“NK could suddenly fall apart like a rice paper house in a typhoon.”
Short of a full on frontal assault by the NORKs, the collapse of NK is probably the single biggest fear for S. Korea, China and all of Asia. Power grabs by different military factions, refugee issues, etc.
Yep....neither China nor any in Asia want to see the collapse but I am not so sure it can be prevented with all considered. Is China massing anything more on their borders now? If they start to move, which might be their call in what N.Korea is doing now, then they will be the first to attempt a power Grab...with S. Korea right behind if not along side to do the same.
you really think anyone in their right mind “wants” N.Korea?
“refugee issues, etc.”
Once the first wave or two of refugees headed into SK clears out the minefields, the others will have a clear shot over the border.
There’s always the unpleasant possibility that a crumbling dictatorial government may try and shore itself up by distracting its people with some external military adventure i.e. “reunification” with the “oppressed” south.