Chapter 138 - Book 6 1-8 The Great East Asian War!: Escalation! A Naval Battle At Dokdo Island
December 13, 2020, 23:00 (EST 09:00), UN Security Council Headquarters in New York, United States
When the Korea–China war suddenly morphed into the Northeast Asian war due to the sudden intervention of Russia and Japan, the international community was greatly shaken up. Russia's and Japan's involvements were followed by a statement issued by the United States and other Western nations regarding their own positions amid concerns that the Northeast Asian war would spread autonomously into World War III.
In response, the UN headquarters convened the Emergency Security Council on the agenda of the currently expanding Northeast Asian war. It revealed UN's limitations in arbitrating among the countries or in creating a resolution plan due to the fact that it was a war involving China and Russia, permanent members of the UN Security Council The UN Emergency Security Council can only focus on preventing it from expanding into a world war.
One important factor was the dissolution of the trilateral alliance among the United States, Korea, and Japan formed around the United States. In fact, it was safe to say that this came from the United States in 2017 when the Trump regime came into existence, giving the United States priority and isolationism on the basis of the policy and giving the role of the Northeast Asia Peace Control Center to Japan.
As a result, it lessened the United States' military intervention in Northeast Asia and subsequently led to a reduction in national defense budgets and an increase in exports of military weapons to Japan. In line with this change in the United States' policy, Japan became a warfare state from being a war criminal nation that broke the framework of the peace constitution, showing its true color of militarism and ending up as a common state that had to be war free. A Constitution was created that had more authority than the Japanese Constitution, which was the highest law in Japan.
In the midst of the United States and Japan creating the stake that supported their own self-interests, this conflict arose.
Currently, the United States presented their position that they will not engage in the Northeast Asian war in abeyance. In other words, it was meant to be viewed as a neutral position being an ally of the two countries, Korea and Japan. In reality, however, the U.S. was actively promoting exports of various military weapons as requested by Japan.
In this way, the Northeast Asian war was a situation in which many countries' interests were entangled, and thus no other country, including the United Nations, was able to resolve.
* * *
One hour ago, at the UN National Security Council.
"After the last illegal invasion of China, Korea launched an illegal surprise attack on the JMSDF, who were officially training in the Japan–Korea Joint Waters, causing tremendous casualties and damages to the JMSDF. In this regard, I believe that the UN Security Council should impose appropriate sanctions against Korea, a war-provoking country that not only threatens Northeast Asia, but also world peace."
The Ambassador of Japan's Foreign Affairs, Otohiko Endo, regurgitated an impassioned speech while sputtering. In response, the Korean Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahn Hyo-joon raised his hand to get a chance to speak.
"Korea, please speak."
UN Security Council Chairman, Anpoly Macarin from the United States, gave him the opportunity to speak.
"Respected members of the UN Security Council! Please look at the screen for a moment."
The screen on the central wall of the Security Council lit up and several documents became visible.
"This is a treaty signed by China and Japan in secret. The name of the agreement is 'The Japanese–Chinese Mutual Treaty'. "
When the documents of The Japanese–Chinese Mutual Treaty, which was a highly confidential document given the highest level of security, appeared on the screen, Ambassador Endo Otohiko's face turned bright red.
"The contents pertain to an agreement that Japan will occupy Korea's Dok-do Island in timing with Russia moving its troops to the three sages of the Northeast. In exchange, China will give a supporting signature that Dok-do Island is Japan's own territory, as well as an acknowledgment that the Senkaku Archipelago is Japan's official territory, a condition that Gyeongsang District and Jeju Islands will be transferred to Japan, and finally, a condition that on behalf of the Spratly Islands, that all territories under China's dominium in the South China Sea be jointly maintained by China and Japan."
At Vice-Minister Ahn's comments, the members of the Security Council stirred in an instant.
"Don't lie, Vice-Minister Ahn Hyo-joon! How can you make a false claim with a fabricated document?"
Ambassador Endo Otohiko argued while getting furious with anger.
