Anyone capable of leading the country post Rocket Man has probably already been wiped out. Tend to be the problem with dictators. Competition is not welcome.
So........ what's the consensus? Is this shit a for real end to 65+ years of undeclared hostilities, with unicorn farts and rainbows for everyone? Or is it just bullshiitte?
I believe that this is headed toward an official end of the Korean war based on the Korean meeting and this summit. What comes next is anyone's guess still so far as I can tell though.
My guess is Little Kim wants to become a China like state. Lots of moola but strict controls on the reigns of government. He'd probably be satisfied with a Vietnam like state. The big question is the fate of the ROK. Can he stand keeping his hands off it?
The silence from China is deafening. Waiting for the other billion shoes to fall before commenting...
I think it's funny everyone keeps thinking of modern China like old school Vietnam era China. It's not remotely the same. They're all about the money right now and that money comes from the US. They'll nuke Korea themselves to keep making iPhone profits.
China will play ball. They really don’t have a choice if they want to keep their economic engine running. It’s slowly becoming modernised and leans more Western every day.
Ask them about any difference between old and new China about the control of their 'Sphere of Influence'. The notion of having a buffer (of sorts) ally between itself the western world is probably a bit of relic of another time, but they seem to prefer it that way for now.
It probably isn't as big a factor as it once may have been, but I've always like having the Atlantic and Pacific between us and those that seriously want to do us harm.
It's very much a relic of older times and Taiwan is entirely different. China has never claimed ownership of Korea. They truly think Taiwan is a Chinese island. Totally different things.
I remember the old days. How about those cheap tin wind up toy cars that had sharp edges and on the bottom they said "Made In Hong Kong". I heard that they supply Walmart now. Times sure have changed.