General Kim, his divisional headquarters now moved to Seoul, was pleased when Major Rhee, the interrogation officer from Uijongbu, brought him the names of the KCIA’s counterespionage chiefs in Taegu and Pusan, which he had gotten from Tae. But most important of all, Rhee brought a summons from Pyongyang for a personal conference between Kim and the NKA’s “dear and respected leader.”
The problem was that some ROK “bandits” had managed to cut communications between Kim’s divisional headquarters and Pyongyang, since the major had arrived, by blowing up one of the microwave relay discs on one of the hills leading down the Uijongbu corridor. This would soon be remedied, of course, but Kim was in a quandary. He had been summoned to Pyongyang, and it was essential, he told the major, that “our great and respected leader” be apprised of the situation — in particular the rapid rate of advance.
“If Pyongyang does not hear from us, they will be concerned that our advance has been halted. It is necessary that they hear firsthand that all is proceeding as planned.” Kim did not tell Major Rhee his secret hope — that whenever he returned to Pyongyang, he would not only be greeted as a national hero, even greater perhaps than Admiral Yi, but he would also receive from the leader himself the coveted Kim II Sung medal for valor.
“I will unleash the final assault on Pusan in forty-eight hours,” he informed Rhee. “By then all supplies will be in place. It is essential I be here. However, I would also like to explain to the leader himself how Taegu will be completely overrun, from where we will move quickly to crush Pusan.”
Kim put another Sobrainie into the bone cigarette holder. “When Pusan has fallen,” he told the major, “then you will have some mopping up to do. As it has developed, the names of the counterinsurgency chiefs may pose no more man an academic question after all, for I foresee a massive American surrender. There will be great honor for the Fourth Division.”
Major Rhee said nothing. He was sure of the military victory to come, but under no circumstances would he be drawn into advising the general on whether or not he should go to Pyongyang. Not to go would be to disappoint their leader. It would only take a day there and back, but then again, Kim should be at divisional headquarters when the final drive for Pusan began.
It was a difficult question.