[Sweden]: Call to Korea

[Connor]

Government of Sweden
Löfven Administration​

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A telephone call is made to the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Swedish Ambassador to the Nordic Council, Gunnar Davidsson.
This telephone call is made in line with the Swedish Document Classification and Security Act 1995, which also covers telephonic communication, causing a 'CONFIDENTIAL' encryption level to be appended.

Jay

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CONFIDENTIAL
Crown Copyright © Kingdom of Sweden
All information is subject to the Swedish Document Classification and Security Act 1995​

 

[Jay]

​

Vice Minister Chae and her staff arrived at the restaurant. The team was having a late night after-work session after their busy day at the Ministry. Vice Minister Chae, the Director of South East Asia, and the Bureau Deputy Chief for Eastern Europe and some staffers left for the restaurant. Vice Minister Chae sat with her fellow civil servants as they ordered a bowl of udon noodles. Vice Minister Chae had a soft spot for some good udon and this place did it best. That and being next to the office meant that it was convenient. The Ministry had been busy, but, the team had finished the memorandum for Thailand and now were waiting on Finance to approve the loan and grants. It was a good day she thought. The same could not be said for the Eastern Europe office which took a beating in the meetings over Ukraine Policy.

The three chatted on current policy issues, that with the rumors of ASEAN reforming and Australia's OESC, the regional orders were getting crowded. The Vice Minister simply nodded, agreeing that things would be getting more difficult. They were getting the brunt of policy desires from up top on improving regional relations. Maintaining the delicate balance of supporting the partners in the region. In someways it was a little unsettling the rapid changes in the region. It didn't help that the Defense Ministry was sucking the budget. With their expensive ships and planes, the diplomatic resources for financial aid were limited. While Minister Baek was away in the US for the Summit, Minister Roh was raising hell for the Defense Ministry for taking her funds from the budget. Whatever wasn't being taken for Defense most likely was going for reunification and in itself presented a large challenge for the policymakers. Whether admitted or not...a number of structural issues with bringing about reforms were becoming apparent. It was nonetheless quite the scene for the staff and vice ministers unused to the being in the cabinet meetings in seeing these higher and senior ministers arguing very openly.

​

Alas, the food arrived. The civil servants ate while they talked about office politics, the usual gossip and rumors, so on. Vice Minister Songha fending off dating rumors and Director Soomin denying the usual power abuse accusations. The three had entered the Ministry together following the civil servant exam. They had been friends since, an unusual thing in the nasty world of office politics. Considering their difference in roles and responsibilities as well. As the three finished, they looked at the dessert menu to pick something to celebrate. A little premature, considering the last time they finalize the $1.2 Billion package for Indonesia and the $400 million package for Pakistan, they fell through at the last minute. Still, it seemed like the Thailand proposal was good and ready. They shared a number of Soju bottles and enjoyed their evening. While she was looking at the menu, her work phone rang. Soomin and Baekjung both laughed as they knew what that meant. Songha rolled her head back, picking up the call in a private room inside the restaurant. Her staff informed her where it was from, the Vice Minister would sit down and receive the call on the encrypted Government phone. She had a bottle of water brought to the room and told the other staff they could leave, giving them her card to pay for the meal and any other drinks they ordered.

Chae Song-ha [Vice Minister]:"Hello Ambassador Davidsson, this is Vice Minister Chae. I hope you are doing well. How are things in Stockholm?"

Connor

 

[Connor]

From the comfort of his office Swedish Ambassador to the Nordic Council, Gunnar Davidsson, would press his phone firmly against his ear. In front of him a notepad and pen lay atop of his wooden desk, ready to make notes through the conversation; the relationship between Korea and Sweden was extremely important to not only the Ambassador but also the central government whom were keen to see it continue flourishing.

"Vice Minister Chae, thank you for taking my call I really do appreciate your time. I am extremely well thank you, I have just spent a number of hours in meetings so it is a great relief to speak one-on-one over the phone, it's been some time since we've been able to have a catch-up! Stockholm is Stockholm, busy as always. Are you well? I imagine the unification is keeping you busy?"

