China and North Korea

[Super Nova]

With the Wikileaks revelation that China is giving up on North korea do you think that China would really be willing to to let the North be taken over by the South.

I think it would cetainly be the best for the people.
The German unification experience had it's problems and cost West germany a shed load but they managed it and looking at Germany, it really is the powerhouse of Europe. It had not really been weakened by the experience.
South Korea could learn alot from germany and make the integration work.

I think North korea will need to make a bigger fool of themselves before any change will occur. Like start a small war.

[TomB]

With the Wikileaks revelation that China is giving up on North korea ......

I haven't read this about North Korea but I'd be surprised if it's true given NK's current attitude. I would have thought they'd be less provocative if their major protector and trading partner was losing interest in them.

[Jovial Monk]

I did hear that and NK would be MORE provocative if China wasn’t backing them anymore—any sign of weakness would be fatal.

[Super Nova]

I did hear that and NK would be MORE provocative if China wasn’t backing them anymore—any sign of weakness would be fatal.

I think they will be more provocative too and that will be suicidal for them. Will no support and sending attacking SK will be the end of them.

China needs to give them a good slap on the bottom, send them to the naughty corner for 3 minutes and to bed with no dinner.

[AiA in Atlanta]

Can't imagine that China would be jumping for joy if NK went over to Seoul control but how does NK contribute in anyway to China's standing in the world? If anything, NK is a burden for China.

[Super Nova]

A senior South Korean minister is alleged to have been told by Beijing officials that the Chinese Government would support the reunification of Korea under the control of Seoul.

The sensitive documents were released by Wikileaks last night ahead of crucial international talks in Washington next month to discuss how to tackle North Korea.

Last week, the regime fired missiles at its South Korean neighbour.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... South.html

Here is a link to the story.

I have not heard anything after the sabor rattling over the war games going on with the US and SK. They will probably do something after the US goes home. Like all bullies, they are scared of some-one who is a little bigger and tougher than they are and is prepared to go toe to toe with them.

[J.W. Frogen]

I can't see China allowing the North to be absorbed by South Korea without complete rock solid assurances South Korea leaves their alliance with the US and demands a complete US withdrawal.

Perhaps China was leaking such information in an attempt to calm the erratic behavior of Kim?

What China should do is tell the North Korean military to remove the Kims and place a party consensus leadership in control, one that seeks to economically (if not politically) modernize on the Chinese model and under Chinese direction or they will cut North Korea loose.

If they did, over the decades as this new economically viable North Korea emerged which was not a security threat to the South, the South would slowly move away from the necessity of US protection and toward a more neutral policy eventually allowing for re-unification under Chinese influence, not US influence.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Someone (who often talks $#!+) told me China was backing NK just before I went back to my feral campsite. I haven't heard anything for a week untill coming back into town yesterday.
Don't know how it'll play out with regards to going back to war, but I do know Koreans are tougher/hardier than many other east asians. Japanese are very soft by comparison. My adopted sister is from SK and I am trained in Hapkido (martial art from 2nd century AD, originally only allowed to be taught to Royal family and royal guard).
If the NKs wants a fight, the SKs will give them one. Taekwondo is a pre-requisit to serve in the SK army and Daewoo make nice machine guns. Plus they've got US back up.
Admitedly NK has an increadibly massive weapons stockpile and heaps of under mountain bunkers all with entrances facing north, but how long can a half starved people hold out?
Its hard to guess how far China would back NK. The alliance seems to be more ideaological than for practicle self interest.
NK has been a bit of a nuisance for China at times. Several years ago China was send food aid via rail into NK, and the NKs refused to return the trains, sort of holding the rolling stock hostage.

If NK did actually declare war I would expect mass defection to the south by many conscripts and a refugee exodus to the north by much of the populace.

[Outlaw Yogi]

DPRK army and people 'ready for all-out war'
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2010 ... 688552.htm

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said its army and people were ready for escalated conflicts and all-out war that would not be confined to the peninsula, the official news agency KCNA reported Saturday.

According to the KCNA, a spokesman for the National Peace Committee of Korea said in the statement released Saturday that the recent moves of the US indicated that it was fully joining in Republic of Korea (ROK)'s moves for a war of aggression against the DPRK after "throwing away the disguise of a hypocrite".

It was clear that if the ROK army mobilized all flying corps, warships and missiles for a war against the DPRK and the US joined them with the latest weapons, it would develop into an all-out war, not a local war, he said.

[Super Nova]

DPRK army and people 'ready for all-out war'
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2010 ... 688552.htm

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said its army and people were ready for escalated conflicts and all-out war that would not be confined to the peninsula, the official news agency KCNA reported Saturday.

According to the KCNA, a spokesman for the National Peace Committee of Korea said in the statement released Saturday that the recent moves of the US indicated that it was fully joining in Republic of Korea (ROK)'s moves for a war of aggression against the DPRK after "throwing away the disguise of a hypocrite".

It was clear that if the ROK army mobilized all flying corps, warships and missiles for a war against the DPRK and the US joined them with the latest weapons, it would develop into an all-out war, not a local war, he said.

I hope this is sabor (sp?) rattling by a desparate regime on it's last legs. However desparate regimes do stupid things.

One way or another they will need to be dealt with.

Why don't they integrate with China. That will shut everyone up except the US.