Pauline replied: ‘Then what would they do if the North Koreans sent over another six?’
Chess had another question. ‘What happened to the five anti-missile missiles that didn’t hit their targets? Can they try again?’
‘At that speed they can’t turn around. Eventually, they’ll slow down and fall out of the sky, hopefully into the sea.’
Luis said: ‘Thirty seconds.’
Everyone watched the TV pictures of the naval base that was the target.
The people there would probably not see the missiles, which must be moving too fast for the human eye, Pauline thought. But they clearly knew they were under attack: everyone was running, some in a brisk, purposeful way, others in a blind panic.
‘Ten seconds,’ said Luis.
Pauline wished she could look away. She did not want to watch people die. But she knew she must not flinch. She had to be able to say that she saw what happened.
She was looking at a row of low buildings when the screen showed several flashes, five or six all at the same time. She just had time to realize that the missiles must have multiple warheads, before a wall collapsed, a desk and a man flew through the air, a truck crashed into a parked car, and then the scene was engulfed in thick grey smoke.
The picture switched to the harbour and she saw that the other missile had sprayed its bomblets over the ships. This was luck, she guessed: ballistic missiles were not so accurate. She saw flames and smoke and twisted metal and a sailor jumping into the water.
Then the screen went blank.
There was a long moment of stunned silence.
Eventually Luis said: ‘We’ve lost the feed. They think the system has been destroyed – not surprisingly.’
Pauline said: ‘We’ve seen enough to know that there will be dozens of dead and wounded plus millions of dollars’ worth of damage. But is that the end of it? I presume we would have heard if any more missiles had been launched anywhere in Korea.’
Luis asked the Pentagon, waited, then said: ‘No, nothing more.’
Now for the first time Pauline sat down, taking the chair at the head of the table. She said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, that was not the outbreak of a war.’
They took a moment to absorb that. Then Gus said: ‘I agree, Madam President, but would you explain your thinking?’
‘Of course. One: this was a strictly limited strike – six missiles, one target – no attempt to conquer or destroy South Korea. Two: they have been careful not to kill Americans, striking a naval base that is not used by American ships. To sum up, everything about this attack suggests restraint.’ She looked around and added: ‘Paradoxically.’
Gus nodded thoughtfully. ‘They’ve hit back at the base that destroyed their submarine, and that’s all. They want this to be seen as a proportionate response.’
‘They want peace,’ Pauline said. ‘They’re struggling to win a civil war, and they don’t want to have to fight South Korea as well as the ultras.’
Chess said: ‘Where does that leave us?’
Pauline was thinking on her feet, but she was a few steps ahead of the group. ‘We must prevent South Korea retaliating. They won’t like it, but they’ll have to suck it up. They have an agreement with us, the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1953. In Article Three that document obliges them to consult us when they’re threatened by external armed attack. They have to check with us.’
Luis looked sceptical. ‘In theory,’ he said.
‘True. It’s a basic law of international relations that governments fulfil their treaty obligations only when it suits them. When it doesn’t, they find excuses. So what we have to do now is nail it down.’
Chess said: ‘Good idea. How?’
‘I’m going to propose a ceasefire and a peace conference: North Korea, South Korea, China and us. It will be hosted by an Asian country, somewhere more or less neutral – Sri Lanka might work.’
Chess nodded. ‘The Philippines, perhaps. Or Laos, if the Chinese prefer a Communist dictatorship.’
‘Whatever.’ Pauline stood up. ‘Set up calls with President Chen and President No, please. Keep trying to reach the North Korean envoy at the UN, but I’ll also ask Chen to call the Supreme Leader.’
Chess said: ‘Yes, ma’am.’
Luis said: ‘The families of military personnel in South Korea should be evacuated.’
‘Yes. And there are a hundred thousand American civilians there. They should be advised to leave.’
‘One more thing, Madam President. I think we need to raise the alert level to DEFCON 3.’