North Korea Attacks South Korea - Page 2

South Korean defence minister resigns over deadly clash

Sarah Palin: 'We Gotta Stand With Our North Korean Allies'

I posted this on another thread, however it is appropriate to post it here again.


Palin might have to "refudiate" what she meant.

It's all part of the right-wing "strategery".

As in Climategate...."refudiate" the science and insert misrepresentation, myth, and innuendos.

Yes, the AGW zealots do quite a bit of that. I'm glad you finally agree.

As always the right-wing strategy is to take things of context, to refudiate the science and then to spin it their way. If you took the time to include my post in your response, it clearly reflects that my comments were directed to the right wingers and not to the scientist supporting AGW....but then again, not a surprise from you.

With Limited Options, South Korea Shifts Military Rules

UPDATE:

N Korea warns war drills take region to 'brink of war'

Well as usual the right is discussing reality and the left is discussing.... the right.

I don't like your jokes.
I'm offended that you're not offended.
Everyone is evil but me and my good intentions.

What a load of bullcrap!!

In the meantime Pat Buchanan asks the appropriate (and thus by leftist reasoning, racist) question. Why are we still in Korea?

Unlike 1950, South Korea is not an impoverished ex-colony of Japan. She is the largest of all the "Asian tigers," a nation with twice the population and 40 times the economy of the North.

Great point!

Why, then, are we still in South Korea? Why is this quarrel our quarrel? Why is this war, should it come, America's war?

This question isn't only important when we have a Republican president and want to elect some Democrats.

Why cannot Japan defend herself? Why does this remain our responsibility, 65 years after MacArthur took the surrender in Tokyo Bay?

Why, when the Cold War has been over for 20 years, do all these Cold War alliances still exist?

Finally he hits on and notes the most important point of all.....

We borrow from Europe to defend Europe. We borrow from Japan and China to defend Japan from China. We borrow from the Gulf Arabs to defend the Gulf Arabs.

We need to take a different approach and stop being the cop for the world. We need to be strong enough to stand up to anyone who dares scream that being unwilling to police the world is racist as this is what both neocons and old liberals fall back on when they want to stop discussion of such questions.

The concerns of those who want to argue about insensitive jokes, intentions, being offended, they can go kiss my butt. America can no longer afford to keep paying for their heightened sense of being continually offended.

China works to ease North-South Korea tension

Why this time might be different

When powers become superpowers, with nobody to police their actions, they do what they want. Look at Wall Street... its the same syndrome.



Tell that to the civilian populations the following nations, all of which have been attacked in some variety of military operation, from "police actions" to a full scale invasion and lengthy occupation by the US within the last 100 years, none of which can be seen to be protecting the US Constitution, its borders and its people..... in other words, US national security.

