Posted on 05/15/2018 11:39:51 AM PDT by BOARn
Kim Fat-Un will drop out of these “meetings” as many times as it benefits China. This is a common Chinese tactic, negotiation by proxy. Kim has NO desire to give up his nuclear toys, but he DOES have a desire to keep his cushy power. China could take that away in a minute.
Kim is China’s barking-dog and barometer, and will do nothing that isn’t in China’s best interest. He knows where his bread is buttered.
Sooner or later it will be big changes in NK, and then the money and trade flows will be in charge, not the Juche priests. This https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_model_of_trade will be a big factor.
A rough calculation: To increase the standard of NK to a suitable level about $100 000 is needed per capita for the next decade = about 25 M x $100k = $2,500 billion. With > 15 % profit margin that is more than $250 bn in profit. This is a conservative figure.
If I were to give advice to the Norks I would say; “Make sure that you have good relations with Tokyo and Washington otherwise you will be swallowed by Seoul and Beijing. Perhaps you as well need US forces and bases for protection.”
... ask Vietnam.
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