Thread by @NKcomics

The next #NorthKorean #comicbook translation project will be volume 2 of the series “The End of Operation AT” [《A.T작전》의 종말]

It's a prosecutorial procedural drama about some missing #DPRK citizens, with many flashbacks and even more characters.

《A.T작전》의 종말 The End of Operation A.T
145x205mm
Vol. 2 of 4
Publ 문학예술출판사
Printer 평양종합인쇄공장
Printed 2007.7.20
Released 2007.7.25
Pages 99
Product code ㄱ-960170
Text 황명관 & 리재환
Illustrator 최영석
Editor 류인호
Cover 최영석
Proofreader 정경진
Layout 강은정

This book offers some insights into North Korean civic life, the duty of each DPRK citizen to keep an eye on each other, and how state institutions and state owned enterprises work.

Characters (vol.1)
Ma Yong-gum
Kim Chol-bom (lead)
Tak Kwang-su
Ryang U-gil
Cho Chun-hwa
Pyon Han-song
Bong-im [surname not given]
Cho Chang-il
Hong Mae*

*This name means “red plum blossoms” in Korean but is also a brand of Chinese-made televisions in North Korea.
rfa.org/korean/weekly_…

blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?b…

3
[city prosecutor’s]
[chief’s room]
Comrade Chief, I met Comrade O Ryong-bong again and confirmed with him that during Ryang U-gil’s time overseas he was definitely contacted by the subject.
-Hong Mae?! So then…?!

4
So I want to meet Comrade Tak Kwang-su again.
-Ok, do that.
[Solbong Trading Company]
Comrade Tak, when Ryang U-gil got married to Cho Chun-hwa, were you working at Solbong then too?
-Yes.

5
[rest area]
So your memories of what happened then must be fresh.
-When his wife died, Ryang U-gil was in the dorm. I don’t know if you can call it fate but…
[That day we were coming back from Songpo.]
[suburban road]
-What’s that car doing there? Stop the van.
[screech!]

6
What’s wrong with the car?
Want me to take a look?
-It’s all right.
-Is it the carburettor, or…?
-Goodbye.

7
It’s getting dark. How can I leave a comrade alone like this?
-Let us tow your car.
-Right.
-No. The automatic transmission is in gear so…
-What should we do? You need to get moving quick.
-Hey, Comrade Tak, it’s your son’s first birthday today, isn’t it?
-Yes.

8
Okay, Comrade Tak, go without me.
-Don’t worry about me. Go with him.
-Er, Look I’m sorry, I’ll get going then…
-Hey, you should have gone with him.
-No, hand me a spanner please.
[whoosh]

9
Huh?!
[vroom]
Hey, it was a contact failure all this time…

10
Well done.
-It was nothing…
[driving in the car]
[sigh]
What is it?
-Actually I was driving around looking for my son when the car broke down…
-How old is he?
-He’s just three.
-So that’s what happened. What’s your boy’s name?
-It’s Myong-san.

11
Has your husband* gone somewhere?
-[...]
-He died a few years ago.
-[sigh]
-We knew each other from university.
-I’m sorry I asked. We don’t even know each other…
-It’s all right. Let’s find my son, if it takes all night.

*He uses the word “head of the household”, an old word for husband almost unused in South Korea.

12
Thanks, but… won’t your wife be worried at home?
-Actually, I’m widowed too.
-What?
-Ok-ran graduated from teacher’s university but when I was away on business she had a heart attack… A few months ago it was the 3rd anniversary of her passing.
-So that’s what happened.

13
She wasn’t an easy woman at all.
-Do you have children?
-No, I don’t.

14
You have enough grief as it is so I’m really sorry for causing you more. I had no idea...
-Nonsense, it’s nothing really…
Myong-san! Myong-san!
[children’s park entrance]

15
[on the sidewalk]
Have you seen a young child around here?
[residential area]
Has anyone seen a young child?

