[section9]

On the other hand, the Chinese may be able to persuade a unified Korean kingdom to align with China long term. After all, both nations despise Japan, and a unified Korea would be an economic boon to Manchuria in the long term,

A unified Korea would be neutralist; the American forces would have to leave the South. But the price for China would be akin to having Israel on their frontier.

[Billthedrill]

Yes, it is interesting, isn't it? If we posit the advantages of a short border, establishing a rump state is the way to go. But in a longer view your case offers the most stability. But, as you point out, at a price. And if they can pull it off.

In the short term, there's a country that is so wasted it is likely to be a burden not on the South, nor on China, nor on Asia as a whole, but the entire world. Somebody's going to have to pony up, and nobody's happy about it.