If North Korea collapses, the load would have to be taken up by either China or South Korea, and frankly, both would rather not have to do that. Germany is still recovering from having to absorb the East German basket case. And that is making the very big assumption that North Korea would go peacefully, like East Germany did.

This is one reason South Korea's attitude toward North Korea is to jam their fingers in their ears and shut their eyes, but only one of them.

But in the end there may be no other choice. Even North Korea taken over by China would be an improvement for the people there, which shows how bad it is.