked straight to the door.
“Minister Vedova! I won’t stop you but don’t forget that Italy is the next target after the destruction of Russia.”
“What? Are you going to war with Italy now?”
“Heh heh, this is true, I have laid the premise, that is if the EU imposes economic sanctions on South Korea at the summit. Also, will NATO forces participate in the Korean-Russia War? Standing on the Russian side. Wouldn’t that naturally lead to a war with Italy? Not only Italy but the other countries here as well.”
At the words of Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan, who continued to make sweeping statements, the rest of the ministers were also severely shaken.
“Isn’t that too radical?” The Swedish foreign minister intervened in the middle of the conversation, seemingly impatient.
“Do you think that’s an extreme statement? Just a few hours before you decide to impose economic sanctions and join NATO forces against our country – who is making radical remarks and actions now?”
Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan glared at various ministers, who were seated, including Minister Della Vedova. As a result, the atmosphere in the hotel room became cold enough to chill, and silence fell upon them.
Minister Della Vedova, who was holding the doorknob, couldn’t take another step and stood in an awkward position. It was because he had said something wrong.
“Vice Minister Kim! So what do you want from us?” David Alba, head of foreign affairs in the Spanish Prime Minister’s Office, asked cautiously.
“Don’t you all know? All you have to do is vote against the agenda items at this summit.”
“How will we benefit from doing so?”
Even in this situation, David Alba, the chief of foreign affairs and diplomat, seemed to have a vocation to take care of the profits that would be returned to his country.
“A profit…. First of all, it can be seen that the Republic of Korea does not become a hostile country. Second, we promise financial support. In particular, in the case of Italy, its light industry, which was the center of the economy, is experiencing an economic downturn due to the pursuit of emerging and developing countries. We promise to provide technical support for each country to solve these problems. Currently, Korea has a myriad of products that have not been released to the world even after developing new technologies to maintain the flow of the global economy. I just want you to know that.”
“Can you make such a promise as the Deputy Minister?” David Alba, the chief of foreign affairs, asked once again.
“I hold the position of Deputy Minister, but now I am meeting you as a special envoy on behalf of the President. In other words, I want you to know that what I am saying would be the same if the President of the Republic of Korea was speaking to you herself.”
“Great. Rather than a verbal promise, it seems that a written promise is needed so that there will not be any problems in the future.” Again, David Alba, the chief of foreign affairs, was as sly as a fox when it came to foreign affairs.
“Of course. We already have it prepared.”
Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan took out a few documents from his briefcase and placed them in front of the heads of foreign affairs. Minister Della Vedova, who was standing around in front of the door, also sneaked up and sat down at his seat.
“Please read it slowly. Read it and you will be satisfied.”
Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan’s softened expression and Minister Della Vedova showed a bright smile. At this, Minister Della Vedova gave an awkward smile and read the document in front of him.
After some time passed, the heads of diplomacy of each country put down the documents they had read on the table with a satisfied expression on their faces.
“How is it?”
“Well, that’s fine.”
“I am satisfied.”
“I am satisfied too.”
“You were better prepared than I expected.”
But Minister Della Vedova said nothing. Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan, noticing this, said, “It seems that Minister Vedova is not very happy with it.”
“Ah! That’s not it. It’s just that there’s something promised by the U.S.…”
Minister Della Vedova, conscious of other countries’ heads of foreign affairs, blurted out his words. Italy, which was in a very poor economic situation, had received promises of trillions of dollars in economic aid from the United States.
“Well, think about it. Which country will be responsible for the world order in the future? For reference, the Republic of Korea has surpassed the United States militarily and economically for a long time now. The situation will be the same in the future too. I hope you think about it carefully.”
It may seem like Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan’s statement was meant to intimidate. That may have been the case but Minister Della Vedova did not ask questions with anger as before but listened silently.
“Now, if you like it, you can sign the document.”
When Second Vice Minister Kim Myung-hwan pointed to the document with both palms, the foreign chiefs of each country took out their fountain pens and signed their respective signatures.
Because these events were carried out in secret, the leaders of Italy, Spain, Austria, Sweden, and Finland, who were the most pro-American, voted against the EU summit five hours after receiving the same report from the head of foreign affairs. Only Italy had voted in support of it.
This was the reason why the United States, which had believed that it would be passed by releasing a large amount of money, was hit in the back of the head..
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