China kicked America's ass in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. China's reconquest of North Korea was one of their greatest modern military accomplishments. From the perspective of the Chinese communists, North Korea is a huge feather in their cap. However China is on the verge of becoming the world's next dominant super power after displacing the United States. This future potential achievement will come through their embrace of market principles and gradual rejection of communism/socialism. North Korea is on its knees with no prospect of recovery. North Korea could start tossing nukes around when it goes into its death throes. A regional nuclear war could terminate China's future ambitions as a world power. Consequently China is on the horns of a dilemma concerning past communist glory versus future free market acheivement. The logical action for China is to shutdown the North Korean government and either place North Korea under a Chinese military governor or present North Korea to South Korea for reunification under Chinese supervision (the wisest action). However the remaining doctrinaire communists in the Chinese goverment may not permit a logical solution. Mao's Cultural Revolution demonstrated that the Chinese are capable of wildly irrational behavior. We should not assume the Chinese will be logical towards Korea.

Gary