In Tonghae, the scientists at their computer banks feverishly tapped in the commands to turn the missile back on course. The sensors failed to respond. When it became plain the Taepodong was out of control they frantically programmed in the codes to ensure self-detonation. It flew on, trembled, tilted and began to fall.
It fell in open countryside, causing a huge explosion and an enormous crater, but no casualties and little damage other than sending tremors through a dozen nearby peasant cottages just north of Beijing. But Chinese defensive radar systems had been alerted and countermeasures moved to code red. In his office inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, President Xi was informed both of the alert and the rapid false alarm.
By coincidence, that morning riots broke out in three provincial cities of North Korea. Desperately hungry citizens raided the food stores of officialdom and the privileged few. The praetorian inner army intervened with brutal reprisals, but several generals ordered their commands to stay in barracks. This was reported to Beijing. Among the reports were allegations that for some weeks the people had been drenched with pamphlets borne by helium balloons on the autumn south-to-north winds.
President Kim withdrew to his fortified luxury compound on Wonsan Bay on the east coast. A whole division of ultra-loyal presidential guards was posted at all access points.
A week after the missile fell, elite Chinese amphibious troops landed on the west coast of Korea Bay. The landings were not opposed. Most of the North Korean Army, advised by repeated messages in fluent Korean on all the airwaves they used to remain in barracks for their own safety, did so.
For the dictator of North Korea, the Ceausescu moment referred to by his late father in conversation with Condoleezza Rice, had arrived: the moment when the ranks of brainwashed serfs finally ceased cheering and began to boo.
A week later he emerged from his Wonsan Bay fortress under close arrest. Photographic drones operating off two US Navy warships close to the South Korean coast broadcast the events to the world.
Near a castle in the Scottish Highlands, a cottage in Dorset and close to the SAS base at Hereford, walkers heard frequent gunfire. The pheasant season was in full swing.
List of Characters and Organizations
UK
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, academic and specialist in mental fragility
Lucinda Berry, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
Sir Richard Dearlove, Head of MI5 until his retirement in 2004
Professor Martin Dixon, Royal United Services Institute
Mrs Marjory Graham, Prime Minister
Dr Jeremy Hendricks, GCHQ computer scientist and mentor to Luke Jennings
The Jennings family: Harold, Sue, and their two sons, Luke (18) and Marcus (13)
Dr Bob Langley, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Julian Marshall, Assistant Cabinet Secretary
Mr Ciaran Martin, Director of the NCSC
Jessica Thompson, Robert Thompson’s daughter (10)
Robert Thompson, Personal Private Secretary to Home Secretary
Sir Adrian Weston, Security Adviser to PM
Captain Harry Williams, CO SAS bodyguard team
British National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), based in Victoria
Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBRA)
Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), based at Cheltenham
International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (RUSI)
Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), or MI6, based at Vauxhall Cross