tomahawk6 said:
I think the PRC would have to sign off on any US action against the North. If they gave a thumbs up there would be several strings attached like their control of the south china sea and no US forces above the 36th parallel after the regime change.
I have said before that
I think* the Chinese made on offer, years, even decades ago: "
Remove US forces from South Korea and we will, very, very quickly, remove the DPRK's political leadership and encourage the reunification of Korea under a South Korean led, democratic government."
I suspect that the North Korean leadership, one and two steps below the fruitcake, is heavily in the pay of
both China and South Korea and wants reunification as much as anyone.
China doesn't want a war, that would send millions of North Koreans across the border, seeking refuge in China. A Chinese invasion is not impossible, but ~ look at the maps ~ it's not a cakewalk, either. The Yalu River is a formidable obstacle and I believe the the DPRK has made all the bridges into reserved demolitions. The DPRK's army is HUGE ~ maybe poorly equipped, ineptly led and inadequately equipped, but it's BIG; the PLA is being restructured, made smaller and much more professional, but more suited to global operations, and less suited to a man-on-man slugging match or artillery duel against North Korea.
China's
vital interests are:
1. Peace and stability on it's borders ~ it has that now;
2. Ever growing trade with and investment from South Korea ~ it has that now, too.
Why would China want an American attack?
_____
* I have no quotable sources ... just a
guess.