"Yes, China has never made such a treaty with Japan. That is a fake document. Vice-Minister Ahn will be liable for the legal responsibilities."
Even China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director Chin Kang shouted while making excuses.
"This is a fake document? All right. Let's officially check whether this document is fabricated or authentic. If it is a falsified document, I will be punished for all my sins here, and Korea will do whatever the UN says. However, what would you do if this treaty is authentic? Please tell me, you two."
Vice-Minister Ahn Hyo-joon looked thoroughly at the members of the Security Council once and spoke with confidence.
"Why can't you speak? Please speak if you have a clear conscience. The nation of Korea and I will take full responsibility for it and will accept everything the Security Council requires."
Vice-Minister Ahn, while glaring at Ambassador Endo and Director Chin Kang, pushed with even more vigor. To this, Ambassador Endo wanted to argue further but, in the end, was unable to speak. He judged that if he misspoke, the subsequent storm could become even greater if the treaty was revealed to be authentic.
"So you can't speak?"
Vice-Minister Ahn, who had been waiting for a while to give them a chance to speak, spoke again.
"Respected members of the Security Council. Currently, Korea is not only at war with China, but also now with Russia. In addition, there is a need to go to war against Japan, who tacitly made a secret treaty with China. Korea does not want the Northeast Asian war that followed a Korea–China war to escalate into a world war. However, on the basis of China and Japan pushing Korea as an illegal invasion country, and in the war with Russia that is attacking the three sages of the Northeast that Korea has occupied in the light of the signing of the land transfer agreement with China, I ask that all the member countries see this from a neutral perspective. That's it. No matter what the aforementioned reason is, we would like to express that Korea would like to solve this war on our own. That is all."
Vice-Minister Ahn, who finished his speech from beginning to end with a confident voice, sat down. Then, once again, the members of the Security Council stirred. The Chairman of the Security Council, Vice-President Anpoly Macarin, asked the Japanese Ambassador for his final comment.
"Ambassador Endo Otohiko, will you take up the agenda that Korea is an illegal aggressor nation?"
To this, Ambassador Endo Otohiko thought for a moment, then turned his head from side to side.
"No. I will cancel it."
Once the "Japanese–Chinese Mutual Treaty" was confirmed by Korea, the grounds for claiming Korea as an illegal aggressor disappeared, and in return, Japan was caught in an embarrassing situation. As a result, proposing an agenda to the Security Council would only magnify Japan's false claims.
"Then this meeting of the Security Council will end with this. After a one-hour recess, we will take time to gather and decide from the opinions of each member country to prevent the Northeast Asian war from expanding into a world war. That is all."
* * *
December 14, 2020, 01:20, National Crisis Management Center basement bunker (Oval Office) in Seoul Jongro-ku Blue House
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work, Vice-Minister Ahn. Please contact me as soon as the second meeting is over."
Minister Kim Jae-hak hung up the phone and approached the President right away to speak.
"I just received a call that the Security Council meeting is over."
At the UN Security Council convening for an emergency meeting, several senior officials, including President Suh Hyun-woo, were waiting for the results of the meeting at the Blue House.
"What were the results of the meeting?"
"It seems that 'The Japanese–Chinese Mutual Treaty' obtained from the NIS this time played a significant role. He said that Japan raised it on the agenda but ended up canceling it."
"That's a relief."
"I think it was a good blow to Japan this time."
"Minister Kim, you expressed that well."
"However, Mr. President, I have one question . . ."
"What is it, Minister Kang?"
"I was wondering if you opted to remain silent about Japan's Sarin gas spraying incident at this Security Council meeting."
Minister of Defense Kang Hyun-soo asked.
"It's not because of anything else. Wouldn't it be a shame to use two of our aces at once? Sometime in the future, there will be a day when we can use the Sarin gas matter properly."
"So that was the reason why, sir."
After making a meaningful expression, the President then turned to Minister Kim and asked a question.
"How is it currently going on with the expulsion of the Japanese Embassy staff?"