16
Hello? Yes. Yes…
[reception]
huh?
[alleyway]
Isn’t that little boy Myong-san?

17
[Myong-san]
[Mummy!]
Why do you cause your mum so much grief?
-Thank you. I owe you a lot for your help today.
-Oh, think nothing of it.
[next day (intersection)]
huh?

18
Good morning!
-Myong-san’s mother!
-Myong-san, say hello to the man.
-Now that I see him in the light he’s a cute kid!
Hey kid, don’t upset your mother again like you did last night.

19
Okay, have a nice day.
-Goodbye.
-What are you staring at? Comrade Ryang, hahaha...
-Huh? I was wondering who it was. It’s you, Comrade Tak.
-You’re a real go-getter, Comrade Ryang. From one day to the next you hook up with a wife like that.

20
What?
-It’s a good thing I left you there last night, isn’t it?
-She’s a very attractive woman.
-Really? If you need, I can be your errand-boy.
-Hey, I don’t need that.

21
[Tak's flahback ends]
So that’s how Ryang & Cho became a family.
-I asked before, but we still don’t know who visited Im Ok-ran’s house the night she died.
[Clearly they're digging on Ryang. If I try to fool the law…]
Comrade Tak, don’t worry about a thing. Just be honest.

22
I… I lied last time.
[Huh?!]
I thought that I’d be under suspicion…
-Haha… That’s not manly… Tell me everything and get it off your chest.
-It was the afternoon of the day before Ryang U-gil’s first wife died.

23
[Tak Kwang-su recalls that time]
[Songpo harbor]
[Hoot]
Comrade Tak, you’re going to the office, right?
-Yes
[screech]

24
Good timing. On the way there, stop by my house. It’s my wife’s birthday today.
-Really? Then get permission and go there with me.
-I’d love to, but work’s piled up so…
-I understand.
-Comrade Tak, take this and give it to my wife.
-What is it?

25
Soft drinks & bread that my wife likes.
[in the city]
Hey, Comrade Tak!
-Huh, Myong-jun?

26
How long has it been? I think it’s the first time since we got out of the army.
-Truly, let’s go to a restaurant and catch up.
[snack bar]
[outside the restaurant]

27
[driving the minivan]
It’s that late already?
[Ryang U-gil’s house]
Happy birthday, Ma’am. Comrade Ryang wanted to come but he was busy so he gave me this…
-Thank you. Goodbye.

28
[Solbong Trading Company (next morning)]
Oh, my. What’s wrong with me? Comrade U-gil asked me to take his wife to the hospital for a check-up this morning.
[Ryang U-gil’s house]
[knock knock knock]
Has she already gone?
[creak]
I guess she’s home. Ma’am!

29
huh?!
Oh she’s… The lady of the house is d…dead!

30
[murmur murmur]
Ah!
[Tak Kwang-su has driven back to the office without stopping, out of his mind.]
Hey, Comrade Tak, what are you doing there? They say Comrade Ryang’s wife is dead…
Hurry up and go to his house.
[vroom vroom]

31
[Ryang U-gil’s house (in the room)]
Comrade Tak, take this out and throw it away.
[toss]

32
[flutter]
Could it be poison?
So it was in the bread and soft drinks I brought here yesterday evening? … It must be! If this becomes known people will think I… argh!...

33
[Ryang U-gil, arriving at home after hearing about his wife]
[screech]
What, my wife has gone?

34 1/2
[Tak Kwang-su comes back to the present]
But I’ve kept all that hidden until now. Please punish me.
-What more guilt could I put on a comrade who repented by himself even at this late time? The only thing I'm sad about is that you didn't immediately report all this

34 2/2
to the authorities at the time. Why didn’t you? It’s because you fell to self-preservation, abandoning even your basic duty as a citizen. Isn’t that right? Comrade Tak!
[ah…]
-I put my selfish interests first... I’ve become a worthless citizen.

35
I am a citizen and so are you, Comrade. Even though our social duties entrusted to us may differ, wherever we are and whatever we do, we mustn’t forget our basic duty as citizens of the Republic.

