The North Korean government has agreed to host the test for the Russia's ultimate weapon, a nuclear-powered cruise missile. When the test goes catastrophically wrong, the North Korean dictator is severely injured. His coma triggers a "dead-man's switch" activating an army of sleeper agents in South Korea. 

 

Jack Ryan, Jr. is in Seoul to interview a potential addition to the Campus. After surviving an attack by one of these sleeper teams, he meets with a South Korean contact who has received an ominous message from a Russian friend, one word--run.