''North Korea, China and the abducted Chinese fishing boats''

From East Asia Forum

''For more than half a century, Beijing’s attitude toward the Korean Peninsula has revolved around avoiding three scenarios: ‘no new war on the Korean Peninsula’, ‘no regime change in North Korea’ and ‘no American troops on the Sino–Korean border’. But could the developments of recent weeks shake this strategic alliance tested by time, wars and revolutions?

Earlier this year North Korea declared that it has ‘passed through the gate’ to prosperity on the way to its self-professed goal of becoming a strong and prosperous nation (Kangsong Taeguk). Yet there are signs that within North Korea’s closed borders the domestic situation is deteriorating and the regime is taking every opportunity to earn desperately needed cash and goods through the activities of its government agencies.''

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