36 1/3
[Solgyong Trading (in a room)]
Comrade Yu In-jun, so you’re saying that calling Ryang U-gil to this company & recommending him for the post of branch manager was all the doing of company vice-president Pyon Hang-song?
-Yes. VP Pyon brought Ryang brought him in.

2/3
-Did he achieve results after joining?
-He came right after his overseas practicum so he did show some results. But after that he was just like a hibernating bear. He’d just go around talking about freedom & criticising. We warned him a lot but VP Pyon always had his back.

3/3
-Well then, as director of external business, you should have sounded the alarm on time, instead of looking on from afar, shouldn’t you?

37 1/2
Actually, it was the same with Comrade Kye Jong-ho. All he knew was work, and then when VP Pyon went to the overseas branch on a fact finding trip, for whatever reason…
-You mean the section chief who VP Pyong hired?

2/2
-Yes. Section chief Kye had principles and was serious in his work. But what can I do? I didn't get along with branch manager Ryang U-gil, and VP Pyon couldn’t see what was happening…
[intersection]
Pyon Hang-song? What kind of person is he?

38 1/2
[chief’s room]
Over the past few days, we’ve gathered a lot of evidence, especially on the cause of death of Im Ok-ran, which had been completely dark to us. As that became clearer, it became possible to get a better sense of Ryang U-gil’s character.

2/2
What remains now is whether he killed her himself or whether she was poisoned by a 3rd party…
-Let’s be clear: Our next task in the Im Ok-ran incident is to quickly find the whereabouts of Ryang U-gil, now that he’s the main suspect, at least at the present stage.

39 1/2
[Solgyong Trading (in a room)]
Sorry to call on you while you’re busy. Comrade Kye Jong-ho, it's only a few days since you returned to the Fatherland, yes?
-Yes, since I didn't do my job properly…

39 2/2
-It’s not that. We found that you’ve lived like a citizen should, in accordance with the law. What we want to know is about the interrelationship between you, VP Pyon Hang-song, & Ryang U-gil.
-It was a few days before I came back to Korea.

40
[in a room of the Sindong branch office]
Hey Comrade Kye, if you come here from Korea and leave before term without a reason, where do you get the nerve to…
-What? Where do I get the nerve?
-Look at this guy. Take over!
-And what does that mean?

41 1/2
Look. This is different to when you were at head office. Bickering with each other about small stuff. It's you who’ll get hurt later. And I heard even your father couldn't show his face in the country during his lifetime, Comrade.

41 2/2
-Huh? Fine. Now I know what you’re trying to say to me, Vice-President Pyon.
-What? I’m telling you to keep that in mind.

42
Pah! Don’t beat around the bush. I can’t accept such orders.
-You… I'm saying this for your own good.
[Kye Jong-ho comes back to the present]
Sorry, but what was that about your father not being able to show his face during his lifetime?
-Oh…

43
If you can't tell, never mind.
-No. In the Great Fatherland Liberation War, when we did the strategic temporary withdrawal, my father turned up in his hometown Sujinpo…
-What? Sujinpo?
-Why do you ask?
-What was his name?
-Kye Cha-nam.
[Kye Cha-nam?]
-Huh? Why the surprise?

44
Comrade Chol-bom’s father and your father are both from the same hometown. During the war he was a policeman but one day while escorting a prisoner he was…
[Huh?!]
So Comrade Chol-bom’s father was Officer Kim Yong-sok, who died because of my father? Oh-

45
Take it easy, Comrade Jong-ho.
-Well then. I ended up making a hometown friend today.
-How can this be real?

46
Comrade Chol-bom!
-Comrade Jong-ho, why don’t we go out for a stroll and catch up?
-Yes, let’s do that.

47
[in a park forest]
Comrade Jong-ho, we’ve heard that you also met this woman Hong Mae with Ryang U-gil?
-Yes. They were with Ri Su-ryon, so there were 3 of them.
-Comrade Kye, is it true that before he disappeared Ryang U-gil had many phone calls with Hong Mae?
-That’s true.

