It seems to me that China views NK as it's "Tea Party". They support them directly

[Atticus]

and indirectly, turn a blind eye to their belligerence and inhumanity and use them to advance their agenda, yet are quick to disclaim them as "not us" whenever it is expedient. It is right out of the GOP playbook.

Meanwhile, 45 finds Kim "excellent" and has no conception that he is the puppet of a puppet.

[TEB]

1. I think

China is terrified of any refugee problems if or when North Korea collapses

[Atticus]

2. Were that to occur, would China just seize the territory "for humanitarian

reasons" and then, after a brief "decent interval", annex in response to "the desire of the Korean people"?

[TEB]

3. Who knows

I do think it would degrade into civil war as the generals would try and seize power. And use their own troops to seize power but I think Russia South Korea and china fear a mass refugee problem

[DetlefK]

4. Because China doesn't want north-korean immigrants coming across the border.

China wants harmony and control. Everybody marching in lockstep and everything working out according to plan.

If NK collapses, due to war or due to economic pressure or due to famine, the refugees won't go to SK. There's a minefield there. They will go to China.

And then China will have millions of foreigners in its country, not speaking the language, having different customs, and infecting the People's Republic of China with dangerous ideas, like Communism not being the best form of government ever.