To keep the North Koreans out?
I was wishfully thinking the same thing.
I have a feeling we’re wrong.
Maybe to pressure the NORKs.
Here is a crazy idea I have never heard anyone mention.
Would China be a more comfortable neighbor to South Korea than North Korea has been ?
What would we — or S. Korea, Japan, Philippines, etc. — lose if we encouraged China to annex North Korea and dismantle the cult that is the NK regime ? Especially if they gave up all claims to Taiwan, the South China Sea and those Islands in exchange for our not objecting to the annexation.
I just got back from Beijing yesterday. My Chinese host told me the Chinese do not like the North Koreans and hate their leader.
I have no proof but contrary to what was reported as what was discussed at the recent summit, I would bet the NK situation was addressed by both leaders.
I concur. Those troops are amassed for border control support should SHTF there.
My two cents.
MFO
Deal’s been worked out with Trump. China gets a new province (NoKor), the DMZ comes down, the mine fields are cleared, friendly borders are established, US troops go home unlimited. NorKor people are free to choose China or SoKor citizenship (sort-of).
My wild-azz guess.