Red Phoenix Burning (38 page)

“I don’t like living in a tent. When this is over, I want to buy a house. On a lake.” He reached over and squeezed her hand gently.

“That sounds wonderful,” she replied.

Chapter 20 - Strange Bedfellows

6 September 2015, 1800 local time

United Han Army Field Headquarters

Outside Taedong, United Han Republic

At first, Rhee didn’t like it. It jarred. He understood why Cho Ho-jin needed to keep a low profile. The army agreed. They had even made up a fake ID card for him. Or maybe not so fake. How was he different than the other Northerners who had answered the call to join the United Han Army? But then they really were soldiers, not just someone playing the role. Maybe it was because Cho wore a sergeant’s stripes. He hadn’t earned them, the way Master Sergeant Oh had.

Cho was earning his pay now, though, assuming they were paying him. Rhee had been allowed to sit in on Cho’s debriefing by army intelligence. He’d be betting his life on what Cho told them, after all.

The intelligence people were using one of the purpose-built trailers that had been brought to the base. It was electronically shielded, and had map displays and other equipment that let the analysts fit Cho’s information into the bigger picture. And he was filling in a lot of blank spots.

In addition to Rhee, representing the operators, there were regular army intelligence officers and a counterintelligence specialist from the National Intelligence Service. Everything Cho said was recorded, both on video and paper. That was good, because Rhee thought it would make a great book.

The Russians had trained Cho well, from his early teens, according to what Lieutenant Hak had heard. Cho could speak Russian fluently, and decent Chinese, but very little English. He’d demonstrated an excellent memory, and when pressured by the intelligence types, had responded calmly. They couldn’t rattle him.

Using many false identities, and with currency supplied by his Russian patrons, he’d operated successfully in one of the most repressive police states in the world. He’d been a peddler, a farmer searching for a runaway child, a soldier many times, and of course different government functionaries. Cho had bribed, deduced, and tracked down information the Russians wanted from the time he was twenty-two until now, twelve-plus years later.

He’d remained alive by never staying in one place too long, never forming any attachments, and by total dedication to one goal: revenge against the Kim regime. Rhee was proud of what he’d done as a special operations soldier, but as he listened to the former spy, he had to admit that he could not do what Cho had done.

Cho used a digital map, zooming in to show fine detail, to trace his movements, where he’d gathered information, and where the clues had led. In his travels, often by foot, he’d found roads and rail lines that weren’t on any map, and signs of construction in narrow mountain valleys. Tracing power lines, in that energy-starved country, was a good technique. Crisscrossing the entire DPRK, he’d noticed long-term changes that hinted at deeper meanings. Once, he’d discovered the remains of a thriving village that had been forcibly moved, for no apparent reason.

The spy—former spy, Rhee corrected himself—had been all over the DPRK in the course of his work, but of course intelligence only needed to know what he had seen in the area occupied by the Kim holdouts. Cho knew about several installations in the area, including three bases that intelligence already knew about.

Although they could not possibly serve as the hiding place for the missiles, the intelligence people questioned him at length about those locations as well. Comparing their information with his was a good way to establish his credibility, and his capabilities.

He’d also located two installations that intelligence hadn’t known about. One was a facility for producing bootleg drugs, the other an extensive complex with several oversized armored doors, surrounded by pillboxes and other ground defenses. He’d interviewed locals in nearby villages, who, for a little food, were glad to share their stories of being blindfolded before being taken to work underground excavating huge chambers. It had to be the place, and Cho was confident of its location. He’d been close enough to see the pillboxes and the carefully camouflaged doors. Rhee listened carefully to every detail.

The debrief had lasted for hours, and they’d taken occasional breaks outside the van. The air outside was warm and thick, but the windowless van felt confining. Seeing the sun and taking more than three steps in a straight line refreshed them all.

Of course, there was no shoptalk outside the van, but during one such break, Rhee found himself standing next to Cho, the ex-Russian spy he was slowly coming to respect. Although they’d been introduced when the debrief began, Rhee had listened and said very little. Now, standing next to Cho, he felt he had to say something.