ARGENTINA\t1890\tTroops\tBuenos Aires interests protected.
CHILE\t1891\tTroops\tMarines clash with nationalist rebels.
HAITI\t1891\tTroops\tBlack revolt on Navassa defeated.
NICARAGUA\t1894\tTroops\tMonth-long occupation of Bluefields.
CHINA\t1894-95\tNaval, troops\tMarines land in Sino-Japanese War
KOREA\t1894-96\tTroops\tMarines kept in Seoul during war.
PANAMA\t1895\tTroops, naval\tMarines land in Colombian province.
NICARAGUA\t1896\tTroops\tMarines land in port of Corinto.
CHINA\t1898-1900\tTroops\tBoxer Rebellion fought by foreign armies.
PHILIPPINES\t1898-1910 (-?)\tNaval, troops\tSeized from Spain, killed 600,000 Filipinos
CUBA\t1898-1902 (-?)\tNaval, troops\tSeized from Spain, still hold Navy base.
PUERTO RICO\t1898 (-?)\tNaval, troops\tSeized from Spain, occupation continues.
GUAM\t1898 (-?)\tNaval, troops\tSeized from Spain, still use as base.
MINNESOTA\t1898 (-?)\tTroops\tArmy battles Chippewa at Leech Lake.
NICARAGUA\t1898\tTroops\tMarines land at port of San Juan del Sur.
SAMOA\t1899 (-?)\tTroops\tBattle over succession to throne.
NICARAGUA\t1899\tTroops\tMarines land at port of Bluefields.
PANAMA\t1901-14\tNaval, troops\tBroke off from Colombia 1903, annexed Canal Zone 1914.
HONDURAS\t1903\tTroops\tMarines intervene in revolution.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC\t1903-04\tTroops\tU.S. interests protected in Revolution.
KOREA\t1904-05\tTroops\tMarines land in Russo-Japanese War.
CUBA\t1906-09\tTroops\tMarines land in democratic election.
NICARAGUA\t1907\tTroops\t"Dollar Diplomacy" protectorate set up.
HONDURAS\t1907\tTroops\tMarines land during war with Nicaragua
PANAMA\t1908\tTroops\tMarines intervene in election contest.
NICARAGUA\t1910\tTroops\tMarines land in Bluefields and Corinto.
HONDURAS\t1911\tTroops\tU.S. interests protected in civil war.
CHINA\t1911-41\tNaval, troops \tContinuous occupation with flare-ups.
CUBA\t1912\tTroops\tU.S. interests protected in civil war.
PANAMA\t1912\tTroops\tMarines land during heated election.
HONDURAS\t1912\tTroops\tMarines protect U.S. economic interests.
NICARAGUA\t1912-33\tTroops, bombing\t10-year occupation, fought guerillas
MEXICO\t1913\tNaval\tAmericans evacuated during revolution.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC\t1914\tNaval\tFight with rebels over Santo Domingo.
COLORADO\t1914\tTroops\tBreaking of miners' strike by Army.
MEXICO\t1914-18\tNaval, troops\tSeries of interventions against nationalists.
HAITI\t1914-34\tTroops, bombing\t19-year occupation after revolts.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC\t1916-24\tTroops\t8-year Marine occupation.
CUBA\t1917-33\tTroops\tMilitary occupation, economic protectorate.
RUSSIA\t1918-22\tNaval, troops\tFive landings to fight Bolsheviks
PANAMA\t1918-20\tTroops\t"Police duty" during unrest after elections.
HONDURAS\t1919\tTroops\tMarines land during election campaign.
YUGOSLAVIA\t1919\tTroops/Marines\tintervene for Italy against Serbs in Dalmatia.
GUATEMALA\t1920\tTroops\t2-week intervention against unionists.
WEST VIRGINIA\t1920-21\tTroops, bombing\tArmy intervenes against mineworkers.
TURKEY\t1922\tTroops\tFought nationalists in Smyrna.
CHINA\t1922-27\tNaval, troops\tDeployment during nationalist revolt.
HONDURAS\t1924-25\tTroops\tLanded twice during election strife.
PANAMA\t1925\tTroops\tMarines suppress general strike.
CHINA\t1927-34\tTroops\tMarines stationed throughout the country.
EL SALVADOR\t1932\tNaval\tWarships send during Marti revolt.
DETROIT\t1943\tTroops\tArmy put down Black rebellion.
YUGOSLAVIA\t1946\tNuclear threat, naval\tResponse to shoot-down of US plane.
URUGUAY\t1947\tNuclear threat\tBombers deployed as show of strength.
GREECE\t1947-49\tCommando operation\tU.S. directs extreme-right in civil war.
GERMANY\t1948\tNuclear Threat\tAtomic-capable bombers guard Berlin Airlift.
PHILIPPINES\t1948-54\tCommando operation\tCIA directs war against Huk Rebellion.
PUERTO RICO\t1950\tCommando operation\tIndependence rebellion crushed in Ponce.
