For a year before the inter-Korean summit, behind-the-scenes negotiations had been steadily underway. Whether they bore fruit or not, the government announced the summit schedule a few months ahead of the general election. The Centrist Party and the Conservative Party cried election interference, but it did little to sway the polls.
Kim Hak-kwon had meant it as a knockout punch, and the lack of impact must have stung. With the president’s approval rating at seventy percent, it must be maddening that the Progressive Party can’t feed off that halo at all.
“It’s been a while.”
I greeted Kim Hak-kwon as he walked into the lounge before boarding the presidential jet.
“Oh, Boss Kim! It has been a while.”
He accepted my greeting with a face full of manufactured delight, then immediately turned away to go receive greetings from the others. Beside me, Chairman Song watched and murmured in a low voice.
“You don’t get along with the president?”
The question sounded almost childish. I chuckled and answered just as softly.
“It’s neither good nor bad.”
“Hmm…”
Chairman Song stroked his chin, lost in thought.
“Anyway, weren’t you dead set against North Korea? Why all of a sudden decide to visit the North?”
I’d told him once before that the North Korea project was premature. Worried he’d gotten the wrong idea, I shook my head.