When Dear Leader sat his counselors down, the radio turned on,
instant translator at hand, they listened to hear the
repercussions of their bulletin about the nuclear test. Kim Jong
Il's thought is never immediately decipherable, even to his
intimates. They sat, looking at the screen on which the
translations were being shown. There were reports from all over
the world. There was a murmur after Tokyo's measured statement of
disapproval. But Kim raised his finger and there was instant
hush. "Wait," he said, "for Moscow and Peking."
"And, of course, Washington," said his elderly secretary, Ku
Hi Sun. She took the liberty of raising her voice every now and
then. After all, she had known Kim Jong Il since he was 7 years
old. Dear Leader turned his eyes to her for a second, then back
to the screen. "Of course. Washington."
At that moment the screen began to reproduce President Bush's
short statement. "Give me that later also in English," Kim said
to an aide, as they listened.
"... We're working to confirm North Korea's claim." Kim
grunted. Others in the room grunted. "Nonetheless, such a claim
itself constitutes a threat to international peace and
security."
Kim raised his hand. "Freeze."
The projection stopped.
Kim addressed Chun Yang Ha, former ambassador to the United
Nations, and expert in the English language. "What does he mean
that our 'claim' constitutes a threat to international peace and
security?"
"He means, Dear Leader, that so long as we had announced a
nuclear test, even if we -- you will forgive me -- had failed
actually to execute one, the claim would bring insecurity to the
world."
Kim lifted his finger. "Proceed."
The president's speech flashed back on the screen. But after
the next sentence, again, "Freeze."
Kim repeated the words they had just heard. "'The United
States condemns this provocative act. Once again North Korea has
defied the will of the international community, and the
international community will respond.'
"Blayim!" His aides gave their well-practiced mini-grunt,
combining acquiescence, appreciation, amusement and suspense.
They would not, at the scheduled debriefings, repeat the epithet
even to their juniors. Dear Leader's emotions were not to be
transcribed. He signaled the projectionist to proceed.
"This was confirmed this morning in conversations I had with
leaders of China, and South Korea, Russia and Japan. We
reaffirmed our commitment to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, and
all of us agreed that the proclaimed actions taken by North Korea
are unacceptable and deserve an immediate response by the United
Nations Security Council."
"Stop. Notice. Bush said again the 'proclaimed actions taken
by North Korea.' As if a 4-kiloton explosion is merely a
proclamation -- yes, Suh Tae Hyun?"
"Dear Leader, it may have been fewer than 4 kilotons. I don't
have the exact measurement. It might have been under 1 kiloton,
but what does that matter? Our scientific plan was
consummated."
"See me later, Suh Tae Hyun. ... You heard him say, 'deserve
an immediate response' by the U.N. Ha-ha."
"Ha-ha." The sounds echoed about the room.
"The United Nations Security Council can --" He raised the
middle finger of his right hand.
But the projectionist mistook the gesture as instructing him
to proceed with the speech, and the screen carried the words:
"The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to
states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat
to the United States and we would hold North Korea fully
accountable for the consequences of such action."
Again the screening stopped.
"My father, the great, revered Kim Il Sung, taught me since I
was 7 years old -- am I correct, Ku Hi Sun? -- that a nation that
has the nuclear bomb need not fear even the dragon."
He bobbed his head up and down, and his counselors agreed.