"uncle arnie" wrote
How much western debt does China hold? I think it is quite high,
particularly for the USA. This would mean grave economic problems for the
west if China is "on the verge of collapse".

Hardly, in case of a China banking collapse financial arrangements can
always be made.
We are talking about paper after all. Not gold bullion. Perhaps WalMart
stock
will collapse but the $US always rallys in times of serious worldwide
calamity.
The Chinese $Yuan may become worthless.

As for N Korea, they are so
disconnected from the world, no-one would notice except for those of us
who
like the comedy of their SW broadcasts.

You are seriously mistaken. If the hermit kingdom collapses there will be a
human
tragedy on the peninsula. The economic costs to S.Korea will be worse than
what Germany has had to endure since the fall of the Berlin wall. Assuming
hoards of refugees begin to cross the DMZ. Which is very likely.

Then there is the geo-political question. Will China invade N.Korea and
claim
its territory for repayment of decades of economic support? Or will China
allow
a free and Democratic state to prosper on its economically suffering
Northeast
border with the peninsula? If so it would be a first as well as a strategic
blow
to the Communist regime in Beijing.

China historically prefers weak, non-threatening regimes as neighbors and
works
to maintain its supremacy over all its immediate neighbors.

Korean history extends into what is now Northeast China. There are Korean
claims to these lands. China is well aware of these claims and has
summarily
rewrote its history books in an attempt to erase these claims.

The best scenario for the West would be if one collapses immediately
followed by the other. Neither regime would stand which is why China
will not pressure N.Korea in regard to nuclear negotiations. China can
very easily resolve the nuclear issue since all of N.Korea's energy comes
from China. Simply turn off a spigot and flick the big switch and Kim Jong
Il
is complete history.


Li Changchun wrote:

junk snipped

N.Korea

N. Korea launches harsh crackdown
(interesting read)


http://interestalert.com/brand/sitei...02aaa05d83.upi
&Sys=rmmiller&Fid=WORLDNEW&Type=News&Filter=World% 20News
__________________________________________________ __

Enjoy the Voice of Korea propaganda in English:

0100-0200 Z
11735 13760 15180 kHz to N.America

1000-1100 Z
9335 9850 kHz to N.America

1300-1400 Z
9335 11710 kHz to N.America
4405 7570 12015 kHz to Europe

1500-1600 Z
9335 11710 kHz to N.America
4405 7570 12015 kHz to Europe

1800-1900 Z
4405 7570 12015 kHz to Europe

2100-2200 Z
4405 7570 12015 kHz to Europe
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