48
[flashback (Sindong branch yard)]
Honey, there’s a call for you.
-Who is it?
-Who do you think? That lady from Taldok Restaurant, Hong Mae.
-What? What are you saying about your husband?
-She calls too much. This is already the 3rd time today.

49
What's the if it’s the 3rd time or the 30th time? If I get a call I have to take it. What are you fussing about? It’s all business.
-Sure, sure. Take those calls. Who knows how much you'll owe her soon…
-Chun-hwa, can’t you keep quiet? People are watching…
[whisper whisper]

50
[back in the forest]
Comrade, did you butt in when he spoke with Hong Mae too?
Um...At that time I was ordered back so another comrade accompanied him.
[district prosecutor’s]
Comrade VP Pyon Hang-song, aren’t you? I’m Prosecutor Ma Yong-gum.
-Yes, is that so?
-Take a seat.

51
Sorry to sound rude, but why must I of all people be called to a place like this?
-It's about the Ryang U-gil case.
-Ryang U-gil? Am I somehow connected to his disappearance?
-Comrade Vice-President, I think you’ve misunderstood. There's no need to raise your voice like that.

52 1/2
Ok, what do you want to know?
-Must we spell it out?
-Ok...It was right when I returned to Sindong branch office after I finished checking things at the overseas branches…
[Sindong branch yard]
Where's Comrade Ryang?

2/2
-While you were visiting the other branches, he said something about a meeting with the owner of Taldok Restaurant.

53
Really? Who'd he go with?
-Comrade Park.
-Well, that’s all right.
-Comrade VP! I’m just back from a meeting. Here are the proxied & signed mortgage papers.*
-But is this woman really reliable?
-Sure. When I made a big profit it was thanks to my negotiations with this proxy.

*The specific details of 대방과 맞수표한 담보서 are unclear. Suggestions welcome.

54 1/2
That’s good then, but we must keep our guard up.
-I understand.
-I’m leaving on the night train.
-It's been a while since your last visit. Why not look around the city, even just for a couple of days…
-You have too much free time…

2/2
-Comrade Vice-President, before you leave, please discuss one thing with me.
-What is it?

55
[inside]
If the branch office is to revitalise business, it must expand its scope of activities & work to secure materials.
-Right. But that requires prior agreement with the relevant unit of the host country.
-Of course.
-When I go back I’ll bring it up at a meeting. Huh?!

56
Ms Hong Mae asked me to put you on the phone.
-Why?
-She says there’s something she forgot to discuss during your meeting.
-Not now. I have a guest from the Fatherland. We’re discussing something important, so ask her to call tomorrow morning.
-Okay then. [Sigh]

57
Comrade Ryang, I heard that you’ve developed a new habit.
-What? Is it…Did someone else say that I'm a liberalist?
-No, no… They say you argue with your wife a lot. You can't do that.
-Who says that? It’s not true. It’s like Chinese whispers. That Jong-ho has done it again.

58 1/2
Tut-tut… He didn't mention it. You don't even know... Just keep it in mind!
-Ok.
[Pyon Hang-song comes back to the present]
I think this all happened because I couldn't stop his egomaniacal behaviour in time.

2/2
-If you are a citizen of the Republic, you must always be sharp like a knife on things that are against the law, whether large or small.
[in a park]
Comrade Tak, have a cigarette.

59
I don’t smoke.
-That’s a good habit. I don’t smoke either.
-Then why do you carry them around? Like an accessory…
-Good advice. Cigarettes are all harm and no benefit. But some smokers can’t have a conversation without one. Haha…

60
Do you remember seeing this woman anywhere?
-Oh it’s her. The one Ryang U-gil fought with Im Ok-ran about…
-Are you sure?
-Yes.
[Chol-bom’s house]
Dear! In-ok’s daddy! Your soup’s getting cold.
[hmmmm]

