Original subtitles

Take the first flight out to fukuoka tomorrow.

When you get there, someone will be waiting for you.

And who would that be?

I want you to meet ikeda yuji and hand over this briefcase.

Ikeda yuji?

Your business partner.

The moment you fall out of favor with ikeda,

the deal's over.

My name is matsuda kenji,

a businessman on a work trip to fukuoka.

My job is to deliver this briefcase safely to ikeda yuji.

Hey, are you not feeling well?

Are you scared to fly?

I'm not scared.

It's just my first time.

Everyone feels that way their first time flying.

During takeoff, your ears might pop a little.

It helps if you chew gum.

What do you say?

Thank you.

Good for you.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This flight is scheduled…

Japan airways 351 cleared for takeoff.

Runway 33.

Stabilized.

…and arrive at fukuoka itazuke airport

at around 8:50 A.M.

We will be taking off shortly.

Please be seated and fasten your seat belt.

We will be taking off shortly.

Please be seated and fasten your seat belt.

Set takeoff thrust.

Thrust set.

Check.

Japan airways 351, haneda departure.

Contact Tokyo control 134.1.

Good day.

Sure.

Would you like something to drink?

- Cola, please. - Sure.

- Here you go. - Thanks.

Excuse me.

Would you like something to drink?

Good morning.

Nobody move!

Don't move!

Move!

Don't move, or you're dead!

Don't move!

Mayday, mayday, hijacking, hijacking.

- This is Japan air… - stop.

We're the revolutionary army of the communist league.

Please don't kill me! Please!

Shut up and keep your heads down!

Heads down!

We're going to North Korea.

- Shut up! - Hey!

Mom.

Are we going to die?

Shut up!

It's okay.

You and your mom will make it out of here safely.

Shut up!

Japan airways flight 351,

a Japanese airliner that left Tokyo haneda airport for fukuoka

with 138 passengers and crew on board, was hijacked midair.

The hijackers were the revolutionary army,

a radical leftist offshoot of the Japanese communist league,

calling themselves the "army for revolutionary war."

They returned to Japan after military training in North Korea,

and hijacked a civilian airliner, intent on launching a revolutionary war.

Heads down! Down!

We're assessing the situation,

- but it's not clear yet. - Please hold on for a moment.

- Hey! No one answer the phone! - Don't answer the phone!

Hey, hang up! Hang up!

We lost all contact after the captain's distress signal.

I see.

So, what do you think we should do now?

We should probably report this to the cabinet first.

Right.

Then let's draft a report right away.

The revolutionary army boarded the plane with loads of guns and knives

with no trouble at all.

Before that, how about we notify the police first, sir?

That's a good point too.

But I'm not sure who we should call first, Tokyo or fukuoka police…

Back then, there were no security checks before boarding.

A manual for hijackings?

Guess we'll have to check for precedent first?

There was no such thing.

Well, the report should probably be addressed

to the prime minister, right?

That's another thing we'll need to check.

Good point.

But…

Are we sure there's been an actual hijacking?

Yes, sir. It's confirmed.

Keep your heads down!

Drop your hands, and you're done for!

Keep your heads down!

Turbulence.

We could go into a stall!

- Should we change course? - What are you up to?

The weather's getting worse, and the aircraft is unstable.

If we don't act fast, we may have to make an emergency landing.

Then do something!

A hijacking and turbulence.

In the middle of the total chaos, the only relief was that

captain Honda kunihiko was a veteran pilot

with over 10,000 flight hours.

The aircraft has stabilized.

This was supposed to be a domestic flight.

We can't make it all the way to Pyongyang.

Without more fuel, we'll run out and crash halfway.

Yes, the captain is right.

For now, why don't we land at itazuke airport as planned

and request refueling there?

They're heading to itazuke?

Yes, sir.

I thought they were headed to North Korea.

Why are they flying to itazuke?

Why indeed?

Well, we should take measures.

What kind of measures?

I mean…

Just as the captain intended,

the plane landed safely at its original destination, itazuke airport.

For a moment, it gave the passengers some sort of hope

that this nightmare might soon be over.

At this point, nothing has been confirmed.

For now, our top priority is the safety of the passengers.

How many hijackers are on board?

Have any passengers been killed or injured?

When was the last communication?

