But the signs are coming faster:
South Korean officials believe that the North Korean economy has collapsed and cannot be revived by the current communist government. Chinese assistance won’t work, and many Chinese officials, and business people, agree. When Kim Jong Il dies, his heir (the youngest son, Kim Jong Un) won’t be able to hold it together, and the North Korean government will fall apart. South Korean officials believe that South Korea will be in a better position to take control up north. But current Chinese policy opposes that, and when crunch time arrives, so will Chinese troops in North Korea. Current North Korean ruler Kim Kong Il is apparently aware of this scenario, and does not trust China because of it.
While it is almost incomprehensible that a war could break out over the corpse of that failing state if it is state collapse rather than regime collapse, it's all about the location. I've read reports that China will not tolerate a pro-Western state on their border by letting South Korea absorb North Korea. And I've read that the Chinese are comfortable enough with South Korea not to worry too much. Maybe it depends on which view is dominant on the day it starts to unravel fast enough to get 24/7 news coverage.
I'd think partition is the logical solution. I'm glad South Korea and China have a hotline now, just in case.