Jay

 

[Jay]

"Thank you for the call, I appreciate the call, truly, I know how those meetings can be. Unfortunately we aren't being spared either. It has been a while, we are glad to receive the call. I am certain Her Excellency Minister Baek shares the same sentiment. I am considerably well, I was able to visit my extended family, I believe that is the word in English, in the North last weekend. So, it was quite the experience, surreal really. It was a nice visit. It gives meaning sometimes to the work we do. That it isn't just abstract things. But, now, it is back to working and getting those agreements signed and meeting those unhappy Ambassadors. Another day in our Ministry as usual. Thankfully the unification matters are being handled by the Unification Ministry, but, occasionally we deal with the matter when it comes to foreign governments sending aid. How is the Council session on Bangladesh going, I know we haven't given any updates, but, once we get something please be assured we'll share it with you."

Connor

 

[Connor]

"I have to say Vice Minister, we in Stockholm are thrilled to see democracy restored across the whole of what's rightfully a unified Korea. Whilst the harsh border between the north and south has undoubtedly cost many lives, seen many terrors and caused some of the most intriguing international complications in recent history; South Korea has single-handedly risen from the hypothetical flames as a Phoenix. Truly majestic. The councils' session on Bangladesh has since come to a steady close, I understand the opinion of the Presidium was to respect the information and intelligence fed by your nation to govern the response by the council as a whole. Nonetheless, we stand poised as always, ready to retaliate to defend our friends, partners and allies where required.

Speaking of the council, unification and aid... I wouldn't be doing my duty if I didn't offer the services of Sweden. You are a close ally of Sweden and please do not hesitate to 'use and abuse' us, so to speak. Is there any pressing matters where you still have a void that needs to be filled by foreign aid?"

Jay

 

[Jay]

"We are glad to hear your government is watching the situation and that the developments have been positively received. It has been a very tense period moving forward. The foundations are still being installed, and while progress continues, the unification of the Peninsula and our people must be beyond pen and paper. Though, my mother says that all of Korea's prayers to God have been answered, so, that is going for us. Now, we must make the best of this unique opportunity and keep our people together as we move forward. Holding those responsible accountable and adopting transitional justice measures. Though, I would not liken our efforts to that the phoneix, thank you for your kind words. It is sadly the reality we live in the legacy of colonialism and the tactics used by foreign powers in controlling the world. Though, we must continue to move forward, healing the wounds of the crimes committed against our people is never easy. I am sure the Minister appreciates the Council and Sweden's support.

We are happy that Sweden's positions on Korea are viewing us highly. At the moment, we have thankfully addressed the pressing concern of the humanitarian disaster. Substantial efforts have eliminated the level of malnutrition in elderly and children and it will be eliminated in the adult population by October. All weapons of mass destruction have been collected and are set to be destroyed by December and January of next year. However, we have been facing logistical difficulties with how much our forces can do. The original plan consisted of 320,000 troops. Operational costs were a monthly $7 billion by analysts. The current plan consists of 30,000 troops and we've mostly prioritized humanitarian and border control. We're going to begin full disarmament of the North Korean Armed Forces by sometime in November. The partial disarmament has been successfully as far as we know. The real challenge comes after, rebuilding collapsed mines, reseeding agricultural fields, and providing a framework for socio-economic mobility and development. We've taken out the loan needed, a not very fun meeting between the Ministries considering the six billion in interest we're paying. Still, it is a small price for the unity of our people and for a future together.

As for Bangladesh, we have an intelligence team conducting the interrogation. There are little results, however, our analysis is that the attack has crippled the Government's credibility and internal security. With, unconfirmed rumors of insider attackers from within branches of the State security forces. Though, that is what the people on the streets have reported and not an intelligence lead. Rest assured we're working around the clock to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice and for the deaths of the German diplomatic officials."

Connor

 

[Connor]

"Perhaps the wrong choice of words to represent the efforts of the Korean people, but nonetheless the work and resilience of your great nation is one to be cherished. I am sure that you are most proud of the general public for their open arms in the regeneration of your state... in it's rightful form. Justice has always and will always be a difficult matter to organise, especially when the standard on either side of the border has had some extreme differences over the past few years; I have no doubt that the adoption of a more... globally accepted measure of justice in the entirety of Korea will see a much more diplomatic and fair environment. However, without doubt, you are in the early stages of showing those dedicated to the former regime that your government can be trusted.

I am glad you raise the matter of finances, following the distribution of the National Security Investment Initiative and Infrastructure Mitigation Programme via the Nordic Council, we were eager to see how the billions of dollars of investment had aided towards your economic situation and whether or not there was still room for us to assist with your position? I note from recent forecasts that your economy has greatly increased since the early stages of your government but given the vast changes in your political stature and the likelihood to necessary investment in retaining your position across the former border, I can only suspect that money is at the very forefront of your cabinets minds at the moment?"

