Chapter Five (Part One)

January 4, 1985: Death of Kem Kyung Long’s father:
CNN continued to report the news about the death of Kem Kyung Long’s father. It was being reported as a confirmed assassination, and Kem Kyung Long’s uncle being put to death as well. It seemed, according to Kem, that he was accused of attempting to overthrow the North Korean government, and Kem couldn’t have that. Kem claimed that the new party would be further solidified. The ranks would be stronger, and unity would be maximized.
“I am the new ‘Great Leader’,” he said, and as the new leader, his first order of business was the order to begin the deployment of new troops along the DMZ and repositioning those already there. The ruthlessness of his act and the military order brought the current political situation to an even more dangerous level of instability. Analysts reported, according to the intelligence they were able to obtain, that “Kem Kyung Long” was indeed proving to be eviler than his father, a cold-blooded and unpredictable terrorist who would continue to operate a terroristic regime. Kem made it plain that his father was spineless, but he was not. And a new twist was thrown in, something the U.S. suspected but not confirmed. He revealed that he had nuclear weapons and would use them. He further added that Japan, Guam, and the U.S. were their targets. With this latest report, Kem fully
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expected the U.S. to begin deploying more troops into the region, and especially into South Korea.
In the White House Situation Room:
“Mr. President, if it could get worse,” said the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General James Wilkinson. “Nukes change the game, and if he is really intent on using them, then we need to be ready to strike first or we need to send a team in and neutralize him.”
President Rogers listened to all the thoughts and recommendations. Starting a war with North Korea would have disastrous results, and he didn’t want to do that.
“First of all, what is our current military strength in South Korea?” The President asked.
“Sir, at present we are about 28,000 strong, and that in my opinion won’t last a day if he decides to attack,” said General Wilkinson. “We need to get more troops into the area and do it now.”
The President thought about that. War was something he did not want, and he knew the people of the United States didn’t want one either, but he could not let Kem go unanswered. “Two things, I need proof of Kem’s intentions, just because he says he’s going to use nukes does not mean he is, and a preemptive strike package just in case he does. Also, issue orders to the bases in Japan and Guam to put all troops on alert for deployment. But we don’t, I say again, we don’t, pull the trigger unless there is no other option, and I mean no other. But let’s get his attention by firing a shot across his bow.”
The Joint Chiefs all looked at each other and smiled. They have been waiting to do something about North
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Korea for a long while, and now they were hoping this was going to be their chance.
“Yes, Sir,” The Chairman said.
The President turned and left the room.