61
[ring]
This is Ma Yong-gum. Comrade Chol-bom, do you remember a Comrade Sin from Sindong branch?
-Sin? Yes I remember, but…
-He’s here at head office now with the office car.
-Really? Last time I was too busy to meet with him… I’ll come over now.
[Solgyong Trading]
[screech]

62 1/2
[inside]
Comrade Sin, you think you’re the last person to see Ryang U-gil?
-Yes.
-Can you give us some more details?
[inside Shindong branch]
As agreed with the host country’s relevant agencies, we want to organise the project to secure the supply of goods like this:

2/2
first, two of us, myself & Comrade Sin,

63
First, two of us, myself & Comrade Sin will go to this area. Three people under Comrade Manager should go to this branch. And the rest should continue doing business without interruption.
[Ryang U-gil’s car on the mountain road]

64
[a hotel (in a room)]
[ring]
Yes. Who did you say? Yes, yes…oh it’s Ms Hong Mae. Yes, yes. Area H? Is that certain? Yes, yes. Thank you. For helping in this way…
[She’s saying there are more resources in Area H, right? Then... I need to spread our capacity even more…]

65 1/2
[hotel balcony]
I shouldn't let myself get pushed around in this state. I must spread our capacity to ensure profits.]
[in the room]
Comrade Sin! He was here just a moment ago. Where's he gone?
-He said he was going out for a minute…
-Where did you go?

2/2
[sigh]
I wanted to find out if there was any news from Comrade Manager’s team…

66 1/2
Did you learn anything?
-No news, but they said that someone came from head office to the branch to check things out.
[If I don’t want to become the topic of bad talk, I must take this chance to improve our performance.]

2/2
Let’s do this. I’ve learned that there are lots of raw materials we need in the area where Comrade Manager is. So Comrade Sin will take the women and go there

67
[outside the hotel]
Dear! What are we supposed to do?
-Hm, let’s go to Area H. I got a phone call and heard there are plenty of raw materials there. So long as we're out here, we have to go back with some kind of improvement in performance. Otherwise I'll lose face.

68
Sigh-

69
[Comrade Sin awakens from his flashback]
Ryang U-gil's family probably left by road after parting with us.
[It’s going to take a lot more work to clear up the matter of Ryang U-gil and Cho Chun-hwa.]

70
[Japan, Chonbu Corporation]
Hello, Mr President.
-Fujimoto-san. Thanks for coming outside. Let’s go inside.

71
[sitting room]
Did everything go well?
-Yes, Sir. There are 12 places that have newly signed contracts with us this time. And the number who have applied for reservations is no less than 23 in Asia alone, even leaving European aside.
-Well, that is unusual news. Haha…

72
Boss, I'm not bragging, but wait & see. Soon, our company will be no.1 in electronics production & sales.
-Wonderful! Fujimoto-san, you’ve done a great job!
-But boss…
-I bought this evening newspaper on the way. It carries some very surprising news…
-Surprising news?

73
Yes, actually, it’s about your daughter…
-Our Chun-hwa?
[rustle]
She’s missing? What is this?
But the problem is we need to know where she is to come up with a solution. And it’s a recession these days...
-Fujimoto-san, I'd give the whole company just to be able to find her.

74 1/2
Anyway, let's find a way, boss.
-It's not time for me to be this way.
-Boss, why are you suddenly preparing to go out? You're not feeling well.
-I must visit the Chamber of Commerce.
-Because of your daughter?
-Yes. Why hesitate more? At least there I have people I know.

74 2/2
-Do you think they’ll step up to help you? Nonsense… Boss, you’ve always taken a neutral stance. This might sound too frank but it’s like jumping into the fire with kindling on your back. You’d be betraying yourself by your own hand.

75 1/2
If that’s true, it means that no one in Japan will throw me a life preserver even in a big disaster?! Still, I don't intend to lower myself and reach out to you Japanese people & serve Mammon.

2/2
[Pah, let's see how much longer your pride holds out. Pathetic old man acting like a schoolyard bully when you don’t even know what misfortune awaits your daughter soon enough.]
[I can't stay like this.]