Jay

 

[Jay]

"No, I appreciate the analogy. I just felt it was a high praise when we are still trying to find our path forward together. We are all Koreans regardless, if one of us in pain and suffering, just like the whole body, all of us are suffering. I can only hope that together we move forward to heal and atone for our sins and crimes and pray that we may be forgiven in time.

While I don't have the numbers, I can send you an email perhaps containing to an assessment of the NSII and the IMP sponsored by your Government through the Council. The NSII was used to procure approximately...crap she thought...I shouldn't have drunk that much...$8...880 millionin defense sales from Sweden and the remaining $1.12 billion was injected into the KDIA to help boost the industry with capital during the financial crisis and procure items the National Defense Ministries procurement plans for the last quarter of our fiscal year. I am currently not in the office, so I don't have exact numbers, but, we've had enough long meetings that I remember some...some numbers She laughed.

Yes, money is all we talk about, but like time, we seem to never have enough of it. Unfortunately we've just burnt through $20 billion in loans we just took from Sparrow Industries and our Finance Ministry is pulling the brakes on excessive payments and procurements until we can stabilize our budgets. It wasn't helped by the multi-billion dollar operation to address the humanitarian crisis in the North which dominated our emergency reserves and funds for the past four months.

We do have some contingency plans in order, and are actively discussing them as we are worried about the impact to our credit rating and our what that will mean for FDI and supply-chain trust. However, financially, while in aggregate GDP terms we've seen growth and our trade revenue has significantly improved, the issue is mostly raising financial capital. We are anticipating the impact of going from a population of 51 million to 77 million and cover the costs associated with that jump...so, we will need to calculate a new economic plan to address these concerns and adapt. But, It doesn't matter how slowly we go, as long as we don't stop in our quest for a better Korea for all Koreans. Our current infrastructure plan is close to $7.1 billion...and we're negotiating the second phase of the plan. We also have a plan for $4 billion in energy investment and dam production...just some things I can remember, I'm sorry that I don't have any more accurate information, we've had a lot of meetings these past couple of months."

Connor

 

[Connor]

"I can only try and sympathise with the pain and suffering you and your nation is suffering as a result of the former regime but as you quite rightly say; time heals. Time will truly unite your nation as one, as it rightly should have been prior to the war that divided you.

Oh, please Vice Minister, don't fret! This wasn't an attempt for me to make sure our money was going to the right place, I just wanted to ensure it's made real and effective change to Korea - we, in conjunction with the Nordic Council, have plans on the drawing board to further our investment into signatory states and we wanted to see whether the incentives in place at present were working as they should have. It sounds as though you have benefit from the money donated... if we were to see further schemes in the future where would see monetary injections as being beneficial? is there a particular sector struggling to develop? is there a particular area of the political spectrum which sees itself at the back of the queue when it comes to central government funding which would truly benefit? Any ideas or opinions you have would be greatly beneficial to us.

If the development of your financial sector is something you could benefit from assistance in I could certainly consult with the Swedish Department of Finance whom could liaise with your own respective cabinet in order to draw up some real statistics of the current financial state of the Korea and where we could advise ways to effectively manage the outstanding debt you mention? It sounds as if I'm bumping the reputation of my own government way about it's true worth but I think Sweden has historically been very strong in economic management and we've seen our net worth surpass $150 billion dollars this quarter. Purely an offer, I won't take offence if you'd rather not!"

Gunnar takes a moment to sip some water after a brief chuckle in an attempt to keep the sensitive subject on a light-hearted casual note. Money is never fun to talk about.

"None the less, I suppose we should move on, I'd like to discuss the Nordic Council, if you have the time?"

Jay

 

[Jay]

