Tempest (북극성)

TEMPEST

We couldn't stop this war after all.

For one last time…

I want you to pretend…

this is just an ordinary day.

If this were just an ordinary day…

and we were just an ordinary man and woman…

I would be asking you…

"Who are you really?

Why did you come to me?

Would you really

take a bullet for me?

And why…

Why do I see you in my dreams?"

I've never been afraid of anything…

until I felt the fear…

of something happening to you.

I was scared you'd get hurt

and I wouldn't be there in time.

That's why, even in my dreams, I held on to you.

I was afraid I'd lose you there too,

when I had nothing left in this world.

Honestly, I really don't care about the war.

I only want to run away with you, Munju.

Let's go.

You mean that?

I mean it.

Let's escape together.

Where were you thinking of taking us?

How about the Gobi Desert?

The Gobi Desert?

I spent two years there, after defecting.

I had a lot I needed to forget.

My father, my mother, and my grandmother who told me to never return.

I looked at the stars moving slowly.

And, as always, one star remained unchanged.

Polaris.

Whenever I looked up at the sky,

it felt like nothing else existed, just me and that star.

It didn't matter that I had no family, no homeland.

I felt like I could go anywhere I wanted.

Could I join you there?

Do you have something that you wanna forget?

My Mother's hands.

Rough and worn, from years of working at the grocery store,

a factory, and a nail salon.

She'd come home exhausted and immediately collapse into bed.

I wanted to protect those hands.

In the end, I failed to do that.

So that's why you came to Korea?

After my dad died,

my mother ran as far as she could and ended up in the States.

I thought that we all belong to a country,

the way we all have a mother.

And for me, that country was Korea.

That's why I thought it was important

that I eventually came back to serve in office.

That's why you wanted so badly to stop the war?

As much as I wanted to protect my mom's hands.

And once again, I failed.

Brimming with the hopes of this great people's republic,

the newest nuclear submarine has been revealed in all its splendor

in time for tomorrow's historic launching ceremony.

The nuclear submarine,

which for decades had been a symbol of aggression against our republic,

has now come to symbolize the power of our people,

-that speaks directly to the hearts… -That's the submarine we're trying to hit?

-That's the submarine we're trying to hit? -This is a momentous and joyful event.

Jesus Christ.

It's an entirely different vessel from what we'd anticipated.

This submarine is a 3,000-ton Romeo class model,

heavily modified from an old Russian design.

That hull won't be able to withstand the pressure of a missile launch.

They've installed the missile deck behind the bridge for no obvious reason.

From a design perspective, this submarine offers no functional effectiveness.

Late last night, a reckless U.S. reconnaissance airplane

trespassing in our territory was shot down.

Let this be a warning.

We are a nuclear-armed state, and our military does not make empty threats.

The kind of world you wake up to tomorrow is up to you.

That Anderson video is spreading like wildfire.

Are you really going to start a war over a submarine?

We'll look into the submarine, but that's not what's important right now.

This war is a struggle between democracy and despotism.

So if we back down now, we are surrendering our future

to this string of dictatorships from China to Russia to Idisha,

all the way to North Korea.

I'm afraid we have a little problem, Madam President.

Indeed, Mr. President.

In the present situation,

it would be difficult for me to persuade our people

to endure the sacrifice of war.

Let's set aside the recon jet incident.

The timing wasn't right for us to retaliate.

We'll find another way.

As I've mentioned before, this is our last chance.

If we lose this opportunity,

the free world will be in peril.

I'm going to do everything I can from over here,

but I'll also need you to do something for me.

Seo Munju, your former ambassador.

She has been, uh, quite a nuisance.

I'd thank you to take care of her.

At 11:51 p.m. last night,

a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft on a routine mission

to survey the Korean peninsula,

was shot down when North Korean ground forces launched a surface-to-air missile.

In response, our military had issued a Level Two defense alert,

and the CFC has now elevated WATCHCON to its second highest level.

In prompt response, the Civil Defense Alert Control Center

issued a preliminary warning, which has now been lifted.

Our government and military remain unwavering in our steadfast commitment

to protecting the lives and safety of our people under any circumstances.

We ask all citizens to stand firm with the same courage and unwavering trust,

and to return to their daily lives.

In times of crisis like this…

-Luckily, the true crisis was averted. -…national unity matters the most…

-So it wasn't a complete failure. -…and we must protect one another.

-Yeah, but this is just the beginning. -The Republic of Korea

will neither retreat nor falter, no matter the circumstances.

Seo Munju, your former ambassador.

She has been, uh, quite a nuisance.

I'd thank you to take care of her.

I understand, Mr. President.

She will no longer be an issue.

PRESIDENT CHAE URGES CITIZENS TO RETURN TO DAILY LIFE

President Chae still has serious concerns.

None of this is over yet.

PRESIDENTIAL REPORT

WAR IMMINENT ON KOREAN PENINSULA?

TENSIONS MOUNT, IS WAR NEXT?

The media responses to your speech, ma'am.

NO TRUST IN KOREAN OR US PRESIDENT

SEO MUNJU DEEMED TRUSTWORTHY

IF NOT FOR HER, WAR WOULD'VE ERUPTED

SEO'S STATEMENT DRAWS ATTENTION…

IS SHE THE ONLY VOICE PEOPLE TRUST?

They're mostly saying we can't be trusted.

And Seo Munju became their Joan of Arc.

North Korea unveiling that submarine,

is now proof that Anderson's claims were true.

So now the people seem to believe that averting war was Munju's doing.

If we run a poll now, her ratings would be off the charts.

In all your years in politics,

have you ever had to manage a crisis as bad as this?

No, I have not, ma'am.

It's tricky, isn't it?

Even with the support of the entire nation,

this would be difficult to navigate.

And yet,

Munju has turned public opinion against me, hasn't she?

Should I accept that from her?

Absolutely not.

War starts with public opinion.

To win a war against North Korea, Madam President,

Seo Munju is the first of many obstacles.

We have prepared for this situation for some time now.

You say there are plans.

For Munju, is that what you mean?

If you give me some time, I can explain.

It's been ten minutes.

Today the President made a public statement

regarding North Korea's downing of an American aircraft.

President Chae stated that…

…the nationwide warning issued last night has now been lifted.

She also assured that the government and military will stand firm,

and uphold their duty to protect the safety of the citizens

under any circumstances…

Miji?

Ms. Seo, Changhee is finally awake.

He's okay?

Changhee, how are you doing?

They released him from the ICU to a private suite.

Luckily, they fixed the internal bleeding in surgery.

Seriously, I'm fine.

Listen,

there's something you need to know.

On that morning

when the password was finally cracked,

I unlocked the phone thinking that I'd finally gotten in to his secure emails,

but instead…

Yes!

I noticed unread messages on his Telegram.

SEP 7

INCOMING CALL 11 P.M. TOMORROW

Now, we award the highest honor given

in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,

-The Order of Kim Il Sung! -This is the state's founding anniversary.

"77TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF DPRK"

Comrade Jang Junik!

Comrade Jang Junik has devoted his life to stopping the vile and treacherous war

by the traitors and imperialists, and to reunifying our nation.

He leaves behind a most heroic legacy, that will go down in our history.

Though today we are unable to pin this medal on your uniform,

when the day of reunification comes,

you shall return without hesitation to claim this great honor.

He really was a spy.

I just couldn't believe it was true.

So I tried to find out who sent the message to him.

This is Assemblyman Jang Junik's chief secretary, Park Changhee.