Chapter 241 - Book 10 2-6 A Time For Decisive Action: David And Goliath
It was diplomatically rude to officially disclose diplomatic documents. However, it was a war situation, and they had become hostile with each other, so President Seo Hyun-woo threw caution to the winds.
"But here, we faced the incomprehensible moves of the U.S. government. The United States was supposed to maintain a neutral attitude, but they constructed the first-class weapon Zumwalt that has been subject to export by restrictions so far. Also, they started to export all kinds of high-tech weapons such as the B-1B Lancer and the F-22 to Japan. They also adopted an expedient to provide weapons to Japan, saying that they were renting the weapons. This is without parallel in history. How could the United States who said it will keep a neutral position provide weapons to Japan like this? How could the U.S. Congress handle this matter with more haste than caution?"
The voice of the president was getting louder to the point that the entire Chunchungwan Press Center rang.
"Do you think that the United States really maintained a neutral position? My fellow Koreans, I think the U.S. is nothing more than just a country that makes money out of weapons. The United States just considers Corea and Japan as a means of earning money." President Seo Hyun-woo spoke more and more roughly.
"Despite the full U.S. arms support, Japan continued to be pushed back by our Armed Forces, and the U.S. withdrew its neutral position and began to intervene in this war. The U.S. requested peace between Corea and Japan, but they dispatched the Pacific Fleet to Northeast Asia. The U.S. stated that if Corea did not accept the request, it would conduct an armed exercise."
As the president revealed shocking facts one after another, reporters from home and foreign countries at Chunchungwan began to buzz.
"Besides, at 18:40 on the 13th, two LA-class nuclear submarines belonging to the 7th Fleet of the U.S. Navy launched a pre-emptive torpedo attack on two submarines of our Navy. Fortunately, those two nuclear submarines of the U.S. Navy were destroyed. Everyone! What do you think? Do you really think that the United States has played an unwavering mediation role as they said for peace on the Corean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia? I will leave the judgment to you."
The President made his final remark, staring through the broadcast camera.
"The government of the Republic of Corea is also willing to accept the U.S. government's declaration of war. Let's figure out which one is a truly honest country, and which one is a country that only thinks of their own people and using world peace as an excuse."
The statement to the nation by the president was over after one hour. He really wanted to reveal all about the 8.15 Pyongyang terror and the organization called the USSC behind the American President Trump. But he kept these facts for the next hidden card.
Foreign reporters started shouting questions to the president who tried to go down from the platform. Among them, a large white reporter shouted out loud.
"I'm Raynan from the L.A. Times. Presently, the war against Russia as well as Japan is not over. Do you have any room to fight a war against the United States?"
The president, who was about to leave from the platform, came back to the microphone and said, "I originally tried not to answer questions, but I have to answer that one because our people may also be concerned. The Republic of Corea won the war against China, a G2 country, in two months. Also, the Corean Peninsula has not suffered any war damage. And right now, Japan's Marine Self-Defense Forces and Air Self-Defense Forces are destroyed by more than 70%, not to mention the Land Self-Defense Forces. The problem is Russia. But I believe that President Putin of Russia will not make unreasonable decisions for his own good. But that's just my opinion, and if Russia takes one step into our territory, Man-ju, I will attack in revenge. The U.S.A. is the same. You saw, didn't you? Two proud nuclear submarines of the United States struck us first but still, they were sunk. Do you know how many U.S. Navy surface ships and aircrafts have been sunk by Corean submarines during the impact training exercise? I think this is enough to answer your question. Oh! And I want to tell you that our intelligence agency knows so many surprising secrets that have not yet been revealed to the world."
When the president replied, Raynan continued to ask questions like a veteran reporter. "What are those secrets? Why aren't you revealing them all now?"
"I don't think it's time to reveal them yet."
"Isn't it a deceitful tactic of pretending to have a secret that is not existing?
"What's your name you said?"
"I'm Raynan from the L.A. Times."
"When the time comes, Mr. Raynan, I'll call you first. Well, then."
The president came down from the platform and exited the Chunchungwan. However, questions from domestic and foreign reporters continued.
"Please wait for a moment. Minister of National Defense, Kang Hyun-soo will answer the questions."
Countries around the world were shocked by President Seo Hyun-woo's speech to the public, which had happened four hours after the declaration of war against Corea by President Trump. In particular, the U.K. and European Union (E.U.) countries that were closest to the US had begun to accurately judge and analyze the current situation.
The State Department asked for support for the war of the U.K. and E.U. countries by using all the diplomatic lines. But those countries wanted to confirm whether the contents of President Seo Hyun-woo's presentation were accurate or not. Some countries requested evidence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Corea about Japan and America that the Corean president had revealed during the speech. They also temporarily suspended or had withdrawn requests for support from the United States. The reactions of other allies were similar.
The Republic of Corea, which had succeeded in oppressing the United States by revealing all of the false acts of the United States that had been hidden so far, had sent evidence to all embassies requesting them. Meanwhile, the United States, embarrassed by the unforeseen thorough response by Corea, decided to wage a war with the Republic of Corea with only the U.S.' own strength because it could not get complete support from the U.K. and other European Union countries.
