Soviet Union 1991

(Second update, completed)

The successful sale of the Gorshkov immediately attracted the attention of navies around the world, especially those countries that were ambitious to leap from second-rate naval countries to first-rate naval powers, and showed great interest in the Kiev-class aircraft carrier. Although the Kiev-class aircraft carrier was no longer up to par as a major country's aircraft carrier in the 1990s, its configuration was definitely a standard configuration tailored for small countries that wanted to develop aircraft carriers.

Realizing this, South Korean Defense Minister Choi Se-chang immediately submitted a report to then South Korean President Roh Tae-woo, pointing out that they could purchase the Kiev-class aircraft carrier at a low price to expand the defense capabilities of the Republic of Korea Navy. And Choi Se-chang also explained the importance of owning an aircraft carrier in the report.

"We can strengthen our navy to deal with the threat from the north. As long as we have an aircraft carrier, we will have absolute say in the offshore waters. Moreover, South Korea is weak in the technology of building large ships. By studying the Soviet aircraft carrier, we can learn from it and lay the foundation for us to forge large ships." Defense Minister Choi Se-chang analyzed the importance of purchasing the Soviet Kiev class in a clear and well-reasoned manner. They did not think of pulling the aircraft carrier back to fill the window like India, but made an absolute decision after fully considering the surrounding international political environment.

So Choi Se-chang's words made South Korean President Roh Tae-woo fall into deep thought.

"Mr. President, you and I are aware of the severity of the military threat from the north. Instead of waiting for the American Pacific Fleet to come to the rescue from the distant sea, our capital may be in danger of falling at that time. It is better to build a strong aircraft carrier combat force now to defend our offshore waters." Choi Se-chang once again reminded Roh Tae-woo of North Korea's military threat. This socialist watchdog planted on the Korean Peninsula is the object of everyone's fear.

"The question is, are the Soviets willing to sell it to us?" President Roh Tae-woo raised his head and looked at Choi Se-chang with some doubts, "You will also say that North Korea is an ally of socialism, so will the Soviet Union sell the aircraft carrier to us?"

"Mr. President, don't you see it yet?" Choi Se-chang's eyes were filled with an unconcealable excitement, "The Soviet Union's sale of aircraft carriers shows an attitude. Their economy is no longer good, and the navy even has to sell active aircraft carriers to maintain military expenditures. A country that is crazy about poverty, will they care who their trading partners are? Because they have no time to take care of their own strategic interests."

There was a brief silence in the office. After a long time, South Korean President Roh Tae-woo raised his head and said to the Minister of Defense, "You are right, the Soviet Union has no time to take care of its own strategic interests. We can send people to meet with the Soviet side privately, and we must not let the United States know about this."

Think about South Korea buying active aircraft carriers from the Soviet Union. It will definitely attract American intervention, and it may be a dual intervention in politics and economy. What impact will it have on South Korea's economy at that time? Everything is unknown. Moreover, Roh Tae-woo did not want to see South Korea go from an economically booming country to being as poor as North Korea overnight.

But if the situation is irreversible, the Americans can only agree to South Korea's approach.

"However, this aircraft carrier cannot be brought back to South Korea in the form of arms sales of active aircraft carriers." President Roh Tae-woo still has his own ideas, "We also have to consider various aspects. It is best for our Daewoo Heavy Industries Group to come forward to solve this matter and try to downplay the shadow of official intervention. Then we must declare to the outside world that the purchase of this aircraft carrier is a private act of the people and has little to do with the government. In this way, the outside world will have nothing to say. In the end, Daewoo Group can sell this aircraft carrier to the South Korean government, and we can take it over naturally."

This is obviously a way of covering one's ears and stealing the bell, but it is much better than nothing. So when Yanayev saw the request submitted by Daewoo Heavy Industries Group, he was a little amused. Is this Kimchi country so eager to realize its dream of unifying the universe? South Korea is the most popular among the four Asian tigers at this time. Although the other two have fallen into disrepair in the future and one has not changed much, South Korea has developed the most ideal economy so far.

