Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel
Chapter 67: Sixty-Seven
by Larsen, WardThe chapter opens with CIA officer Sorensen revealing that Park Hai-joon, head of North Korean state security, contacted the CIA six months ago. Park, fearing Kwon Il-sun’s brutal purges, sought to undermine the regime by orchestrating a crisis that would humiliate Kwon internationally. Slaton, initially skeptical, learns that Park and a small circle of military allies plan to stage a credible attack using weapons-grade uranium, delivered by sea, to provoke global outrage and weaken Kwon’s grip on power. The CIA, while wary of Park’s motives, has agreed to play along, hoping to exploit the situation for regime change.
Sorensen explains that Park’s plan involves a weapon of mass destruction, though details remain vague. The attack, set to occur in the Pacific within a week, is designed to appear as a North Korean operation while allowing deniability. Park assures the CIA that the delivery team will be non-North Korean, complicating attribution. Slaton questions the logic, noting that a nuclear strike would invite devastating retaliation, but Park claims the plot is carefully crafted to avoid direct blame. The stolen uranium from the IAEA, linked to El-Masri, adds another layer of obfuscation.
The conversation turns to the risks of the operation. Slaton expresses concern over the CIA’s reliance on Park, who may simply be maneuvering for personal power. Sorensen acknowledges the danger but emphasizes that the U.S. leadership sees potential in a post-Kwon North Korea. The alternative—exposing Park—would lead to his execution and leave the threat unresolved. Despite the high stakes, the CIA is monitoring Park closely and preparing to intervene at the critical moment to neutralize the attack and expose Kwon’s incompetence.
In the final exchange, Slaton and Sorensen grapple with the moral and strategic implications of the plan. Slaton remains uneasy, questioning whether Park would be any better than Kwon, while Sorensen defends the decision as the least bad option. The chapter ends on a tense note, underscoring the precariousness of the situation and the high-stakes gamble the CIA is taking to reshape North Korea’s future.
FAQs
1. What is Park Hai-joon’s role in North Korea, and why did he contact the CIA?
Answer:
Park Hai-joon is the head of North Korea’s State Security Department (SSD), making him a key figure in the regime’s intelligence apparatus. He contacted the CIA six months prior to the events in the chapter, revealing that senior military officials were growing unsettled under Kwon Il-sun’s brutal rule. Park feared Kwon’s purges—exemplified by the execution of his predecessor via artillery fire—and sought CIA collaboration to orchestrate Kwon’s downfall. His plan involved staging a credible but thwarted WMD attack to humiliate Kwon internationally and erode his support among North Korea’s elite.2. How does Park’s proposed plan aim to destabilize Kwon’s regime, and what are its risks?
Answer:
Park’s plan involves staging a fake WMD attack (likely nuclear) using stolen uranium, delivered by sea via non-North Korean operatives. The CIA would intervene to “stop” the attack, exposing Kwon’s incompetence and recklessness to the world and his own military. The risks are immense: if the attack succeeds, it could trigger a nuclear retaliation. Even if thwarted, the scheme relies on Park’s trustworthiness—a gamble, given North Korea’s history of deception. The CIA acknowledges the danger but sees potential in replacing Kwon with a more moderate regime under Park.3. Why does Slaton question the logic of Kwon authorizing a nuclear strike, given the likely U.S. retaliation?
Answer:
Slaton highlights the paradox of Kwon approving a nuclear strike when North Korea would face annihilation in response. Sorensen explains that Park designed the attack to appear deniable: the uranium would be traced to IAEA thefts (not North Korea’s stockpiles), and foreign surrogates would handle delivery. This subterfuge could allow Kwon to evade blame—until the CIA exposes the plot. Slaton remains skeptical, underscoring the plan’s fragility and the catastrophic consequences of failure.4. What ethical and strategic dilemmas does the CIA face in collaborating with Park?
Answer:
The CIA must weigh the short-term risk of a WMD attack against the long-term gain of toppling Kwon. Trusting Park—a regime insider—is fraught with danger, as he could be manipulating the U.S. to strengthen Kwon’s position. Conversely, exposing Park might eliminate a rare dissident with high-level access. The chapter reveals the CIA’s grim calculus: accepting Park’s plan, despite its flaws, because the alternative (public disclosure) would doom Park and leave Kwon’s tyranny intact.5. How does the chapter portray the internal dynamics of North Korea’s leadership under Kwon?
Answer:
The chapter depicts Kwon’s rule as maintained through fear and violence, with purges (like the SSD chief’s execution by howitzer) serving as warnings. Park and his allies represent a faction of disillusioned officers who see Kwon’s brutality as unsustainable. However, their coup plot is constrained by the regime’s culture of paranoia; spreading dissent too widely risks betrayal. This tension underscores the instability of authoritarian regimes and the precariousness of Park’s rebellion.
Quotes
1. “Park explained that the mood among North Korea’s senior officers is unsettled. Kwon has made purges at the upper levels of the command structure twice in the last three years.”
This quote reveals the internal instability of North Korea’s leadership under Kwon’s brutal rule, setting up the motivation for Park’s risky plot. It introduces the political tension driving the chapter’s central conflict.
2. “They needed to find a way to humiliate him, both internationally and internally. A reckless act the world couldn’t ignore.”
This statement captures the core strategy of the coup plotters - to engineer an international crisis that would undermine Kwon’s authority. It explains the dangerous gambit involving stolen uranium that drives the chapter’s suspense.
3. “He guaranteed that as long as the intervention was successful, the plot could be tied to North Korea… they might have gotten away with it.”
This paradoxical claim highlights the calculated risk in Park’s plan - creating a deniable yet attributable attack. It represents the chapter’s most tension-filled premise about nuclear brinkmanship and false flag operations.
4. “Our national leadership has decided the potential of a new, relatively friendly regime in North Korea is worth the risk of letting this play out.”
This quote encapsulates the moral dilemma at the chapter’s climax - the US government’s controversial decision to allow a dangerous plot to proceed for potential geopolitical gain, showing the high-stakes calculus of intelligence operations.