“Chairwoman Leyen, what on earth is this about?!”
An urgent telegram from the European Commission.
The three delegations from Britain, France, and Germany rushed back to Brussels in a frenzy.
As though she had expected this reaction, Leyen answered in a voice half resigned.
“It is exactly as I sent it to you. Warsaw has proposed that we accept Korea’s offer.”
“No, how in the world can Poland do this to us!”
The German representative’s hands trembled.
Security, in the end, was also economics. Apart from improving national defense, an increase in weapons imports was by no means something to welcome.
Britain, France, and Germany were furious. If Europe was going to arm itself, shouldn’t it be using European weapons? And yet, despite the hints they had given, Poland had steadily ordered the K9 and numerous other defense weapons.
“This is absolutely unacceptable! Defense spending is already a consumptive budget. If it can’t even create manufacturing jobs, it’s an enormous loss!”
“France thinks the same. The only reason NATO has made exceptions for Poland until now is because the situation was urgent, not because what they did was right and we simply let it slide!”
“The United Kingdom agrees as well. From now on, Poland must not act independently on arms procurement. It must consult with NATO leadership before making decisions!”
The three representatives’ eyes blazed, but Leyen only raised a document with a resigned expression.
“It seems we are already too late.”
“What is that?”
“It is an MOU sent from Warsaw. They say they will conclude contracts with Korea for a considerable number of defense weapons, including the K9 and K2, and within this year at that.”
“Th-that’s absurd! If they stamp that, Poland is no longer NATO!”
“It seems the two countries have already settled the details at a ratio of twenty percent finished products and eighty percent local production.”
“Chairwoman Leyen! Then as chairwoman, you should have stopped this. Why are you notifying us of it?”
Leyen spoke with a cold expression.
“Then Britain, France, and Germany should present an alternative.”
“What did you say?”
“I am saying you should provide an alternative that Poland can accept. Not try to pressure them with numbers, as you did with Belgium.”
The three representatives could not continue.
The pressure on Belgium had been a tremendous blow to their leadership. They had thought Belgium would quickly cooperate if they used the weight of numbers, but Prime Minister Bart had stood his ground with his back to the wall. The issue of EU solidarity revealed in the process showed that Ukraine’s reconstruction process would not be easy either.
“Representatives of Britain, France, and Germany. Setting aside nationality, as President of the European Commission, I will respect Poland’s decision. Leaving everything else aside, we cannot have another EU negotiation collapse. If we cannot even reach an agreement on reconstruction, will we Europeans truly help one another when war breaks out?”
When the three representatives fell silent, Leyen continued.
“Now, leaving national interests aside, you representatives must also speak realistically. Ukraine’s reconstruction is, in effect, no different from rearmament. Once Ukraine’s economy recovers, it will also have to reach an appropriate level of national defense. What do you intend to do about that?”
In truth, the real purpose of reconstruction was rearmament.
Only when the breakwater called Ukraine became solid would Eastern Europe and the Black Sea be safe.
“...Well, of course we have plans for that.”
“How?”
“I mean, does Europe not have tanks or self-propelled guns? We will transfer domestic weapons to Ukraine as much as possible and take responsibility for its security.”
“Can that entire plan be carried out within five hundred billion dollars?”
As the uncomfortable point continued, the German representative frowned.
“Chairwoman, what exactly are you trying to say?”
“I am saying we should talk about the issue we can no longer avoid. Production costs. Poland is not importing Korean products because it hates Germany. It is signing contracts with them because, for the price of one European weapon, it can buy five from Korea.”
“...”
“And this issue will not end with Poland alone. For Ukraine, which is desperate for every coin of funding, it will be even harder to refuse Korean weapons. When that happens, will you pressure Ukraine the same way you did Poland?”
The three representatives fell silent as if by agreement.
Saying they would use European weapons meant simply increasing defense spending fivefold. For Ukraine, whose finances had collapsed, it was absolutely not an option it could choose.
“If you dislike that, then there is only one method... Match the prices of European weapons to Korean unit costs.”
Conversely, this was also not an option Europe could choose.
Germany’s main self-propelled howitzer, the PzH, had a production cost of around twenty to seventy billion won, and to match Korea’s delivery price, they would have to cut the price by as much as eighty percent. In effect, it would be no different from providing additional reconstruction funds individually.
“Chairwoman. So what is your point?”
“I would like the EU leadership not to exert pressure, whatever decision Ukraine makes. I ask you representatives to consider it carefully as well. If Ukraine had failed to stop Russia, where would the war have broken out?”
“...”
“Let us set national interests aside for later and focus on reconstruction first. In fact, I wanted to tell you this sooner, but Poland has not brought only bad news. Please read it.”
The three representatives buried their gazes in the documents, then their pupils widened in surprise.
“...Isn’t this about missiles?”
“Yes. This appears to be why Poland is rushing the MOU with Korea. Korea says that if it domesticates the hypersonic technology it received from Russia, it will give Poland priority contracts for it.”