"Well, the benefits from the financial injections was a multitude. In part as I mentioned they benefited both Swedish defense firms as well as Korean, and the portion on renewable energy is a small step towards clean energy usage. Unfortunately, oil and coal make up a over 70% of our consumption. It is close to 85% now with the North Korean energy sector dominated by coal and oil with the former being dominate. However, it was an investment in an area that has long needed development. It was unfortunate that our fellow partners in Norway suffered political changes that make them unable to report the effect in their country. However, my own assessment is that the financial injections are successful when delivered towards specific projects as opposed to a blanket offering. If you are looking to incorporate foreign aid as part of your foreign policy efforts, it would be a useful place to begin. In terms of Korea, the majority of our finances are now going towards reconstruction efforts. Renovating hydroelectric dams, laying the foundations for a nuclear power plant in the North, renovation of rail-lines, laying fiber-optic cables, and industrialization efforts. We are trying to also bring tourism to the region, tapping into the mystery of the North. The current administration has prioritized residents in the North for welfare assistance and part of this is to raise the standards of living and purchasing power of communities." The Vice Minister slightly lowered her head in thanks as she was given a bottle of water which she downed as her Swedish counterpart spoke to her. "We would be happy to receive consultancy on the financial side of things. We can only learn from the economic titans of the globe such as your country. Healthy fiscal levels in Korea are something we are always striving for. Investments into healthcare and policing are always items we also hope we can improve, primarily to improve our global standards and rejoin the top of the globe in health and safety. I am sure that the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy can work with your Department of Finance to find ways to effectively manage our economic portfolio. At the moment, the debt planning is within the Ministry of Economy and Finance under Vice Minister Cho. She is leading the team. And not at all, we recognize the investment portfolio of Sweden and its financial reserves that alongside countries like Argentina are in their own way an envy for the world to model themselves after. I hope that we can learn a lot from your country and be productive members of the global community." She put the bottle away in the trashcan as she listened to her counterpart/

"Yes, there are no other pressing matters for me. I'd be happy to talk about the council. Although not in an formal capacity regarding policy or actions, since that would have to be approved by our Minister."

Connor

 

[Connor]

"I will liaise with the relevant parties in order to facilitate some form of economic assistance for Korea which should serve you will as you transition the North and South economies together into one. I am sure that in collaboration and cooperation we can see success come from your markets - although this process is not normally as simple and straight forward as it first seems, especially when you're fighting an uphill battle. I do concur though that regulated investment in strategic sectors seems to benefit substantially more than non-specific distribution of monies."

"Anyway, the Nordic Council, I have been in meetings with the Secretary General over the past few weeks and there are some changes coming to the council that we'd like to discuss. At present the council consists of Sweden, South Korea and Denmark; as you know South Korea holds an observer state position and Sweden and Denmark retain founding state positions. The Secretary General is currently working on the return of Germany to the council which, in an ideal scenario, will see them return to their member state status.

South Korea has one of the councils most fundamental partners and part of that comes down to your continued dedication to the alliance. The Secretary General has made it abundantly clear that we intend to continue this close bond and pay you some respect for your efforts as well - which is why we'd like to see the now unified Korea as a full member state within the Nordic Council. I understand you may not be able to sign the dotted line without consultation with the relevant offices but I'd like to hear your initial thoughts?"

Jay

 

[Jay]

"The collaboration would be most appreciated. Being able to use the finite financial resources we have an maximize our productivity and output is important. Especially now, no funds should go to waste in projects. As you said, it is easier to say than to do sometimes. As we say in Korea, If you lift together, it’s better – even if it’s a sheet of paper. No matter how small the task, together we can achieve more. Regardless, that is for the financial wizards in the castles of money to discuss." She smiled to herself inside the private room, as she drank some more water.

"We hope that Germany will return to the council in a capacity it desires. We look forward to seeing the Council recuperate its political situation and allow us to coordinate as we have done in the past. Under an ideal scenario, with Germany's return, and a like minded administration to that of Chancellor Kohl, growth can be expected once more. An integrated Germany has long been the furnace that spurred European economic growth and development." As she listened to the Swedish Council representative, she wished she hadn't drunk that much.

"Well. I think there are a number of practical limitations. Geographic. Cultural. Linguistic. Demographic. The majority of the Council's institutions are geared towards Scandinavia. Germany's location for example does not pose and issues because it is a maritime neighbor to Scandinavia. Culturally speaking. Although distinctions are present, similarities are far more common than differences between your countries. Demographically he Nordic Council has small populations. Based on the current provisions on matters of security for example. The ratios would be completely imbalanced if Korea were to attempt to fulfill its criteria. Synergizing our countries would in that capacity be difficult.

While in principle, a full membership would be mutually beneficial. It poses raises into questions the fundamental basis of the Nordic Council. While our country fully embraces multilateralism, international cooperation, and so forth. Ascribing to the necessary documents would come with a mutual effort to redraft, redraw, and shift the Council. If we want to fully account for our concerns with a full membership. Though, as you said, it is our ministers who can look at a more holistic perspective."

Connor