Are the hijackers armed?

- Is it true they're backed by someone? - Are all the passengers unharmed?

Like I said,

our top priority right now is the safety of the passengers.

We want you

to fill the tanks,

clear the runway, and bring us the flight charts right now.

If you don't give us what we want,

we'll start killing the passengers one by one!

How long would it take to fill up the tanks?

Actually, if they're trying to get to Pyongyang,

the fuel on board should be enough.

What are you talking about? That's not the point.

If we want to negotiate, we need to buy as much time as possible.

Please don't shoot.

I brought the flight charts you asked for.

Here they are.

Move!

Damn it.

You think we're idiots?

No. There wasn't much time, so we had to prepare them in a rush.

What about the fuel?

We're working on it now. If you could give us a little more time…

One passenger every hour.

If you ignore our demands,

we will kill them.

Go on.

Go!

Yes, sir.

Hey, just drag one out first.

What are you doing? Not without Mr. Yamada's orders.

The second-in-command gave the go-ahead.

We agreed to avoid unnecessary bloodshed!

If the passengers start panicking, it'll be hard to control them.

That's the kind of thing

only weak, college-graduate types like you worry about.

What are you standing around for?

Hey, you. Come here.

- No, wait! Please don't kill me! - Come on!

Yamagata!

Somebody help me!

Shut up!

You want to die in his place?

Takashi, do it!

Do it!

Who the hell are you?

You need to treat the hostages carefully until the negotiations are over.

Since their lives are tied to yours.

Who the hell are you? What do you think you're doing?

Tell your leader I want a word with him.

You think you can help us?

How exactly?

First, let the women, children, and the elderly go.

Why should we?

What you want is a revolution, isn't it?

As you know, a revolution without public support is bound to fail.

But terrorists who release women and children win favor

with the public and the press.

If you make the first move, all the criticism falls on the government.

After that, whatever you do, it's the government that takes the blame.

In the end, they'll have no choice but to let you take off.

And you'll still have over a hundred hostages.

Not a bad bargain, is it?

And then what?

Once you reach Pyongyang,

put the remaining passengers and crew back on the plane

and send them home to Japan.

Then the press won't call you hijackers.

They'll paint you as heroes who pulled off a bold operation.

Well, probably.

We can't just send the plane back.

We need to make some kind of gesture to North Korea,

or they won't take us in.

I can provide that.

That's…

Mr. Yamada.

I told you.

I could help you.

Take a chance and trust me.

Do as I say, and you'll get what you want without anyone getting hurt.

It's opening!

In the end, they did what I told them and let 23 passengers go.

Women, children, and the elderly.

The meth in my briefcase was worth nearly 90 million yen on the street,

and word was all over Japan that the big shots in Pyongyang

were crazy for the stuff.

To these bastards, I was like a jackpot that fell on their laps.

They've released 23 passengers in total.

Women, children, and the elderly.

They really let them go?

Yes, sir.

But…

They're saying if we don't supply fuel and clear the runway immediately,

they'll kill the rest of the passengers.

- What? - Kill them?

- What are we going to do? - This is a problem.

This is bad.

For now, give them what they want.

The passengers' safety is our top priority.

What do we do?

They're pulling back! The fighter jets are moving!

They're letting us take off.

We're going to Pyongyang!

They're fueling us up!

We're going to Pyongyang!

Let's go to North Korea!

Why are you helping us?

It's just better to handle things quietly.

Nothing good comes from making a lot of noise, does it?

Who are you?

As you can see,

I'm just a businessman.

When you say a businessman…

You mean in this kind of business?

It's the best money-maker there is.

Though it comes with its risks.

Are you with the yakuza?

No.

They're more like business partners.

Something like that.

Can I bum a cigarette?

Is that the last one?

We're basically in the same boat now.

You can spare me a cigarette, no?

Boy. It's his last one.

They say once you get on meth, you can never quit.

Have you tried it?

If you're curious, why don't you go ahead and try it now?

We're ready to take off, sir.

3, 8, 1, 1, 7.

Rapcon is us air force, no Korea!

Sergeant chae jiseok is going to be here soon, all right?

He belongs to rap con. Fucking let him deal with it.

We're not going to get our hands dirty here.

Sir.

You called for me, sir?

