Even setting aside the awfulness of a war, neither China nor South Korea want do deal with millions of refugees, South Korea likewise probably doesn’t want the $2 trillion + cost of fixing the place (East Germany cost about that much, so call that the white chip). Neither China nor Russia wants a unified Korea, since North Korea is a useful buffer against US forces. Japan doesn’t particularly want to get into a shooting war either. So, for now, the best short-term plan for everyone is to let North Korea stay North Korea…
A pity, but not sure – with a reliable nuclear program – there’s a thing anyone can much do about it. Waltzian deterrence theory says the best thing for any country to have is its own nuclear weapons.*
- Cue Frank Zappa quote.
