“Good evening, Representative Mateus. I’m Kim Jae-seok from the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Three in the morning, well past midnight.
Our delegation, which had been waiting anxiously for the EU talks to end, finally managed to meet the Polish representative.
“First, I’d like to thank you for making time at such a difficult hour—”
“That’s enough, Minister. We both know the situation, so let’s dispense with the diplomatic rhetoric. Requesting a meeting behind the scenes like this could look extremely dubious to others. What is it you want?”
Minister Kim responded to his sharp reaction with a hearty laugh.
“Dubious? Not at all. I merely came at the request of our Ministry of National Defense to hear a bit of feedback from a customer.”
“Feedback on what?”
“The K9, of course. Personally, I believe Korea and Poland have now reached the level of a quasi-military alliance. Your first order was only three years ago, and I hear the total has already exceeded two hundred guns? I imagine you’ve accumulated a great deal of data while deploying them in the field, so I wondered whether there were any inconveniences or difficulties you wished to raise with us.”
Poland was a country for which Korea’s defense industry was truly grateful.
Not only were its orders overwhelmingly large, it almost never caused trouble with payments either. Unlike a certain country that talked about paying in chicken instead of cash, or exchanged transferred technology with North Korea, causing no end of trouble.
“I see. So my prediction was right after all.”
Representative Mateus stared at us and said,
“Korea jumped into this reconstruction project because of the defense industry, didn’t it?”
“That’s not necessarily the only reason, but… well, isn’t a good weapon all the better when shared? Among those in the same camp, I mean.”
“How can we be in the same camp when thirty billion dollars in Russian bonds have been confirmed?”
“Representative Mateus.”
“No. Go back. Even if you persuade me, I will not speak for Korea’s position to the EU. Poland will fully support the EU’s decision.”
Leaving behind that firm answer, he hurriedly rose from his seat.
“Is that support unconditional?”
But Minister Kim’s question stopped him in his tracks at once.
“What if they conflict? Even if the EU’s decision and Poland’s interests conflict, will you follow it unconditionally?”
“Don’t try to drive a wedge between us!”
“If that is driving a wedge, then how do you explain Belgium?”
“Wh-what?”
“It was an impossible plan from the beginning. If the frozen Russian assets are released, who will take responsibility for Belgium’s security and economy?”
“…”
“The EU executive pushed this impossible plan as if it were the orthodox solution, and in the end, it resulted in failure. Then do you think they won’t make such demands of countries that are not Belgium?”
Mateus could not easily open his mouth.
The rift within the EU was already widely known in the international community. The frozen Russian assets, which they had promoted with such confidence, ultimately failed to persuade Belgium, and with that, the EU’s chronic problem of cohesion was once again brought to the fore.
And it would remain a problem going forward. After severe pains, the EU had agreed on ninety billion euros in reconstruction funds—the total reconstruction cost being roughly one thousand trillion won—but many experts were already voicing skepticism.
Even if the global economy were booming as it was now, it would never be an easy sum to raise. If the economy contracted or entered a recession, would they really keep their promise?
“Representative Mateus. I guarantee it. After Belgium, Poland will be next. Geopolitically, you are in the most desperate position.”
After a long silence, Mateus opened his mouth.
“So what is it you wish to say?”
When the atmosphere shifted in our favor, Minister Kim gave me a nod.
Taking that as my cue, I answered him.
“Representative. Please convey Korea’s position properly to the EU executive. If you do, Korea and Poland will become even closer militarily.”
“Do you not realize that this is precisely the issue our EU executive is most wary of? Even as it is, for the past four years we have barely managed to introduce the K9 while enduring the disapproving looks of Germany and France. Buying more Korean weapons just because Korea paid reconstruction funds would be far too great a burden for us as well.”
“Then will you buy Leopards or PzHs?”
“…What did you say?”
“That would simply mean spending four to five times more on defense. When there is hardly any difference in specifications.”
Mateus let out a long sigh.
Poland, which had already deployed and operated them in the field, understood clearly. The K9 was hardly any different from European-made systems…
With such similar weight classes and prices differing by as much as sixfold, they had spent the past four years ordering Korean self-propelled howitzers like hotcakes despite the constant disapproving looks. Since Poland could buy six Korean units for the price of one European one, it was a matter of survival for them.
“Deliberately buying more expensive European systems with no real difference in specifications is, in effect, no different from Poland paying reconstruction funds. Is that really what you intend to do?”
To him, unable to continue speaking, I drove the nail in.
“In truth, I believe defense cooperation between Korea and Poland will not stop merely at self-propelled howitzers. Right now, they are weapons with the same specifications but lower prices. In the future, however, it may become the export of technological capabilities that Europe does not possess but Korea does.”
“What…?”
“Missiles. The Russo-Ukrainian War has made the importance of air defense networks clearer than ever. Will you not cooperate with us in that technology?”
Understanding my meaning, Mateus’s eyebrows twitched.
“Surely you’re not… talking about hypersonic missiles?”
“All possibilities are open.”
“That’s absurd. You would deploy technology received from Russia back onto the anti-Russian front?”
“With respect, the K9 that Korea is currently exporting also has Soviet technology as its origin. What in this world is truly impossible?”