As of this moment, us forces Korea will vacate rap con

and take no part in any situation that may arise going forward.

Wait, I'm sorry, sir. I don't understand.

Who's going to be in charge here then?

Hey.

Come here.

Are you the chief controller?

Yes.

Rank and name!

Yes, sir! Sergeant chae jiseok.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. Okay.

Take it.

Take it.

Kcia director here. Are you the chief controller?

Yes, sir!

A state intelligence agency created by the military regime that seized power

in a coup to keep its grip on the country.

Modeled after the us CIA, it operated under the banner of anti-communism,

handling national security, intelligence gathering,

and covert operations abroad.

But the reality was different.

Skirting the law, it terrorized the people and wielded unchecked power.

The kcia was nothing more than the president's personal guard.

Listen carefully to what I'm about to say.

These are the president's orders.

In a little while, a plane will cross over to our side.

You must seize that plane before Pyongyang does, no matter what.

Under no circumstances should you let it reach Pyongyang first.

Understood?

Yes, sir. Understood.

At last, the plane left itazuke airport

and headed for Pyongyang.

But it was imperative that we never reach Pyongyang

as the revolutionary army wanted.

It's better to die than to end up in Pyongyang.

The aircraft has entered our airspace.

Any station, any station.

This is Japan airways 351.

Japan airways 351.

This is Seoul control, loud and clear.

Seoul control, this is Japan airways 351.

We need to land at Pyongyang airport in North Korea.

Request any information.

Standby one.

We've got fighter jets following us.

They're Korean air force.

Japan airways 351.

Change frequency to 131.4.

Pyongyang control, this is Japan airways 351.

How do you hear me?

We want to land at Pyongyang airport.

Request information.

Pyongyang control, Pyongyang control, this is Japan airways 351.

Radio check.

Pyongyang control, Pyongyang control.

This is Japan airways 351.

Radio check.

Pyongyang control, Pyongyang control,

this is Japan airways 351.

Radio check.

Japan airways 351, this is Pyongyang control. Loud and clear.

We control to Pyongyang airport. Heading 270. Maintain.

Pyongyang just responded.

Congratulations, Mr. Yamada!

A few months prior, a flight from gangneung to Seoul was hijacked

and taken to North Korea by North Korean agents

disguised as passengers.

Of the 50 people abducted, 39 returned through panmunjom.

But 11, including the captain and several passengers,

still remain detained in North Korea.

Chae jiseok had been thrown into the invisible battlefield

between the two koreas.

Pyongyang control, this is Japan airways 351.

Heading 270, maintain.

Request further clearance.

And now, this plane is being hijacked all over again.

The fighter jets are pulling away, sir!

Japan airways 351, this is Pyongyang control.

Turn left heading 200.

Roger, Pyongyang control.

Heading 200.

A double hijacking. At gimpo airport's control tower,

air traffic controller chae jiseok intercepted the transmission

bound for Pyongyang and redirected the plane south.

Japan airways 351, runway 32, right.

Roger, runway 32, right.

Good afternoon, Japan airways 351.

Continue approach.

From this moment, this is Pyongyang airport!

Once the hijackers exit the plane, capture them all alive.

If they resist, you may open fire immediately.

Without them realizing,

the aircraft passed over Pyongyang,

crossed the west sea, and finally landed at gimpo airport.

They cobbled together a crowd of locals, students, and soldiers

disguised as a North Korean welcoming committee.

They even went so far as to hang North Korean flags on the terminal,

but the whole charade was clumsy at best.

Sir, something's not right.

Move!

As expected,

the revolutionary army sensed something was wrong.

Alas, the grand operation they had planned…

Hey!

You!

Here, Seoul?

Yes!

…ended in failure.

Do you want me to kill you?

What the hell is this?

Why are we in South Korea?

I don't know.

You don't know? I'm going to kill you!

If you kill the captain, who's going to fly the plane?

What about Pyongyang? Not going there anymore?

I'm going to kill you.

All I did was try to help you.

Will you make it to Pyongyang if you kill me?

Don't give me that crap. I'm going to kill you right now.

Calm down first.

There's still a way for you to get there safely.

Shut up!

I'm done falling for the words of some zainichi.

You think I wouldn't notice?

Zainichi like you reek, you know.

That same stench you get from pigs and dogs.

Stop.

