Yea, the last thing China wants is a unified Korea under the command of Seoul because that could potentially mean US soldiers on or near their border, so we can’t discount a power grab by China in the event of a NORK govt collapse.
Exactly....China actually does not care about the N.Korean peoples, rather maintaining the status quo which indeed keeps the US off their borders. Where was China when millions were dying of starvation...and still do? But as we know all food helps goes directly to the military and the elits...little if any to the people no matter who send it.
I many respects this is all between China and the US than the Koreans...though of course the fallout of any changes affects all of Asia. But the root is between the US and China. Unfortunately our hand in their coffers so deep now they have leverages which once were not possible. This too will play out as things move or don’t in these events.
IMHO if the regime collapses South Korea can not hesitate one second. They must get in and get in fast. Hopefully they will not meet Chinese armor at Pyongyang.