Though we had been overcharged and that was the end of it, there was no denying that the Brown Bear Project had been the foundation of Korea’s national defense.
At the time, Korea’s defense technology was at a level where it could not even make the shell of a tank.
After receiving technology transfers, we devoted ourselves to developing independent components, and in the end, we unveiled the K9 to the world, made with one hundred percent domestic technology. We had bought an overpriced used car, remodeled every part of it, and sold it at the price of a new one… so perhaps half of it was a success after all?
“Is that true? Are you truly willing to export missiles to us as well?”
Mateus’s face changed completely.
And understandably so. Europe’s hypersonic technology was at a level inferior to Korea’s. They had launched several projects of their own and aimed for field deployment by 2030, but they still did not have a single missile exceeding Mach 5. Considering Europe’s defense spending had been barely over one percent of GDP until just before the Russo-Ukrainian War, perhaps that was only natural.
“Yes, we are willing. In fact, the Korean government believes the era when missiles are exported will soon arrive.”
Indeed, Poland had already shown great interest in our hypersonic technology.
In particular, they had shown tremendous interest in air-to-ship guided missiles mountable on the FA-50, but unfortunately, Korea had not made meaningful technological progress in that area until now.
But things were different now.
With the introduction of the Kinzhal and Zircon all but certain, the technological applications available to our Ministry of National Defense had become limitless, and we expected that German and French opposition in this area would not be particularly strong.
After all, they had no technology of their own in the first place.
“…”
After pondering for a long while, Mateus eventually let out a dry laugh.
“This is quite interesting. Technology received from the Soviet Union became the K9, and we import that weapon to keep Russia in check… and now missiles are going to come in the same way…”
“Where in this world are there eternal enemies or allies? If you think about it, a hundred years ago, Ukraine was also Korea’s enemy. Was Poland not the same?”
Smiling weakly, he rose from his seat.
“I understand your position well enough. However, this is not a matter I can decide on my own authority. I will convey all of this to the Presidential Palace in Warsaw without addition or omission. And if our government gives a favorable answer…”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“Then we shall speak again.”
*
The Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland.
President Karol, presiding over the cabinet meeting, sighed and said,
“So what is the EU leadership’s position?”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs answered.
“They are opposed. Not only do they say they will not accept Korea’s reconstruction funds, they are even saying they will review Korea’s tariff benefits, citing Korea’s violation of financial sanctions…”
“That issue again?”
“…Yes. Korea’s reconstruction cooperation is, in effect, a move made with the defense industry in mind. It conflicts with the German and French defense industries. They have already been rather uncomfortable with our K9 purchases for the past four years, and once the war ends, I expect they will reveal their displeasure even more openly.”
“Then what do the other ministers think about this?”
At the president’s question, the ministers exchanged glances and answered.
—Mr. President… even so, are we not a NATO member state? We must follow the interests of the EU leadership rather than Korea’s.
—Until now, because we were in a wartime situation, the EU leadership made an exception for us. But from now on, it seems best for us to respond while watching the situation.
—To be frank, it would be best for us to say as little as possible on the issue of reconstruction funds. If we speak carelessly and they tell us to pay our share, it will become a headache.
With that as the beginning, the people from the Ministry of Finance rose up in protest.
—Mr. President. Since the topic has come up, I must say this: we have already done enough. How are we supposed to concern ourselves with Ukraine’s reconstruction as well?
—That is correct. Public opinion at home is already tense due to the prolonged Russo-Ukrainian War. We are busy enough accepting refugees, and now we are to participate in reconstruction projects too?
—Honestly, it seems best to leave this issue for the EU leadership to decide on its own, and for us to follow that decision without complaint.
They were exhausted.
Since the Russo-Ukrainian War, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Poland had surpassed one million, and the military aid provided to Ukraine amounted to roughly 4.5 billion euros. In terms of Korea’s economic scale, it was as if two million refugees had suddenly arrived and thirty trillion won in budget support had been provided.
With the situation like this, resentment within Poland was already considerable. The majority of domestic opinion was that no further additional support should be given.
At present, the issue of Ukraine’s reconstruction funds had become an unspoken taboo in Poland.
“Very well. Then are there no other opinions?”
“Mr. President. Representative Mateus speaking.”
Just as the mood of the meeting was leaning in one direction, Mateus, who had served as the representative this time, raised his hand.
With a resolute expression, he said,
“I know it is difficult. I know we have gone through a hard process until now. But there is one thing we must not forget. After Ukraine, it will be us.”
—No, Representative Mateus…
“If Ukraine fails to rebuild and is annexed by Russia, whose turn will be next?”
When everyone fell silent, he grew even more heated.
“If something can help Ukraine’s reconstruction, then even if it conflicts with the interests of the EU leadership, we must unconditionally choose the former. We must actively accept Korea’s reconstruction funds and stake everything on Ukraine’s reconstruction. Furthermore, we must positively review the missile exports Korea has proposed.”
He spoke as if denouncing them.
“If Germany and France had changed places with Poland, they would have used Korean weapons that were five times cheaper too. If Korea had offered to hand over missiles, they would have accepted them without hesitation. This must not be understood in terms of blocs or factions. For us, it is survival!”