(no subject)
A North Korean torpedo may have been what recently caused a South Korean ship near the border to sink after an explosion. Ah, those wild and crazy North Koreans. Kidnapping Japanese civilians, hysterical racism, propaganda, and personality cults, probably counterfeiting US currency, smuggling heroin and possibly speed, and torpedoing South Korean boats-- what mischievous rascals they are!
North Korea is utterly dependent on Chinese food and oil, and Chinese groups are rapidly taking over the maintenance, administration, and operation of North Korea's mines, railroads, and other economically and militarily significant infrastructure. So why is China continuing to support North Korea's mayhem, instead of calming the place down and making its trade and travel with South Korea as peaceful and open as China's trade and travel with South Korea? Is China afraid the US would bring a peaceable North Korea into the US sphere along with Japan and South Korea? Is China afraid of North Korea attacking them? Is China afraid of North Korean refugees pouring into their country? Does China just think calming North Korea is best done in a slow and steady way, no matter how much trouble the nation causes in the meantime? Or is this an "enemy of my enemy" situation, and as long as North Korea only harasses Japan, South Korea, and the US, China figures there's no sense sticking their neck out to improve things any?
North Korea is utterly dependent on Chinese food and oil, and Chinese groups are rapidly taking over the maintenance, administration, and operation of North Korea's mines, railroads, and other economically and militarily significant infrastructure. So why is China continuing to support North Korea's mayhem, instead of calming the place down and making its trade and travel with South Korea as peaceful and open as China's trade and travel with South Korea? Is China afraid the US would bring a peaceable North Korea into the US sphere along with Japan and South Korea? Is China afraid of North Korea attacking them? Is China afraid of North Korean refugees pouring into their country? Does China just think calming North Korea is best done in a slow and steady way, no matter how much trouble the nation causes in the meantime? Or is this an "enemy of my enemy" situation, and as long as North Korea only harasses Japan, South Korea, and the US, China figures there's no sense sticking their neck out to improve things any?