There’s One North Korea Taboo China’s Leaders Won’t Talk About
- Military confrontation with U.S. likely if regime collapses
- Nuclear weapons, refugees top list of potential concerns
China Imposes New Sanctions on North Korea
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In discussions between the U.S. and China about reining in North Korea, one topic remains taboo: What would happen if Kim Jong Un’s regime collapses?
For years, China has rebuffed U.S. attempts to raise the topic at so-called Track 2 dialogue sessions between academics in each country’s foreign policy establishment, according to Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, who has led the U.S. side in such talks. Attendees included people from Chinese government-affiliated research institutions and military officers, she said.