Originally Posted by
Photonic
Decapitation of the leadership is not an option from the Chinese perspective. It would lead to chaos, refugees, and the high probability of a reunification of the peninsula under SK rule (either that, or war with the US if they try to prevent it).
China would rather have an unstable NK as a buffer, than a unified Korea with a US ally and US military assets right on the border with China.
If the NK regime was to be toppled and Seoul took control of all of Korea, I'm sure there would be an agreement with the Chinese that no US troops would be based in former NK terrortory, on a similar basis to the agreement reached with the Russians when Germany was re-unified.
Should the NK regime dissappear in the coming years, military spending in the south would also likely be cut.
The way it looks at present, this is going to get much worse, and the endgame may well not be that far off.
Expats streaming out of Incheon yet?.