Soviet Union 1991

Oil is undoubtedly the greatest energy source of the 20th century. It can turn a group of unrepentant religious elements into the richest royal family, and it can also make a developed socialist country on the Korean Peninsula that is extremely dependent on oil decline to a state of decline within a few years. The problem of food and clothing for the people cannot be solved. However, the Soviet Union was able to use it as a strategic weapon, and it used black gold to exchange for development technology that they did not have with other countries. This is almost the same as the Soviet Union’s massive acquisition of Western industrial facilities during the Great Depression.

Electronic information technology is a shortcoming of the Soviet Union. Although an operating system similar to Windows has been launched on the market, there is still a long way to go. Yanayev promoted the development of electronic games because of his "hobby", but he was not able to fundamentally occupy the high ground of electronic information technology.

"I am 61 years old and have a successful career. I have as many party members as I have in the army. I hold the world's largest nuclear weapons launch button in my hand. I can make Western countries retreat with a look, and I can make small neighboring countries surrender with a single movement. I thought I could be on an equal footing with the West until I met the computer..."

This joke, made up by an unknown person, humorously pokes fun at the development situation of electronic information in the Soviet Union. Although it is supported by the government and hastened to catch up, there is always a gap between the Moskva River and Silicon Valley. In order to shorten the gap between the two sides, Yanayev purchased electronic information technology directly through Japan in order to break through the bottleneck in the shortest possible time and reach a higher level.

The terms offered by the Soviet Union were so generous that no country leader could refuse the temptation. A timely low-interest loan and a favorable black gold deal made Ryutaro Hashimoto decide to agree to the other party's trading conditions after thinking for a moment.

"I agree with the deal proposed by General Secretary Yanayev, but we want to ensure that Japan will be the biggest beneficiary."

Before Obuchi Keizo could stop Prime Minister Hashimoto, he blurted out these words.

The Prime Minister naturally believed that Japan had paid such a heavy price and should recover something from the Soviet Union. But as soon as he said this, the Prime Minister regretted it.

The smile on Yanayev's face faded little by little, replaced by a gloomy and expressionless face. With his hands on his chin, he faced the Japanese Prime Minister's confident threat and asked word for word, "I have a question. Do you really see clearly who is leading this deal?"

"I'm sorry, but I still have to remind you that it is not Japan, but the Soviet Union that is the real leader. We have oil that is waiting to be sold, and it is not only your Mitsui Mitsubishi that is willing to reach an agreement with us, but also Mobil Shell. I really thought Moscow was watching. Are we so poor that we need to use your money to fill our dilemma in oil exploration and development? We have reached an agreement with OPEC. The Soviet Union’s oil loans are far more than you think. If you can bargain with me on this issue..."

He made a direct gesture of invitation.

"Then please go back. I think the representatives sent by Sinopec are far more sincere than you."

Ryutaro Hashimoto's expression suddenly changed. He didn't know that Yanayev would fall out at any time, but this low-interest loan and oil project were a life-saving grace for Japan. If the Soviet Union stood idly by, the burden on his shoulders would be even heavier.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister, it was just a slip of the tongue. General Secretary Yanayev, please forgive me."

Obuchi Keizo quickly stepped forward to save the situation and make up for the mistake that the prime minister almost made in his greed.

"We have no objection at all on the oil and loan issues, and we think the Soviet proposal is very reasonable. So the deal is settled?"

He used questions, carefully testing the attitude of the leader on the other side.

"Okay, but I don't like greedy people. If Japan thinks that the transaction between us harms your interests, you can choose to leave."

After saying these words, the Japanese representatives fell into silence. They did not dare to offend Yanayev, who had the advantage in negotiations.

In his view, the attack on Japan's insatiable greed only goes so far. He does not have much fondness or dislike for the Japanese Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. In geopolitics, Japan is an ally that must be stable, and on the issue of development in the Far East, Japan is an ally that must be stable. Japan still needs to pay for this pile of oil. Without Ryutaro Hashimoto's generosity, he would have lost a lot of oil revenue in East Asia. As for the loan that was thrown out, it can be quickly repaid in a short period of time. This small amount of money is not a problem for Yanayev. Anyway, politicians only consider interests. When Japan is no longer able to pay for the development and construction of the Far East, Yanayev will not hesitate to kick out the current Japanese Prime Minister.