76
[Cho Jang-il’s home]
[sigh]
Sir, did Ma’am show any improvement overnight?
-If she had some other disease at least then it could be cured with medicine. But this is a disease of the heart caused by our daughter, so there’s nothing to be done.
[sigh]

77 1/2
Um…
-Oh come on, if you've got something to say, spit it out & discuss it.
-I'm not supposed to say this but…they say trouble comes in pairs.
-Fujimoto-san, it’s ok. No one else will hear you…

2/2
-There’s a rumour that somewhere in North Korea miniature radios fell from the sky that somehow have the logo of Chonbu Corporation on them.
-What? Is this true?

78
Boss. I've been your right-hand man for decades. Have I ever lied to you?
-It's hopeless. If this gets out in the Republic, what'll they say about me? They'll curse me, Cho Jang-il the bastard who forgets his Korean roots & gets his daughter to do the same?
Aah~
-Boss!

79
[chief’s room]
We can't solve this case with the shreds of data on Ryang U-gil that've been synthesised so far. I contacted the relevant agency, & you must go to Shindong branch with Comrade Ma Yong-gum.
-Yes, sir.
[Plane with Kim Chol-bom & co. leaves from Pyongyang Airport]

80
[Kim Chol-bom and company arriving at Shindong branch office]
[screech]
I’m Pak Su-ung, manager of Shindong branch.
-Is that so? You’ve been doing a heckuva job.

81
[inside]
I'm Ma Yong-gum. Comr. Ri, I hear you've been in charge of statistics since the branch began…
-Yes.
-Comrade, you're not in trouble, so tell us everything you know.
-It was a few days before Ryang U-gil’s family disappeared.
[flashback]
Comr. Ryang.
-Comr. Choe?

82 1/2
Hey wow! It’s Comr. Manager.
-Huh? Comr. Kye…
-Did you sign a deal with Taldok Restaurant?
-What deal? I told them to come see me if they had a mind to. But we've no branch manager now, so what’s the harm in just meeting & listening?

2/2
-Anyway, someone claiming to be the restaurant owner is here wanting to meet an agent from this branch.
-Who the hell? Huh? Hong Mae?
-Ho-ho. Hey, what are you so surprised about?

83
Comrade Jong-ho, where is that person now?
-In the foyer.
-Then let’s meet her, ok? Comrade Su-ryon…
-Come on, Comrade Ryang. The manager’s here, why are you sending me out?
-Okay, then the three of us will meet her.
[foyer]
Ms Hong Mae!
Mr Ryang! It’s been a long time.

84 1/2
But why come all the way to our office?
-After I met Mr Ryang the 2nd time, I took over my uncle’s business when he died.
-So, Ms Hong Mae, you’re in business too?
-Yes. Luckily, I was able to revive the business with some capital.

2/2
-Really? So do you expect something from our branch now that we've that started a new business?
-Ho-ho… Will sitting on a pile of money solve everything? You have to keep investing it.

85 1/2
Understandable. You mean if we collaborate with you, rather than signing contracts with folks who are total strangers, it'll cost much less & credit will be guaranteed?
-It's fun to talk with you. I’m here because we need some of the commodities stored at your office.

2/2
-Oh, really? That’s not difficult. Just wait 1 hour. I’ll ask head office…
-Mr Ryang, either way, I'm going to come back tomorrow.
-Ok, you do that.
-Myong-san’s father, who is that?

86
I told you, didn’t I? When I nearly died while overseas for my practicum, she’s the angel who saved me.
-What?
[branch office yard]
But it was that evening. I was going over deposit figures when there was a phone call. Shindong branch. What, what? A hotel? Yes…I’ll tell him.

87 1/2
Just now a person calling themselves Kwon Jong-sok said they were calling from a hotel…*
-Hm, that comrade over here with the working-level economic delegation?!
-Yes. He’s in room 7 on the 3rd floor and said to say hello.
-No, I must go meet him right away.

