China and North Korea 中国和北韩 중국과조선

As most of us know, China and North Korea have been historic allies. After the partition of Korea following WWII, China, along with the former Soviet Union, have supported North Korea and its line of rogue dictators. Without delving too much into history, let me just say that North Korea is communist like China, shares similar history and culture that spans centuries and millennia, and are next-door neighbors. They have their nice 'Sino-North Korean Treaty of Friendship, Cooepration, and Mutual Assistance'. North Korea had been developing nukes and weapons for decades, but in the recent years of Kim Jung Un, development has accelerated. W have seen more and more rockets and tests, but have refused to counteract harshly.

The problem is that Kim Jung Un and his gang think that they can take down the U.S. Kim probably believes it himself because he has his personality cult around him that
praises him consistently and probably won't dare to tell him it will fail in the end.  Perhaps North Korea just wants to prove that it is strong. Maybe it really does not want to hurt any other countries? The only thing really holding back them is China.

China has the opportunity to tell North Korea to back down, but it doesn't want to...at least not yet. Why would China want to protect North Korea? Well, let's think about it. If North Korea were to become democratic, then we know that America will play a huge role, and would definitely send troops and other military to the nation. That would put American presence right at its border, a threat to its sovereignty and power. China wants to bide its time and does not want to completely silence North Korea. If all else fails, then China will most likely be the one to take Kim out, and make North Korea a part of China or some special region, but probably not its own independent country.

Relations between China and North Korea are already souring. Kim freaking executed his brother, who had connections with China. President Xi is worried, but cannot afford to create too many sanctions as it may provoke Kim in some way.

It's really tough to control North Korea because they don't want to be influenced and controlled anymore. Even after China showed North Korea how capitalism works with communism, North Korea refuses and continues with Juche. Even after China has tried to appease Kim, Kim still goes off on his own.

Basically, China does not want a unified, Western democratic Korea. China is doing its best to appeal to both sides. They don't want to just favor one side. If war were to break out, it seems that China may just play neutral, which is a smart move. China already provides so much for North Korea, and it will dish more if war were to happen. Let's think about it, there will be millions of refugees pouring into China, and that will be very costly.

In the end, there is no solution that is the best; all have their problems. All show negative consequences.

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/03/china-north-korea-kim-jong-un-nuclear-beijing-pyongyang-thaad/519348/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/09/north-korea-china-xi-jinping
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/china-s-diplomatic-ties-ally-north-korea-are-fraying-n799736

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/06/trump-discusses-cutting-north-koreas-nuke-capabilities-with-chinese-president.html