While the global economy is in a downturn, only two socialist countries are showing prosperity. Just like the question raised by Ryutaro Hashimoto, "Why can the Soviet Union maintain a high forward trend under such circumstances?"

Then the Japanese Prime Minister felt dumbfounded by Yanayev's answer.

"You may not believe it, but this is the superiority of the socialist system."

The Japanese government gained a lot from this visit to Moscow, but he did not realize whether Yanayev had set a trap for the other party. There is another financial storm sweeping across Asia. Now they are so happy to take the Soviet loan. When the financial storm sweeps over, will they still be able to deal with the attack? Russia dared to declare the foreign debt void with its strong military strength. Would Japan dare to do so?

This loan was used as a means to threaten Japan when the financial tsunami swept across the country to prevent the situation from changing at that time. Once the Soviet Union announced the recovery of the loan, Japan would not have enough foreign debt to resist the attack of the tsunami.

Ask the Soviet Union for a grace period? Okay, no problem, exchange your technology.

Ryutaro Hashimoto returned to Tokyo happily, but he did not expect that the friendly Soviet leader still had a conspiracy behind him.

Just as the Japanese delegation left, another person came.

When the office assistant revealed the identity of the uninvited guest, even Yanayev was a little surprised.

Although the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance has become history, some of the younger brothers of developed socialist countries are still alive and kicking. After the announcement of the development of the Sakhalin-3 project, Park Yichun, the North Korean ambassador to the Soviet Union, could not sit still. He found Yanayev through private connections, hoping to help the ** country that was almost restricted by oil, and to help his brother for the sake of the party-state.

Since the announcement in 1991 that the low-price supply of oil to North Korea would be stopped and the international market price would be restored, the countries that originally relied on the Soviet Union for development have suffered a devastating blow. Because of oil, it has directly fallen from a developed socialist country to a poor country where food and clothing are a problem.

As the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea, he certainly cannot sit and wait for death. After the Soviet Union announced the Sakhalin-3 project, he also tried to get involved and get a share of the pie. But unfortunately, the Soviet Union was no longer the socialist big brother at this time, and would no longer provide selfless assistance to the previous socialist countries. As a "Soviet revisionist imperialist", if you want to import oil, you have to exchange it with foreign exchange.

North Korea's prosperity is built on Soviet aid. Without oil, everything is zero.

During the negotiation with Park Yichun, who was shouldering a heavy responsibility, Yanayev did not give in at all.

"I have said before that the Soviet Union is willing to negotiate oil export projects with any country. As long as they can pay, we are willing to sell the oil. But if they don't want to pay and want to get our oil, sorry, whoever wants to be the socialist big brother can do it. You don't have to use capitalist invasion to evade me. The Kim family cherishes power more than anyone else. How can you cooperate with other countries? Don't want to wait for the regime to be overthrown?"

Yanayev calculated the other party's lifeline, so he showed such a fearless attitude. But Park Yichun represents the entire North Korea. If he fails to complete the intervention, he will have no way to report back.

"But now North Korea is in a difficult economic period. I am afraid we don't have enough foreign exchange to pay for oil..."

Park Yichun said this in a low voice. Now North Korea is completely begging the Soviet Union in a low voice, hoping that the other party can give a little to save the socialist brothers of the past.

"No problem, we don't need foreign exchange."

Yanayev changed the subject, making the ambassador to the Soviet Union think he saw hope.

"If we can lease the North Korean port and obtain permanent garrison rights, we are willing to use oil instead of paying the lease funds, how about it?"

Park Yichun opened his mouth, but was so scared that he couldn't speak. Foreign garrisons and ceding ports are equivalent to ceding the integrity of territorial sovereignty. When the Soviet big brother said this unscrupulously, he showed the ruthlessness that a politician should have.

He didn't understand why leaders from generation to generation had to feed a group of ungrateful people. Even the charity of socialist countries should have a limit. Foreign aid alone accounted for a large share of the Soviet economy at that time.

The current general secretary is not as kind and kind as before. Unless he thinks that the other party is a political role worthy of support, he will never come all the way to Asia to cultivate Vietnamese monkeys who are destined to fail.

Allies are more valuable than quantity. As long as a country like North Korea, which is more than capable of self-preservation, hangs on to its last breath, the situation on the peninsula can still be peaceful for more than a decade.

"It's okay, we're not in a hurry."

Yanayev waved his hand and said with a smile, "When you have considered it, give me a reply." (To be continued.)