***
February 14, 2021, 13:20
Saga City, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
The Magpie Viper Regiment, which had defeated the 43rd Tank Regiment of the 8th Armored Division of the Ground Self-Defense Force the previous day and had begun to occupy Saga, succeeded in taking the entire city smoothly by 4 am the next day with the help of special forces who had infiltrated beforehand.
Throughout the fight, downtown Saga was filled with traces of bombs, lasers, and bullets. The cars that were parked were engulfed in flames, leaving only the frames. The signboards also barely hung or fell to the ground, littered with small and large holes.
Woo-woo! Woo-woo! Woo-woo!
As the morning drew on, fire trucks and ambulances ran through the city streets with their sirens blaring. Firefighters were busy trying to extinguish a fire in a building that was still burning and take the injured Japanese police and disarmed ground self-defense forces to the hospital.
Marines of the Magpie Viper Regiment who occupied Saga did not interfere with the actions of Japanese firefighters. Instead, they just monitored for any suspicious movement.
"Sir! I think we are all sleepy. Do you want me to grab some coffee from the store?" Corporal Gang Yeon-ho of the 7th Mobile Helicopter Battalion, who was on the lookout in the city center, said, pointing at the convenience store with his gun.
"Sure. I am so sleepy, too. Hey, get some Americano for me! Oh, and don't just bring it. You have to pay, you know that, right? If military police catch us, we will be locked up in a guardhouse. A guardhouse! Do you understand?"
"Oh, sir. I am already a Corporal! I know that already. Don't worry. And I have plenty of Japanese money."
"Ok. Go now."
Once Corporal Gang Yeon-ho got the permission from the squad leader, he went to the convenience store with Lance Corporal Oh Gil-sung. The owner of the convenience store, who had just opened the store, was surprised when the Marine Corps entered the store despite the violent street battle of last night.
"Why is he surprised? The sergeant wants to drink Americano. I will get a canned coffee. You take care of the rest of the people."
"Yes, sir."
While Lance Corporal Oh Gil-sung walked around the convenience store and chose coffee, Corporal Gang Yeon-ho approached the owner of the convenience store.
"You are insane! Why are you opening the store in the middle of this situation?"
Corporal Gang Yeon-ho, who thought the owner would not understand Korean, said in a slightly sarcastic manner. The owner of the convenience store, who looked to be in his mid-30s, suddenly shouted in anger, discarding his scared expression.
"What the hell is this bastard saying? Hey, you speak some Japanese, right?"
"A little bit, sir," Lance Corporal Oh Gil-sung, who had chosen all the coffees, approached the cash register and said, glaring at the owner of the convenience store.
"This bastard just said 'Why did you illegally invade Japan? I won't sell you anything, so go out.' And I think this brat is a member of the extreme right."
"Bastard! You want to die?" Corporal Kang Yeon-ho glared at the owner of the store and cursed. He looked at where Lance Corporal Oh Gil-Sung was pointing with his finger.
There were several A4-sized posters of Rising Sun Flags at the top of the convenience store.
"How dare you hang the Rising Sun flags? I think I should smash you!" As soon as he saw the Rising Sun, Corporal Kang Yeon-ho felt angry and yelled at the owner, pointing the CS2 laser rifle to him. He wanted to shoot a laser beam, but he didn't want to go to the guardhouse. So, he just frightened him. As a result, the owner of the convenience store recoiled in fear.
"He is just nothing but bullshit. How much is it?"
At that time, loud shouts began to be heard from outside.
Lance Corporal Oh Gil-sung went to check outside, looked back, and said with a frown, "Sir! I think we can't drink coffee anymore. Protesters are coming."
"Protesters? Son of a bitch..."
On the 8-lane road across the street, Japanese citizens with Japanese flag bands on their heads were marching with protest cards. And some of the people behind them had baseball bats and sticks.
"Corporal Kang! Lance Corporal Oh! The squad leader asked you guys to come right away," Hong Jeong-pyo, the youngest member of the squad, opened the convenience store door and yelled.
"Let's go!"
About 500 protesters approach nine members of the Marine Corps squad, yelling louder and louder.
***
February 14, 2021, 13:30
The plains 3km southeast of Saga City, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
After taking a morning break, the 5th and 6th Mobile Striking Force moved to the plains of the southeastern part of Saga to advance. Excluding armored vehicles that were destroyed or broken in some engagement, 68 K-23P-M mobile combat armored vehicles were ready to cross the Chikugo River which extended to Kurume.
On the other hand, across the Chikugo River, eight companies of the 42nd Tank Regiment of the Land Self-Defense Force were preparing, and not only mortar battalions, self-propelled artillery batteries were also on standby about 30km away.
These forces were waiting for the Corean Marines to cross the Chikugo River.
"Sir! It seems like crossing the river would not be easy," the operation staff told Regiment Leader Kim In-hyuk after analyzing the contents of the reconnaissance from the spider drone.
"But we can't slow down, can we? Ask for support from the Naval Aviation Corps, quickly cross the river, and proceed to high-speed maneuvering. Contact support and forward it to each battalion commander."
"Yes, sir!"