Feeling a little uncomfortable, Rhee asked, “Have you actually joined the army?”

Cho quickly shook his head. “No, Colonel. The uniform just helps me blend in,” he replied formally. “I’m sorry if it . . .”

“No, it’s fine,” Rhee responded. “For what it’s worth, you’d make a good sergeant.”

Cho smiled, recognizing praise when he heard it. “Thank you, sir.”

After only a moment’s pause, Rhee added, “Your father was a good general. The last war was a hard fight. He deserved better.”

Cho’s smile disappeared but he said “Thank you” again, then added, “May I ask you a question, Colonel?”

Rhee nodded, and Cho asked, “You’re going to plan the operation to capture the missile complex, aren’t you?”

“Plan it, and lead it, if I have any say in the matter,” Rhee responded firmly. “I may not have the same personal grievance that you do, but I won’t rest until the Kim regime is wiped from the earth.”

“Then take me with you,” Cho answered suddenly. “I’ve been through Russian infantry school and parachute training. The Russians even sent me to some of their special operations courses. I’m not as physically fit as your troops, but I’ve been on the ground where you’re going.” Rhee had heard dozens of new recruits with the same desperate tone, but he knew Cho’s determination came from a different place. “I have to be there,” Cho finished, almost begging.

Rhee paused for a long moment, but answered, “I’ll consider it.” After another pause, he added, “If I think you’d increase the chance of the operation’s success.” And after another pause, the colonel warned, “And as long as you’re not bent on personal revenge.”

Cho shook his head, “No, Colonel, although once, I might have been. Now, I have things to fight for, not fight against.”

The headquarters tent was larger than the intelligence section’s trailer, but it was becoming just as crowded. Many had heard rumors about a “special asset” arriving at the base, but the counterintelligence people had spread so many false rumors that nobody knew what to believe. In spite of tight security, many of the headquarters staff had found reasons to be at the briefing.

It was clear something was up. In the assembly area, there was more “hurry up and wait.” Fuel and ammunition stocks were being topped off. Stragglers were being quickly recalled. A few units had “relocated” that morning, supposedly to some other part of the area, but nobody seemed quite sure where.

Security was going to extremes. No new personnel were being allowed on base. Anyone away from their unit had to have a reason, and the orders to back up their story.

For the briefing, the headquarters tent, located near the center of the base, was surrounded with jammers that would scramble cell phone and other UHF frequencies. Several nearby tents were cleared and then occupied by security personnel, and anyone who had business near the tent had to have it cleared with the chief of staff.

Most drastic of all, the headquarters tent’s side flaps, normally rolled up to take advantage of any cooling breeze, had been lowered. Fans and portable air conditioners had been set up in their stead, but it was not completely effective. The temperature in the closed atmosphere was not helped by the high number of attendees.

Rhee would give his brief after the intelligence section. Although his Special Forces were only one part of Operation Kut, his team would have the final and most important role. A
kut
was a Korean cleansing ceremony. Performed by a shaman, usually a woman, it exorcised evil. The name hadn’t been Rhee’s suggestion, but he completely agreed with the choice. Anyone who had grown up in the South would feel the same way.

Cho’s arrival and information had triggered a series of events that was still cascading outward. Within minutes of concluding Cho’s debrief, Rhee and Kwon had retired to the SOF planning cell to rough out an attack plan. The intelligence staff began their own work, analyzing and then preparing the many reports that were needed by the air staff, the ground forces, even the navy.

Less than an hour later, General Kwon had assured General Sohn that the complex could be taken, and Sohn had issued warning orders to ground and air units all over Korea, then summoned his commanders.

While he waited for the higher ranks to arrive, Rhee continued to work on what was an uncomfortably rough briefing. Special operators tended to be detail men and perfectionists, because the details could be just as important as the big picture. He liked to have answers to any questions his audience might have. Rhee wasn’t alone, though. Two chairs over, he could see the deputy G2, a colonel like himself, typing furiously.

But they couldn’t afford to wait. They didn’t know what the holdouts’ timetable was. All they could do was move as quickly as possible. While Rhee gave his brief, General Kwon was taking their general concept and turning it into a proper operational plan. The colonel couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather have putting the plan together.