There's a way for us to get to Pyongyang?

You have my word.

I'll get you to Pyongyang safely.

Are you willing to bet your life on that?

I'll bet my life on it.

Japan, closely monitoring the plane's movements,

was thrown into complete chaos

and dispatched a delegation to South Korea to assess the situation.

I don't know how the plane ended up landing here.

But now that it's in our country, there is no way we're sending it to Pyongyang.

"There's no way we're sending it to Pyongyang."

The mic. Mr. Jeong, the microphone switch.

- What about it? - The microphone.

Right, sorry.

Who'd want to send it to Pyongyang? None of us wants that.

"Who'd want to send it to Pyongyang?"

But listen.

With the passengers' lives at stake,

we need to leave room for negotiation.

So why did you let it come here in the first place?

This should've been handled in Japan!

"It should've been handled in Japan."

This really puts us in a difficult position too,

but the president's stance is absolutely firm.

"…Is absolutely firm."

We're well aware that public opinion

in South Korea isn't favorable

because of the recent hijacking incident.

But there are more than a hundred lives on the line here.

So shouldn't we approach this from a humanitarian perspective

rather than a political one?

Look, it's not public opinion we're concerned about.

Our priority is the safety of the South Korean aircraft

and citizens still held in the north.

We're not saying you can't negotiate with them.

We're saying sending it to Pyongyang is

- absolutely out of the question. - That's right…

- Geez, what… - that's right.

After all, if we don't start the engines from outside,

the plane can't even take off.

They're not some miracle workers, are they?

In the end, they'll have no choice but to give in.

The South Korean government never admitted

that it had deliberately diverted the plane.

On that plane are our citizens.

Japanese citizens.

They're completely innocent people, just like you.

We fully understand the position of the South Korean government.

But right now, please put the passengers' lives

and safety above all else.

I sincerely urge you.

The gap between the two sides was clear,

and there was little sign of compromise.

This is Japan airways 351.

We need air in the cabin.

The engines have shut down,

and all the power and ventilation systems are down.

Unless we get air into the cabin immediately,

it will be difficult to breathe.

I repeat.

We need air in the cabin.

The engines have shut down…

…and all the power and ventilations are down.

Unless we get air into the cabin immediately,

it will be difficult to breathe.

This is Seoul approach control.

Open the door.

Once again, open the door.

Like you said,

we pinned all the blame on the Japanese government.

Good.

The Japanese government is probably trying to figure out a way

to send you to Pyongyang for the passengers' safety.

The problem is the South Korean government.

They won't let you go that easily.

I owe you one.

So what's your plan?

You need a justification.

Let all the remaining passengers go.

You bastard. You think we're going to fall for that again?

Hey.

Who the hell are you, really?

I told you.

I'm a businessman.

What are you playing at?

All I want is to settle this quietly.

Send you to Pyongyang

and finish my business.

We're not letting any more passengers go.

If the South Korean government doesn't accept our demands,

we're killing them all!

And of course, we'll cut your head off first.

Fine.

Then let's do it another way.

Bring me the briefcase I gave you.

Inside is the answer to get you to Pyongyang.

What was that?

Was that a gunshot?

What? We've got guns?

Put the gun down now.

Otherwise,

we all die together.

Come on, do it.

They heard a gunshot from inside the plane.

They heard a gunshot from inside the plane!

A gunshot?

- Good grief. - Really?

As you just saw,

this isn't like the toys you're holding.

This one can actually kill.

So,

what are you going to do to us?

From now on,

you're going to quietly follow my orders and go to Pyongyang.

That's right.

They took the passengers hostage to seize the plane.

Now, I'll take them hostage to get out of here.

From here on, tell them exactly what I'm about to say.

We want…

We want nothing more than that.

"We want nothing more than that."

If you don't meet our demands…

"If you don't meet our demands…"

…the second it hits noon… "…the second it hits noon…"

…we'll detonate the bomb on this plane and blow ourselves up.

"…we'll detonate the bomb on this plane and blow ourselves up."

But if you do what we ask… "but if you do what we ask…"

…we will safely release… "…we will safely release…"

…all the passengers.

"…all the passengers."

Thank goodness.

How can we trust them to keep their word?

To show good faith, they said they'd release half the passengers now.

Fifty-eight in total.

