[FreepForever]

I think China needs NK as a military buffer zone more than an ally to hold off capitalism. China itself is opening all border for capitalism and foreign investments. Why need a trouble maker like NK? I think NK's value to China is minimal.

[Cvengr]

I suspect Chinese strategy would almost allow a US invasion of NK ala Iraqi styled maneuver warfare, simply so as not to show any real need to the US for us to alter our operational art.

If we ever went to war with the Chinese, it wouldn't be the assymetrical warfare we anticipated in Iraq. Air superiority wouldn't be nearly as certain and we would probably witness very real action on our shores.

The Chinese still have an advantage in numbers of armed personnel, making quite a few operational options available to them.