Mark Greaney - Full Force and Effect

The first order of business had been to detail to the Chinese president North Korea’s involvement in the attack in Mexico City. Ryan brought no evidence with him—this wasn’t the type of meeting where two men would look over photos and witness statements together. Ryan instead offered to send Ling every shred of intelligence the U.S. had gleaned from Adel Zarif over the past three days.

Ling was astonished, and Ryan was pleased to see the seventy-year-old Chinese Communist Party leader seemed to be every bit as worried about how this would affect China as Ryan had hoped he would be.

Ryan then delved into details about Choi’s obsessive quest to obtain nuclear missiles that could reach the U.S. mainland. Again, President Ling’s face registered the gravity of the threat this posed to his own nation.

Ryan could see that Ling knew what was good for him and his country. He would play ball with America in the looming crisis. The last thing in the world he needed was a war between nuclear powers on his border, and Choi Ji-hoon’s aggressive quest for intermediate-range missiles and his targeting of world leaders were leading the region inexorably toward war.

With the threats laid out in stark terms, Ryan offered his gift. He told Ling of the defection of Hwang Min-ho, the director of Korea Natural Resources Trading Corporation. The man was in U.S. custody, but Ryan offered China access to him, and the opportunity to put him on national television and radio. Hwang was prepared to speak about how the North Korean Supreme Leader had initiated the process to squander many trillions of dollars’ worth of desperately needed riches for his nation by expelling Chinese miners, all because he wanted to obtain a nuclear weapons delivery vehicle that would reach to the U.S. It was an endeavor that might well have led to the destruction of the entire Korean Peninsula in the process, and the citizens of North Korea needed to know about this.

Ryan knew the Chinese had media, mostly radio broadcasts, that could reach into hundreds of thousands of homes in North Korea. Not to the proletariat, these people only had the government radio sets that blocked all but officially recognized channels, but to the elite of the nation, virtually all of whom listened to modified radios that allowed them to pick up Chinese transmissions, often translated into Korean for their benefit.

Within hours Hwang could be on a flight to Beijing with an American contingent. It was crucial he spread the word about Chongju to the people of North Korea as soon as possible, because Choi had been showing his volatility. The impounding of his mining equipment, the accusations he was involved in the assassination plot, the capture of his ICBM technology, and now the news that his intelligence chief had committed suicide. Choi was a wounded animal and everyone expected him to act as such.

And Choi had lived down to these expectations. In the past day he had launched two short-range rockets into the Sea of Japan and shelled a pair of South Korean islands.

Ryan knew the only sure bet was for Choi to be deposed from within, and the best chance for an internal uprising was convincing the elite of the nation that Choi had adversely affected all of their fortunes with his reckless obsession with nuclear missiles.

And on this Ryan and Ling were on the same page. They both felt their nations would only benefit if Choi was knocked from power. Ryan explained to Ling he knew the rare earth mineral mine’s value and its potential value to Ling’s nation. “If you could get your mining industry back inside North Korea, it would be a tremendous boon to your nation’s economy.”

Ling nodded, then asked, “How do you propose we convince Choi to allow this, without offering him missiles that would reach your California?”

Ryan said, “China has a lot of positive influence over North Korea. Hwang’s speech might force the hand of the people of the nation to sack Choi.”

“That is possible. We do maintain many friendly contacts with people in positions of power.”

Ryan knew this, and he knew the answer to the question he posed next, but he knew it only through intelligence intercepts from China. He couldn’t reveal this, of course, so he played dumb.

“Ji-hoon’s uncle, I forgot his name . . . he was the ambassador to China, wasn’t he? Whatever happened to him?”

Ling nodded. “Choi Sang-u. We had a most excellent relationship with him. His nephew thought the relationship was too good, unfortunately, so Ji-hoon threw Sang-u in prison.”

Ryan said, “It sounds like it would benefit China if this man was put into power in place of Ji-hoon.”

Ling agreed. “This would be the best possible outcome.” After a pause he added, “Depending, of course, on his present health and condition. You might know there is an attempt to reeducate those in prison. Not so much in the internment camps, but still we would have to evaluate him to see if he could take over the reins of power.”

Ryan said, “If this works, you might just have to take your chances. God knows he’d be better than Ji-hoon in power.”

Ling nodded thoughtfully. “You make a fair point.”

Ryan felt like the matter was dealt with. Hwang would tell the North Korean elite that China should be in North Korea operating the mineral mine. And that wouldn’t happen with Choi Ji-hoon in Ryongsong.

Ryan switched gears suddenly. “Mr. President, there is another matter I need to discuss with you.”

“Unrelated?”

“No, it’s related. I would like to ask for some help. A citizen of my country is, at present, in North Korea. He is wounded, and it is critical we retrieve him.”

Ling listened to the translation, then asked, “Do you mean to tell me you have an American secret agent inside North Korea?”

Ryan shrugged a little. “I am not prepared to say what the man’s occupation is. But I hope you will appreciate the fact I refuse to lie to you.”

The president of China nodded slightly.

“What is it you want?”

“He is less than a kilometer from your border on the southern side of the Yalu River.”

“You are asking us to open our border crossing?”

“No, Mr. President. I am asking more than that. I am asking you to send some men in to get him.”

“I am afraid what you are asking is out of the question. Despite the other matter to which we have just agreed, it is important for my country to maintain good and open relations with the DPRK. The potential for scandal in this matter is too great.”

“The success of the first matter depends on the positive resolution of the second.”

The president of China turned to his translator and had him repeat himself. Ryan saw the man was confused by the wording, but he let him figure it out on his own. Finally President Ling spoke and the translator turned it into English. “Do you mean to say the entire deal depends on this one man?”

Ryan did not hesitate. “Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. It is in both of our nations’ interests that this man is rescued, alive.”

Ling was still astonished, but Ryan could see the gears turning in his head. The man saw an opportunity. “If I agree to your request, I would like the opportunity for my intelligence officials to sit with this individual for a short interview.”

Ryan had been ready for this. “The information he has is related to the issue at hand, nothing more.”

“Be that as it may, I request—”

“It is likely this man is gravely injured. I want him delivered to us, here in Beijing. I will delay my departure, if necessary. If you do that, you have my personal assurance that an interview will be granted, provided he is in condition to give an interview and only if my own people are allowed to be present during the interview.” Ryan smiled. “I expect this man might be very confused by everything.”