Pyongyang
North Korean Capitol
DPRK Army Intelligence HQ
Monitoring Center For Tunnel Infiltration
0710 hours Sierra
Comment of the Moment: “It would be better for you to die a heroic death killing Americans.”
Sergeant Gisulja turned from his bank of flat screen monitors and wrote a note on a slip of paper. He turned to a Runner standing nearby. He handed it to the runner, “Get this to General Jagwi immediately.”
The Runner took the note and ran.
Shortly thereafter, the runner was knocking on the General’s door.
Sitting at his official desk, the thin General, Jagwi, exhaled his cigarette smoke, wheezed, and in a crackling voice commanded, “Enter!” Then he coughed.
He took the note from the Runner and commanded, “Wait.”
He read the note several times. Finally, he nodded his head and said, “Go tell the Sergeant to get Major Yuneunghan in Kaesong on a video conference in the monitoring room.”
“Wait,” he commanded, barely above a whisper, “Also get Lieutenant Colonel Wanjeon, the commander of the prime tunnel drillers, on the video conference, too.”
The Runner said, “Yes, Sir,” and immediately left.
Five minutes later both officers were joined with General Jagwi on the video conference.
Jagwi nodded at the monitor technician and said, “Before you make your report, I have to tell you that our information is scarce. The Americans have been very efficient. They have removed all our devices that we just planted in their secret rooms. So, we are short of current information. However; we do now know that they have research facilities which can deconstruct our devices with impunity. Fortunately, because Lieutenant Colonel Wanjeon correctly installed the tunnel alert devices, we are now aware of a problem.
“Sergeant Gisulja, make your report, please.”
“Yes, Sir.
“At approximately 0710 hours, sensors indicated a loss of data feed about fifteen kilometers east of the DMZ, very near Dongducheon. It was very near the American Camp Casey. If the data from our sensors is correct, it may be within the American compound. We have no data feed from any the tunnels west of the American Camp Casey. It may be that the Americans have severed the data conduit. Therefore; we are unable to successfully launch an attack should we be ordered to.”
Jagwi looked questioningly at Wanjeon.
As he stood at attention if front of the computer camera sweat formed on Wanjeon’s upper lip.
Jagwi growled at him, “Didn’t I tell you to make the tunnels in that area deeper?”
Wanjeon licked his lips. He barked, “Sir, I did. The top of the tunnel was 20 feet below the surface. That is sufficient overburden to withstand a tank driving over it.”
Wanjeon continued, “Sir, that soil is gravel, clay and sand. However, yesterday I monitored the weather in that area, and there was rain overnight. If there had been previously an animal burrow, it could have weakened the overburden’s cohesiveness.”
“Colonel, I’m telling you, you’re going with Major Yuneunghan’s detachment to reconnoiter that breech. If the Americans have found it, it would be better for you to die a heroic death killing Americans. That would be better than to come back here and be sent to the dog pound to be ripped to pieces by the dogs...” He hesitated long enough to be sure he had Wanjeon’s attention, and continued, “You and any family that you claim.
“If the Americans find the tunnels and you die there, your family may well survive.
“Major Yuneunghan? Take a detachment of soldiers, an electrician skilled at repairing wiring and computer cable, and take Lieutenant Colonel Wanjeon. Check out a personnel carrier to drive through the tunnels to the location in question. Wanjeon, you will check out a repair vehicle. Enter the tunnels at the Kaesong entrance.
“Colonel, you will take a repair crew with equipment in the tunnel repair vehicle to fix the breach. Obtain enough planks and supporting material to shore up the tunnel walls if the breach is minor and can be fixed. I hope for your sake that it is minor.”
“Major, if the breach is a major one and not repairable, set up enough traps and explosives to keep the Americans busy for a long time.
“How long do you think it will take you to get to the damaged area?”
“About two hours, maybe a few minutes more.”
“That long?”
“Yes sir, if we want to be fully prepared to succeed.”
“Okay, but see if you can do it faster.”
“Yes, Comrade General.”
He saluted, Wanjeon saluted, and the two officers closed the video circuit.
Yuneunghan turned to Wanjeon and asked, “What do you think is wrong?”
“Obviously, a break in the tunnel data feed has occurred. Water filtering through the soil may well have entered a junction box and shorted the wiring.”
“It would have to be a major amount of water, wouldn’t it?”
Wanjeon looked carefully at him. He shook his head negatively. “I would take only an eye dropper full to spark the electric supply lines and short the whole thing, especially if it is a junction box.”
Yuneunghan said, “Let’s hope for your sake that’s all there was. As for me, I would hate to go into battle for anything less than a major fault. The bigger the problem, the more Americans there are for me to kill.”
Wanjeon raised his eyebrows, made a wry face, and said, “We’d better hurry.”