KOREA\t1951-53 (-?)\tTroops, naval, bombing , nuclear threats\tU.S./So. Korea fights China/No. Korea to stalemate; A-bomb threat in 1950, and against China in 1953. Still have bases.
IRAN\t1953\tCommando Operation\tCIA overthrows democracy, installs Shah.
VIETNAM\t1954\tNuclear threat\tFrench offered bombs to use against seige.
GUATEMALA\t1954\tCommando operation, bombing, nuclear threat\tCIA directs exile invasion after new gov't nationalized U.S. company lands; bombers based in Nicaragua.
EGYPT\t1956\tNuclear threat, troops\tSoviets told to keep out of Suez crisis; Marines evacuate foreigners.
LEBANON\tl958\tTroops, naval\tMarine occupation against rebels.
IRAQ\t1958\tNuclear threat\tIraq warned against invading Kuwait.
CHINA\tl958\tNuclear threat\tChina told not to move on Taiwan isles.
PANAMA\t1958\tTroops\tFlag protests erupt into confrontation.
VIETNAM\tl960-75\tTroops, naval, bombing, nuclear threats\tFought South Vietnam revolt & North Vietnam; one million killed in longest U.S. war; atomic bomb threats in l968 and l969.
CUBA\tl961\tCommando operation\tCIA-directed exile invasion fails.
GERMANY\tl961\tNuclear threat\tAlert during Berlin Wall crisis.
LAOS\t1962\tCommando operation\tMilitary buildup during guerrilla war.
CUBA\t l962\t Nuclear threat, naval\tBlockade during missile crisis; near-war with Soviet Union.
IRAQ\t1963\tCommando operation\tCIA organizes coup that killed president, brings Ba'ath Party to power, and Saddam Hussein back from exile to be head of the secret service.
PANAMA\tl964\tTroops\tPanamanians shot for urging canal's return.
INDONESIA\tl965\tCommand operation\tMillion killed in CIA-assisted army coup.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC\t1965-66\tTroops, bombing\tMarines land during election campaign.
GUATEMALA\tl966-67\tCommando operation\tGreen Berets intervene against rebels.
DETROIT\tl967\tTroops\tArmy battles African Americans, 43 killed.
UNITED STATES\tl968\tTroops\tAfter King is shot; over 21,000 soldiers in cities.
CAMBODIA\tl969-75\tBombing, troops, naval\tUp to 2 million killed in decade of bombing, starvation, and political chaos.
OMAN\tl970\tCommando operation\tU.S. directs Iranian marine invasion.
LAOS\tl971-73\tCommando operation, bombing\tU.S. directs South Vietnamese invasion; "carpet-bombs" countryside.
SOUTH DAKOTA\tl973\tCommando operation\tArmy directs Wounded Knee siege of Lakotas.
MIDEAST\t1973\tNuclear threat\tWorld-wide alert during Mideast War.
CHILE\t1973\tCommando operation\tCIA-backed coup ousts elected marxist president.
CAMBODIA\tl975\tTroops, bombing\tGas captured ship, 28 die in copter crash.
ANGOLA\tl976-92\tCommando operation\tCIA assists South African-backed rebels.
IRAN\tl980\tTroops, nuclear threat, aborted bombing\tRaid to rescue Embassy hostages; 8 troops die in copter-plane crash. Soviets warned not to get involved in revolution.
LIBYA\tl981\tNaval jets\tTwo Libyan jets shot down in maneuvers.
EL SALVADOR\tl981-92\tCommando operation, troops\tAdvisors, overflights aid anti-rebel war, soldiers briefly involved in hostage clash.
NICARAGUA\tl981-90\tCommando operation, naval\tCIA directs exile (Contra) invasions, plants harbor mines against revolution.
LEBANON\tl982-84\tNaval, bombing, troops\tMarines expel PLO and back Phalangists, Navy bombs and shells Muslim positions.
GRENADA\tl983-84\tTroops, bombing\tInvasion four years after revolution.
HONDURAS\tl983-89\tTroops\tManeuvers help build bases near borders.
IRAN\tl984\tJets\tTwo Iranian jets shot down over Persian Gulf.
LIBYA\tl986\tBombing, naval\tAir strikes to topple nationalist gov't.
BOLIVIA\t1986\tTroops\tArmy assists raids on cocaine region.
IRAN\tl987-88\tNaval, bombing\tUS intervenes on side of Iraq in war.
LIBYA\t1989\tNaval jets\tTwo Libyan jets shot down.
VIRGIN ISLANDS\t1989\tTroops\tSt. Croix Black unrest after storm.
PHILIPPINES\t1989\tJets\tAir cover provided for government against coup.