According to the chief of staff, General Sohn was ready to come in, but wanted everyone else there first. All Rhee could do was work quickly, and hope that they wouldn’t mind a few “to be determined” on the slides.

Kevin Little, representing the US forces, had arrived some time ago, but except for a hurried nod in greeting, Rhee had ignored his old comrade. He had work to do.

General Long had also arrived, with his interpreter. He was deputy commander of the Chinese Southeast Security Force, and had arrived late last night as the Chinese liaison. Rhee took the presence of a high-ranking Chinese officer as a good sign. Long was senior enough to make decisions, and not just relay everything back to headquarters and wait for a reply.

Long had also brought a gift: a list of all the installations known to Chinese intelligence related to any of the DPRK weapons of mass destruction.

It was foolish, but Rhee took some pride in knowing that while the new information filled in some gaps, they hadn’t known about Cho’s site, either. The Chinese also confirmed that they had not found any nuclear devices at the locations they had occupied.

The two Chinese representatives had spent the morning at the operations center, coordinating communications and making sure that the two armies, now cooperating, wouldn’t shoot at the wrong people. Luckily, the geography of the Kim redoubt area made it simple. The Chinese would attack from the north, across the Chongchon River, while the American and Han armies would attack from the east, west, and south. The three sides also shared intelligence about the redoubt and its defenses, and coordinated reconnaissance.

The two Chinese had come over from the nearby ops tent within minutes of General Sohn’s summons. Now Long sat quietly, studying the map on the large flat-screen display and making notes. Evidently, Long spoke excellent Russian, and passable French, but no Korean or English, so everything would have to be relayed through the young captain who sat at the general’s elbow.

General Tae, who had been out in the assembly area, finally arrived and bowed politely to the Chinese general before taking his seat. Neither man smiled.

Moments later, General Sohn entered and, even as everyone came to attention, waved them back into their seats. Evidently warned about the Chinese interpreter, Sohn spoke in short sentences, with frequent pauses. He managed to get his point across.

“We know, with high confidence, where the Kim faction holdouts have their nuclear weapons hidden. What we don’t know is their timetable. Therefore, we will move tonight.” That got a reaction. A major operation like this would normally take days to organize. “We cannot wait any longer. If the enemy learns of our preparations, they may launch another missile attack before we can stop them. Tonight, it ends!”

Taking a lead from Sohn’s urgent tone, Colonel Won, the deputy intelligence chief from Sohn’s staff, quickly walked over to the flat-screen display. It showed the area held by the holdouts, now described with the Chinese term “the Redoubt.” He said simply, “The missile site is here, about fifteen kilometers northeast of Sukchon. The area is mountainous and heavily wooded.”

He pointed to a place on the map almost in the center of the area controlled by the holdouts. A long valley formed by two high ridges ran north and south. A narrow road, little more than a track, ran the length of the valley. There were no signs of habitation in the valley, but a military base occupied the north end, and the Sunchon air base sat at the southeast corner. Won pointed to a symbol in red a third of the way up the valley from the air base. “It’s here.”

The intelligence officer pressed a key and the map was replaced with a rough schematic showing a tunnel network that extended well within the mountain and ran three stories deep. The colonel began pointing out different parts of the installation: the missile magazines, the liquid fuel tanks, a storage area for the multi-wheeled launch vehicles. There were strong defenses both outside and inside, including pillboxes guarding the entrances and even a series of decoy tunnels . . .

General Tae was amazed and interrupted the colonel. “This is very detailed information. No one on the General Staff was aware of this place. Are you sure your source is reliable? Can any of this be confirmed from other sources?”

In the meantime, Won had looked to General Sohn, who gave a small shake of his head. The colonel answered Tae, “Collecting more information has been discussed, sir. We’ve avoided sending UAVs or other aircraft into the area, to prevent tipping our hand. The air base at the southern end has been attacked several times, as have some of the other nearby installations, but this missile complex itself has remained untouched and unnoticed. A special operations team would take too long to get in, collect the data, and get out. And then there is the risk of them being discovered, which is assessed as being high.”