They're actually releasing the passengers?

Hostage exchange.

Was that a senior Japanese government official would take the place

of the passengers and become the hijackers' hostage.

I was a Japanese businessman who boarded the plane with drugs.

To get out of the mess without ending up in North Korea,

I had to find a way to settle it.

With a new hostage, the revolutionary army secured their own safety,

while South Korea's justification for grounding the plane,

citing passenger safety, was no longer valid.

North Korea granted the revolutionary army asylum,

and just as I expected,

the plane was sent back to Japan a few days later.

They couldn't ignore the glare of the international community.

Once repatriated, vice-minister natsume and captain Honda were celebrated

as national heroes in Japan parlaying that fame into politics and success.

But chae jiseok, the controller who diverted the plane

and saved the passengers, was never hailed as a hero.

Instead, he was pressured into silence about what happened that day,

until he finally hung up his uniform for good.

That's right.

That's how the president and the kcia keep this country running.

- Here he comes! - Hey, he's here!

We share the joy of the safe rescue

of the abducted passengers in Seoul

with the free people of the world.

On this occasion,

our government and our people have once again renewed our vigilance

against the atrocities of the communist forces.

After the incident, Japan started airport security checks

and even enacted an anti-hijacking law

which meant the good old days of casually boarding a plane

with a briefcase full of drugs were over.

Too bad about that briefcase, but leaving it was the right call.

It's a gift.

I doubt we'll ever see each other again, but…

For your silence.

And so, I arrived in fukuoka later than planned.

There'd been a bit of trouble, but business is business.

Finally, I was about to meet my business partner, ikeda yuji.

Is it a woman?

It's a woman.

I was told I had to go through her to reach chairman ikeda,

and the moment I fell out of her favor, the deal was over.

I'm ikeda yuji.

I'm matsuda kenji.

You're very late.

Something came up.

The goods?

Can I borrow a light?

I left the goods on the plane.

I had to because of the revolutionary army.

Are you talking about the plane that went to Pyongyang?

That's the one. I was on it.

I'm sorry.

But I suppose this is where our business ends.

Farewell.

It's a shame.

I was hoping to show chairman ikeda the best there is.

I'll see you again.

Damn it. This hill's killing me.

It's killing me.

After nerve-racking negotiations,

Japan's vice-minister of transport, natsume, boarded the plane

- as a hostage himself… - wow.

I thought they were just a bunch of clueless idiots.

But it looks like at least one of them

- knew how to use his head. - Yeah, pretty clever.

Back to work, people.

- Yes, Mr. Jang. - Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir. - Come on.

Boy.

- Mr. Kim. - Yes?

The manjae gang's movements lately. Doesn't it bother you?

Yeah.

I mean, are these punks trying to turn themselves

- into export heroes by dealing meth? - Right.

Why do they keep getting involved with the yakuza?

- I know, right? - Who is this?

… we still haven't been able to identify him, sir.

Baek!

Come here.

Did you enjoy your vacation? It must've been nice.

You call a business trip a vacation?

Where are you going? The boss is in there.

Start talking! I said start talking! Hey!

Move it, asshole! Hey!

Talk, you bastard. Talk! I said, talk!

Hey, come here, you bastard! Spit it out! Spit it out now!

You wanted to see me, sir?

Hey, you're here.

Good work out there.

Let's go talk in my office.

Hey! Start talking, you bastard!

Get the hell up now!

What've you got there?

I got you some whiskey and cigars.

Come on.

You didn't have to.

Damn it. It got on me.

Hey, I liked it.

The double hijacking. Good idea.

Thank you, sir.

The higher-ups can't stop raving about it.

Dhj, double hijacking.

My code number, b73.

I had given the boy's mother the kcia emergency number.

"3, 8, 1, 1, 7, 7…"

And thankfully, she stayed calm and made the call.

The kcia moved quickly, and just as I had planned…

The plane bound for Pyongyang landed at gimpo airport.

Anyway…

…about Jo manjae.

I hear he's been dealing meth with the yakuza.

Yes, I'm aware.

You're aware?

Yes, sir.

So why didn't you report it to me?

Mr. Baek?

Baek kitae.

That's right.

My name is baek kitae.

Head of the intelligence department, kcia Busan branch.

Translated by yoonjung song