PANAMA\t1989 (-?)\tTroops, bombing\tNationalist government ousted by 27,000 soldiers, leaders arrested, 2000+ killed.
LIBERIA\t1990\tTroops\tForeigners evacuated during civil war.
SAUDI ARABIA\t1990-91\tTroops, jets\tIraq countered after invading Kuwait. 540,000 troops also stationed in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Israel.
IRAQ\t1990-91\tBombing, troops, naval\tBlockade of Iraqi and Jordanian ports, air strikes; 200,000+ killed in invasion of Iraq and Kuwait; large-scale destruction of Iraqi military.
KUWAIT\t1991\tNaval, bombing, troops\tKuwait royal family returned to throne.
IRAQ\t1991-2003\tBombing, naval\tNo-fly zone over Kurdish north, Shiite south; constant air strikes and naval-enforced economic sanctions
SOMALIA\t1992-94\tTroops, naval, bombing\tU.S.-led United Nations occupation during civil war; raids against one Mogadishu faction.
YUGOSLAVIA\t1992-94\tNaval\tNATO blockade of Serbia and Montenegro.
BOSNIA\t1993-?\tJets, bombing\tNo-fly zone patrolled in civil war; downed jets, bombed Serbs.
HAITI\t1994\tTroops, naval\tBlockade against military government; troops restore President Aristide to office three years after coup.
ZAIRE (CONGO)\t1996-97\tTroops\tMarines at Rwandan Hutu refugee camps, in area where Congo revolution begins.
LIBERIA\t1997\tTroops\tSoldiers under fire during evacuation of foreigners.
ALBANIA\t1997\tTroops\tSoldiers under fire during evacuation of foreigners.
SUDAN\t1998\tMissiles\tAttack on pharmaceutical plant alleged to be "terrorist" nerve gas plant.
AFGHANISTAN\t1998\tMissiles\tAttack on former CIA training camps used by Islamic fundamentalist groups alleged to have attacked embassies.
IRAQ\t1998\tBombing, Missiles\tFour days of intensive air strikes after weapons inspectors allege Iraqi obstructions.
YUGOSLAVIA\t1999\tBombing, Missiles\tHeavy NATO air strikes after Serbia declines to withdraw from Kosovo. NATO occupation of Kosovo.
YEMEN\t2000\tNaval\tUSS Cole, docked in Aden, bombed.
MACEDONIA\t2001\tTroops\tNATO forces deployed to move and disarm Albanian rebels.
UNITED STATES\t2001\tJets, naval\tReaction to hijacker attacks on New York, DC
AFGHANISTAN\t2001-?\tTroops, bombing, missiles\tMassive U.S. mobilization to overthrow Taliban, hunt Al Qaeda fighters, install Karzai regime, and battle Taliban insurgency. More than 30,000 U.S. troops and numerous private security contractors carry our occupation.
YEMEN\t2002\tMissiles\tPredator drone missile attack on Al Qaeda, including a US citizen.
PHILIPPINES\t2002-?\tTroops, naval\tTraining mission for Philippine military fighting Abu Sayyaf rebels evolves into combat missions in Sulu Archipelago, west of Mindanao.
COLOMBIA\t2003-?\tTroops\tUS special forces sent to rebel zone to back up Colombian military protecting oil pipeline.
IRAQ\t2003-?\tTroops, naval, bombing, missiles\tSaddam regime toppled in Baghdad. More than 250,000 U.S. personnel participate in invasion. US and UK forces occupy country and battle Sunni and Shi'ite insurgencies. More than 160,000 troops and numerous private contractors carry out occupation and build large permanent bases.
LIBERIA\t2003\tTroops\tBrief involvement in peacekeeping force as rebels drove out leader.
HAITI\t2004-05\tTroops, naval \tMarines land after right-wing rebels oust elected President Aristide, who was advised to leave by Washington.
PAKISTAN\t2005-?\tMissiles, bombing, covert operation\tCIA missile and air strikes and Special Forces raids on alleged Al Qaeda and Taliban refuge villages kill multiple civilians. Drone attacks also on Pakistani Mehsud network.
SOMALIA\t2006-?\tMissiles, naval, covert operation\tSpecial Forces advise Ethiopian invasion that topples Islamist government; AC-130 strikes and Cruise missile attacks against Islamist rebels; naval blockade against "pirates" and insurgents.
SYRIA\t2008\tTroops\tSpecial Forces in helicopter raid 5 miles from Iraq kill 8 Syrian civilians
YEMEN.........