“...The two countries made a side agreement?”
“Yes. After consulting experts, I was told Korea has already deployed and is operating the Hycore missile, which corresponds to Mach 6. The Zircon and Kinzhal they received this time are at around Mach 10, and the experts believe that with Korea’s level of technology, they will be able to develop their own independent technology within a few years at the latest.”
The representatives of the three countries glanced at one another as if by agreement.
Hypersonic missiles were technology that the defense ministries of the three countries had already been preparing for years. But the results had been far from satisfactory. France’s SCALP, Britain’s Spear, Germany’s Boris, and others were still in the research stage, and actual deployment remained uncertain.
“What do you think? Is this not acceptable enough?”
But if they received deliveries from Korea, the story would change.
Whatever else might be said, this was a technology Europe did not have, and it could sufficiently supplement the gaps in NATO’s air defense network.
“A missile package...”
After murmuring for a while, the German representative asked,
“Chairwoman. Then what is it that our leadership must do?”
“Tacit approval. Korea’s generous contribution to reconstruction funds is likely for the purpose of concluding arms contracts with Ukraine. Ukraine, too, will not be able to refuse.”
Leyen smiled bitterly.
She, too, was European. Given its geopolitical position, Ukraine’s defense industry was bound to enjoy special demand, but now an even more formidable competitor than the United States had appeared. Yet if they sided with Europe’s defense companies, the reconstruction costs would become unmanageable.
“In exchange, if Korea exports missiles to Poland, they will ultimately become an asset for NATO.”
“No matter how I look at it, it’s a losing deal. Tsk.”
“If they hand over technology in exchange for opening the market, it is not such a great loss. Besides, we are not in a position right now to pick and choose which reconstruction funds to accept.”
In truth, this could be said to be the biggest reason they could not refuse.
Korea’s sixty billion dollars in paid and unpaid loans was more than the contributions of most Eastern European countries. It was such a vast sum that it made the thirty billion dollars in Russian bonds fade from memory.
As that uncomfortable silence continued, the British representative opened his mouth.
“Well, I do not think it looks bad. I can also understand the position of countries near Russia.”
He subtly turned his head toward France and Germany.
“What does the EU think?”
*
Warsaw Hilton Hotel.
It was well past midnight, but Minister Kim Jaeseok could not put down his cell phone.
“Yes, Prime Minister. I think it will work!”
Unable to hide his excitement, he reported everything that had happened in detail.
“...So since we have come this far, I intend to conclude an MOU with the Polish government before returning. I have sent the contents by fax.”
From the other end of the phone, an equally excited voice flowed out.
—What about the thirty billion dollars in Russian bonds?
“As soon as reconstruction funding came up, that disappeared completely. Honestly, is the EU leadership in any position to be playing hardball right now? If they want to secure reconstruction funds, every single coin matters.”
—Even so, it is true that we violated financial sanctions. Are they really going to let it pass without issue?
“When we pointed out the indirect export of natural gas on their side, those bastards could not say a word either. Do not worry. I do not think that issue will blow up.”
—That is a relief. The Blue House was already worried about that, but thanks to you, Minister Kim, we can breathe a little easier.
“You flatter me. It is thanks to the good personnel you attached to me, Prime Minister.”
As Minister Kim said that, he shot me a wink.
—In any case, good. So what about our weapons?
“First, according to the MOU, Poland has agreed to purchase three trillion won’s worth of our weapons over three years. If we include the missile package, that will at least double.”
—We can hear about Poland separately later. What about Ukraine?
“From what we estimate, it will be an even larger market.”
—Larger than that?
“Yes. If you look at the EU’s list of reconstruction projects for Ukraine, it is practically not reconstruction but rearmament. Even the economic reconstruction appears to be for the sake of rearming them.”
—Right. Well, I suppose it would be.
“Therefore, after calculating various geopolitical factors, I believe Ukraine will be, at minimum, a market more than three times the size of Poland. For Ukraine, which is desperate for every coin, it will be absolutely impossible to arm itself with European-made weapons.”
At the words “three times,” Lee Chanho’s voice became even more excited.
—Minister Kim, when were you planning to go to Ukraine?
“First, once the EU makes its decision...
—No, how long are you going to wait for that? Whichever way you look at it, the EU is in no position right now to be picky.
“Ah, yes, yes. That is true.”
—Let us do this, Minister Kim. I will speak properly to the Blue House and give you full authority. Meet President Zelenskyy tomorrow and talk about our reconstruction funds, then try to arrange the weapons contract as well.
“...Tomorrow? But Russia’s local provocations have not ended yet.”
—Minister Kim, this is a matter of national interest. We have to wrap it up quickly before the EU starts being difficult again.
“Ah, yes, yes... Understood. I will do as you say.”
After hanging up, Minister Kim looked at us and sighed.
“Pack your things... We have to go to Ukraine tomorrow.”