North Korea's Dilemma

     North Korea faces a dilemma that historically, Korea has had to deal with most of its existence.  China its much larger and more powerful neighbor to the north has always played a key role.  Throughout most of Korea's history, it has been a tributary state of China.  During the Chosun Dynasty (Yi Dynasty) and the prior Koryo Dynasty, Korea was subject to China, whether it was the Mongol rule of Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, or Manchu rulers of Ching Dynasty.  This relationship dates back to Tang Dynasty, when China helped Silla defeat Paekche and Koguryo, forming the Koryo Dynasty which became a vassal of China!  It was only during the early years of Gochosun and later Koguryo, that Korea did not have to bow to China.  Today, South Korea enjoys that same standing as the ancient Gochosun and Koguryo.  But North Korea, despite its belligerent behavior with mentally imbalanced leaders, has been dependent on China since 1950 when China stepped-in across the Yalu to bail it out from the UN forces during the Korean War.
     Nothing would please China more than to have the same influence over the southern part of Korea as it does over the northern part today.  China has always mistrusted and feared an independent Korea.  Both the ancient Gochosun and Koguryo were feared by China.  Today, perhaps China does not fear South Korea militarily, but it has been a serious competitor to China's rising economy.  North Korea on the other hand, has been dependent on China for its trade and economic support for more than a half a century.  It is estimated that more than two thirds of North Korea's trade is dependent on China. 
     North Korea is a very important trading partner for China.  It is important because China is North Korea's lifeline, essentially its trading partner that keeps the country breathing!  In the past, China has always controlled the economy of Korea by doling out certain products and technology, keeping Korea from becoming more independent.  Some of the more popular export products, such as silk and porcelain, China monopolized, refusing to give out the secret of its production.  The same went for black powder, which began to play an important role in warfare starting around the 12th Century, therefore, vital for a country's defense.  Korea was never able to really develop its technology in black powder development nor silk cultivation.  However, it was able to develop its own porcelain and ceramic technology to a point where it rivaled China's, and in some cases preferred over the Chinese products, especially by the Japanese.
     It has been a long time since Korea was so dependent on Chinese technology.  In case of South Korea, it is not dependent on China at all!  But North Korea is still very much tied to China, and you can bet your bottom dollar that their nuclear technology, although developed by themselves, got its start from the Chinese!  Nothing would please North Korea's leadership more than to be completely free of the Chinese yoke!  But, without Chinese economic support, they would not last a year!  That is why all of the pundits are saying that China must get involved in order to resolve North Korea's nuclear issue.
     It appears that perhaps China is finally going to apply some economic pressure to get North Korea in line.  But, it is not in China's best interest to have a docile North Korea that is at the same time almost totally dependent on China for economic support.  North Korea would then simply become another poverty stricken Chinese province.  So, for China and its leaders, North Korea has become a definite problem.  Contrary to what some say, China is not seeking a war in the region.  It would really do China more harm than good to have a major conflict take place in the region involving some of their major trading partners!  But should North Korea lose its "teeth" and bad boy image, it will more than likely be essentially "absorbed" by the more economically powerful and arguably militarily just as powerful, South Korea.  That won't do for China.  That would create a very powerful Korea, both economically and militarily, and it would no longer be under the Chinese influence.
     It is becoming increasingly more apparent that North Korea is trying to break away from China.  Otherwise why would it do all those things that irritate its benefactor?  North Korea would like nothing more than to develop stronger ties with other countries and become more economically independent.  Despite all of the insulting verbiage about being "America's running dogs," North Korea is envious of South Korea.  They know that despite South Korea's strong ties with the United States, it is still a very much independent country and is not a vassal to anyone, not like they are to China!  The "Han River Miracle" and South Korea's economic rise is the envy of most Asian countries, including North Korea, whether they want to admit it or not!  But as much as they may want to join the world community, North Korea, having been a true hermit kingdom for over a half a century and maintained the "bad boy-tough guy" image, seems incapable of projecting a more "civilized" gentler-kinder image.  Instead they keep spitting out venomous language with tough talk about annihilating the U.S. and leveling South Korea, etc., etc.  North Korea spouts off like an emotionally imbalanced, ill mannered teenage boy trying to impress a girl with foul language and tough talk, and then wondering why the girl turned away from him!
     Whether China will curb North Korea, force it to behave, is really not something that we should be seeking.  That would be just a temporary solution to the problem.  What China needs to do is to force North Korea to disarm its nuclear arsenal and declare that they will behave henceforth.  That will never happen and China will never force North Korea to completely give-in.  Even if China cut off all of its economic support, which it will never do, North Korea at that point, will not submit to China but will seek some other way, even self destruction by going to war!  What has happened is that through half a century of personality cults, "hate America" propaganda campaigns and constant self glorification, North Korea has become so far removed from the "real world" that it is incapable of joining the rest of the world society as a functioning member. 
     The only solution, in the estimation of some pundits, is the total removal of the ruling members, a complete house cleaning through revolution or war!  That doesn't sound very promising.  Another solution, which some in South Korea believe can work, is to gradually influence the people of North Korea to change through education and economic support, making the people realize that there is a better way.  That, of course, takes time. Whatever it is, it has to be something that is brought about by the people themselves, not by the Chinese.  The Chinese can impose economic sanction to make Kim Jong Un and Company behave temporarily, perhaps.  But that is all.  China is not the answer to the North Korea solution, China is one of the problems!