Escape from Mogadishu

In the sweltering summer of 1991, Mogadishu, Somalia's once-stable capital, teeters on the brink of collapse as Barre's government clings to power amidst mounting rebellions. Amidst this backdrop of turmoil, two Korean diplomatic missions - one representing South Korea and the other North Korea - find themselves locked in a precarious struggle for United Nations support. The tension culminates in a dramatic encounter when South Korean Ambassador Han Sin-seong (character A) is ambushed en route to meet President Barre, missing their highly anticipated appointment. It later becomes clear that a cunning North Korean intelligence officer, Tae Jun-ki, orchestrated the robbery, sowing discord between the Korean diplomats.

As Somalia descends into chaos and civil war erupts, both embassies face an existential crisis: they are trapped and struggling to escape the war-torn country. The stakes are personal for Sin-seong when his wife finds herself in grave danger, prompting a series of failed attempts to reach the airport. Meanwhile, North Koreans also face treachery and violence, leading them to seek refuge at the South Korean embassy. Initially, distrust runs deep between the two groups, but as they navigate the treacherous landscape together, they begin to find common ground in their shared struggle for survival.

As the situation becomes increasingly precarious, the diplomats devise a plan to escape, securing a spot on an Italian Red Cross evacuation flight by posing as North Korean defectors. They prepare makeshift armored vehicles and white flags in a bid to guarantee safe passage, but near-disaster strikes when miscommunications and confrontations with Somali forces threaten to thwart their plans. In the end, they manage to reach the safety of the Italian embassy, narrowly escaping with their lives.

Upon arriving in Mombasa, the Korean diplomats are forced to acknowledge that their shared ordeal has come to an end. With a heavy heart, they must part ways, knowing that their governments will not hesitate to exact retribution for their actions. Despite having formed strong bonds during their time of crisis, they reluctantly split into their original groups, boarding separate buses to rejoin their respective delegations. As the buses drive away, Sin-seong and his North Korean counterpart exchange a final glance, forever changed by their experience in Mogadishu.