While President Kim Hak-kwon and the officials were having their historic first meeting at the Baekhwawon State Guest House, the business delegation unpacked at the hotel. The room I was guided to by Baek Cheol-su was at the end of the hallway.
“You have about an hour. I will come get you when it's time.”
He left without waiting for an answer, just stating his business. I couldn't help but smile slightly at his demeanor. He must have been handpicked, vetted for class origins, loyalty to the Party, and more, to deal with South Korean conglomerate chairmen.
I understood why he acted so stiffly toward me. Left alone, I perched on the bed and looked around the room slowly.
‘They said this was the best hotel in Pyongyang.’
I'd had some expectations, but at best it was on par with a decent motel back in the South. Looking up at it from the outside, it had seemed nice, but the interior was disappointing. The décor was too tacky, and the orange auxiliary lights hurt my eyes.
‘There must be listening devices installed too.’
Knowing the North Korean government, they would definitely do that. They'd be watching and monitoring everything: who I meet, where I go. Out of habit, I was about to call for Section Chief Ma, but I stopped myself.