Yanayev was a little jealous when he thought of this, and he wanted to cut a large piece of meat from this aircraft carrier, which is the GDP of South Korea growing strongly every year.

"The Ministry of Defense doesn't know how to handle this matter. So I still want the General Secretary to personally review it." Defense Minister Yazov said respectfully. Selling to South Korea is different from selling to other countries. After all, the feelings of the ally North Korea must be considered.

"You actually want to buy the New Rossiya aircraft carrier from us... Can't you really break the limitations of history?" Yanayev smiled helplessly. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union. South Korea's Daewoo Group bought the New Rossiya aircraft carrier, which was forced to retire, in 1996. After that, the aircraft carrier did not serve in the navy and its whereabouts have been unknown. But since the Kiev class was purchased by South Korea, South Korea's shipbuilding industry has been booming, and the tricks involved are self-evident.

"So what should we do? Sell it to South Korea, or refuse it?" Yazov was waiting for the general secretary's final decision.

"Sell. Of course we have to sell it to them. Since someone wants to buy our aircraft carrier, why not let this deal go?" Yanayev said happily, "Besides, the fact that South Koreans buy aircraft carriers from us means that they need to build a strong navy to deal with the threat from the north. This is also a business opportunity for us."

"Business opportunity?" Yazov didn't quite understand what Yanayev said.

Yanayev said seriously, "Yes, business opportunity. On the one hand, we can sell Kiev-class aircraft carriers to South Korea, and on the other hand, we can sell anti-ship weapons to North Korea. Remember, the situation on the Korean Peninsula must be maintained in a state of balance on the sword, and neither side is allowed to gain the upper hand."

Yazov's eyes lit up, and he quickly understood what Yanayev meant. On the one hand, he sold aircraft carriers to South Korea, and on the other hand, he sold anti-aircraft carrier weapons to North Korea. When South Korea spent a lot of money and resources to pull back an aircraft carrier, it found that its northern neighbor had deployed a large number of anti-aircraft carrier weapons. The expression of the South Korean Defense Minister should be very interesting.

As a battlefield for the political game between major powers, the Korean Peninsula is best kept in a state of balance. Once this dangerous balance is broken, it may lead to more violent turbulence and reshuffle.

"If they don't want to buy our aircraft carrier, it doesn't matter. You can tell the South Korean representatives privately that South Korean President Roh Tae-woo has deposited about 60 million US dollars of secret political funds in the bank under a pseudonym. I think this matter is enough to irritate the other party's nerves." Yanayev said lightly. In 1997, Roh Tae-woo was fined 262.8 billion won and sentenced to 17 years in prison for this bribery fund. Although he was pardoned in 1998, this matter was enough to make Roh Tae-woo's political opponents ecstatic.

Yazov was stunned. He didn't expect Yanayev to have the information about the secret bribery of the South Korean president in his hands. So is there any small country leader who doesn't have a scandal handle in his hands?

And why is General Secretary Yanayev more terrifying than a KGB agent? You know, such a secret scandal may only be known by a few people around the South Korean president. Have the top leaders of the South Korean government been infiltrated by communist spies? Such a thing is chilling to think about.

"Anything else, Comrade Yazov?" At the moment when Yazov was stunned, Yanayev raised his head and asked casually, as if the secret just revealed was just a casual chat.

"Nothing, I will go down and arrange the negotiation affairs of the South Korean delegation." Yazov replied. After the previous negotiations with the Indian delegation, the personnel of the Ministry of Defense also had the experience of cheating people. Now the Soviet Kiev class is like four hot potatoes ready to cheat people at any time, waiting for those impatient buyers.

The highest level of cheating is to let the other side cry and let you cheat him. India is the first, and South Korea is definitely not the last. Compared with the four Kiev-class aircraft carriers that have been ruined in history, Yanayev can even proudly say that I have found a good destination for the Soviet Kiev-class aircraft carrier. (To be continued.)