2/2
-If you go to the hotel, can you do me a favour?
-What is it? Tell me quick.
-Stop by the hotel bookshop and buy me an English-Korean dictionary, please.

*from here on, every time “hotel” is mentioned, there is a blank space before it, as if a specific name has been erased

88
[vroom]
[hotel (hall)]
Comrade Kwon, come visit the branch office before you go back to Korea.
-Okay.
-Oh no, Comrade Su-ryon asked me to get her an English-Korean dictionary.

89
[by the lift]
Is it you, Mr Ryang?
-Ms Hong Mae, what are you doing here?
-Haha, what am I doing here? Our agency office is beside the bookshop. And you, Mr. Ryang?
-I’m buying an English-Korean dictionary at the bookshop.
-Really? Then come with me, I’ll guide you.
[sweep]

90 1/2
[7th floor corridor]
Mr Ryang, come visit the office before you go to discuss the issues we talked about this morning in more detail.
-I have to get back quickly…Another time.
-Come on, I can't believe you’d go without accepting the gratitude of an old friend. Come.

2/2
[inside the room]
-Don’t you worry about that dictionary. Have some tea and let’s catch up.

91
Mr Ryang, you’re much more dignified than when we last met. When you were sick I thought you’d never recover…
-If it hadn’t been for you, Ms Hong Mae…
-I’ve never been able to forget you. If I met a handsome guy like you, I’d stay with him forever.
[Huh?!]
[in another room]

92
Ms Hong Mae, this is…
[shove]
Mr Ryang, this book is about international free trade trends recently published in some country. If it’s of any use to you, please take it as a souvenir.

93
Don’t worry. There’s no undertone in this book. Ha-ha…
-Oh this… Anyways, I’ll read it. Well then…
[in the lift]
Is it that late already?
Huh?

94 1/3
A photo of me & Hong Mae during my overseas practicum.
[Ri Su-ryon awakens from flashback]
What time did Ryang return from the hotel to the office?
-At least 2 hours later. For some reason, he argued with Cho Chun-hwa that night. At this time, director O Ryong-bong

2/3
turned up on a business trip.
[in a room of the branch]
Comrade U-gil, the longer you live & work overseas, the more you always have to keep yourself together in all things. More than when you're in Korea.

3/3
-Sir, don’t worry. Sometimes I hear that I have some liberalism in me, but I'm strict with myself. Even though I did happen to fight with my wife this evening…

95 1/2
When you are in the Fatherland, even if you have a flaw, it can be corrected with criticism*, but once you come overseas, the flaws you used to think trivial can later grow into serious problems.
-Sir, I don’t know what you’re… anyway thank you. Lest the protégé become

2/2
lazy unknowingly, it’s good to have a mentor who tightens the screws…
-Thank you, Comr. Ryang. I’m glad you see it that way…
[restaurant]
Sir, it's been so long since your last visit. Please choose whatever you want.
-Comr. Ryang, all I want is one bowl of cold noodles.

*probably a reference to the self- and mutual criticism sessions, held regularly in North Korea.

96
Teacher, are you afraid your student will ask you to pay? Put your wallet back.
-Comrade Ryang, this may sound too cold, but the more one does overseas business, the cleaner one should be.
-The way I see it you always do things by the book.
[ho-ho]
[ha-ha]

97
[Shindong branch office yard]
The day after Ryang U-gil went to the hotel, a woman named Hong Mae called. Ryang took the call and went out for a while. But when I saw him come back a few hours later, he looked dark and his shoulders were slumped.

98
[next day, in a room at the branch]
Ryang was always bickering with Comr. Kye Jong-ho. If VP Pyon Hang-song hadn’t split them up, the whole office mood would have soured.
-VP Pyon?! You say he split them up?
-He quickly summoned Kye back to Korea and got him out of the way.

99
[a foreign train station]
Comrade Su-ryon, thank you!
-Goodbye!

[END OF PART 2]

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《A.T작전》의 종말 “The End of Operation AT” book 2