"Yes, all 32 embassy staff, including Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine and the Consul General, will be expelled today. On the other hand, Japan has also issued orders for the expulsion of both the Korean Ambassador and the Korean Embassy staff."
"Securing the safety of our own people is our first and foremost priority. Please proceed quickly at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to completely stop tourism to Japan, and to return Korean citizens and international students residing in Japan."
"Yes, sir."
This time, President Suh shifted his gaze to the Head of the NIS and spoke as if he were making a request.
"Japan will surely use this as an opportunity to revive militarism. I believe it won't end easily. At the NIS, please pay more attention to gathering overseas information on Japan."
"There is information that Japan is increasing import requests for US weapons."
"What do you think is the stance of the United States?"
"Although they claim to take a neutral stance on the outside, what we have seen so far of the behavior of the United States makes it seem likely they will be exporting most of the weapons."
"Hmm. Minister Kim, meet with the United States Ambassador and check their position more accurately. Please make it clear that it is very unpleasant to continue to betray us in this way."
"Yes, sir."
President Suh briefly tilted his head back and slowly pressed on his neck while wrapping it. Perhaps due to the increasingly complex relations with several countries, he had a lot of stress these days.
"Yes. How is it currently going with the Russian Army?"
"Yes, sir, there is no military conflict with Russia yet. To my knowledge, they are currently fighting on several fronts."
"I am actually more concerned about Russia than China or Japan."
The President voiced his honest feelings. To this, the Minister of Defense replied with understanding.
"Mr. President, the Joint Chiefs of Staff will figure this out well. It's best to believe and wait."
"That is true. Didn't we overcome China easily?"
To comfort the mentally anguished President, even the Head of the NIS expressively supported what the Minister of Defense was saying.
"I understand. I think my mind wandered off while thinking about various scenarios. Well then! Let's finish this meeting here, and I'll see you again tomorrow."
"Yes, Mr. President, sir."
* * *
December 14, 2020, 02:00, B2 Bunker (Armed Forces Joint Command Control situation room) in Seoul Yongsan-ku
On the main screen in the situation room, the symbols marking the Korean and Russian forces along the three sages border of Russia and China were standing face to face. Although there had been no military collisions yet, over time, each country's army was standing face to face with a narrowed distance of fewer than 50 km. Of these, the 5th Army's 57th Motorized Rifle Division led the tank regiment and was advancing faster than the other units. The Korean force going against them was not the ground army but the 1st Marine Division's 3rd Marine Regiment.
"Can the current 3rd Marine Regiment stop the 57th Division of Russia?"
Chairman Kang Yi-sik asked, with a slightly worried expression.
"According to our current understanding, the 57th Motorized Rifle Division of Russia consists of 233 motorized rifle regiments, 234 motorized rifle regiments, 12 tank regiments, and 55 air defense regiments. Their total number of troops is 6,393."
The Director of Operation pointed to several parts of the screen with a laser pointer and continued explaining.
"As you may know, the most threatening unit is the 12th Tank Regiment, which is running the T-80 and leading the advancement. The total number of tanks is confirmed to be 123."
"We are behind even in numbers. Even if the main Russian tank is an early version, it's still a third-generation tank. Wouldn't it be difficult to go against a tank equipped with a 125-mm smoothbore gun with just a landing vehicle?"
"If we compare with the specifications alone, the defense of the K-24P-N amphibious assault landing vehicle operated by the Marine Corps is enough to block the 125-mm smoothbore gun of the T-80 tank. Also, I think the T-80 tank can be destroyed with the 50-mm photon gun of the amphibious assault landing vehicle."
"Well, even so, I want to minimize the damage in the fight against Russia. Where is the nearest armored unit?"
"Yes, the 82nd Mechanized Infantry Division, directly under the 5th Boundary Command, is located at 252 km southeast of the 3rd Marine Regiment."
"Good! Place the 3rd Marine Regiment to the rear up to 80 km and direct the 82nd Mechanized Infantry Division to support the 3rd Marine Regiment by only deploying two tank battalions."
"Yes, sir."