[Kaisersrsic]

I hope that you are wrong about a direct Chicom connection. The North Koreans may just turn out to be a bigger problem for the Chicoms than for us. The bottom line is that nuclear proliferation does not benefit any existing nuclear power. And, the North Koreans are crazy --I would rather be their enemy with an ocean buffer than their neighbor.

[ApesForEvolution]

No, I honestly believe that China/N. Korea, despite their economic challenges and struggle to avoid economic interdependence, as two peas of the same pod. N. Korea is the test balloon/pawn/surrogate that China uses to conduct specific local, regional and world affairs through. A nuclear N. Korea commands itself a stronger economy and is a better piece of the Chinese economic expansion, which is driven by a passion to lead the world through military strength and a weakened America. The world's economy shrinks when America is gone, but a 1 eyed man is king in a world that is blind. IMHO.