The long-awaited phone call came around 3.00am. The caller, who spoke English with a heavy accent, asked to speak to Rachmat Ranudiwijaya. The Director-General of Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Department of Foreign affairs answered sleepily. However, the news passed on by the caller quickly snapped him wide-awake. Marshal Kim Jong Il, holder of power in North Korea, planned to visit President Megawati at 10am that very morning.

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