Oh, and I forgot Tibet. The US sided with COMMUNIST China in the 1950s when Chinese troops invaded and occupied that nation, virtually wiping out a civilization that has been in existence some 15 times longer than the United States has been a nation..... just because they could.

The total civilian death toll from these military actions is incalculable, probably many millions.

And thats not including sanctions.

We're the 'nice guys' huh?

Give us a break.

Which could have and should have been handled in another fashion than presenting false evidence that Iraq had WMD at the time to support an unnecessary invasion.

There are so many reasons this action was wrong I could write a book ( although I'm sure someone already has ).

Uh yeah.

It had as much content as some of your posts.

SDW I do care. Deeply.



Oh good!

I don't think that Japan and the ROK are complaining. China is taking more diplomatic actions than they have in the past to resolve the issues with NK. Sometimes a boat in "China's Pond" will stir up some action.Obama uses gunboat diplomacy with North Korea -- and China

The US is winding down their military presence in ROK, by the end of 2012 there will only be a small presence. Most of ROK'd forces will be under their own command.

Upgrading the South Korea-U.S. alliance


Your list from Timeline of United States military operations seemed edited. Some of the reasons cited for some of the actions were to send small contingents of marines to protect US citizens and US Embassy personnel during times of civil strife, wars not involving the US and revolutions. These acts seem reasonable to protect your citizens.

Deployments during both WW's weren't listed. The US unofficially sanctioned sending troops to China to combat the Japanese (Flying Tigers). Also there was an unofficial American pilot contingent in the RAF during the battle of Britain.....not to mention lend lease and sending convoys of supplies to GB and Russia before Pearl Harbor (I know it violated the neutrality act).

Philippines, Corregidor and the Bataan death march shouldn't be forgotten.

You can't categorize all actions that the US has taken in its history as" we do it because we can mentality"....sometimes we have to because there no one else willing to step up.

Only wish we stepped up in Kosovo and Bosnia before the genocide and ethnic cleansing. Wonder where was NATO?


I'll let you google the sources, but I found that the US, prior to WWII considered Tibet part of China. China had claimed that Tibet was part of its territory since the signing of a treaty. However, the US was dealing with Tibet without China's knowledge during WWII. After the war and when the Communist came into power, the US supported Tibet, however as with the rest of the world, it stood by as the PRCA marched into Tibet....I wonder if the US did get involved and supported Tibet whether you would consider it yet another act of US doing what it wants to do because it can.

US and South Korea begin military exercises


North Korea warning over South Korea-US military drill

Let us hope that Obama does not get us into another war with North Korea. we are fighting 2 wars already.I do not trust China at all!This a serious problem now.

The transfer of power may be the best chance to end north korea. Never let a crisis go to waste.

China call for urgent Korea talks

It's been a long time since China has made the effort to engage in talks over NK. The last time the US dispatched the GW to Korea was after the sinking of the ROK naval ship, the CHEONAN. The Chinese threatened the US not to send the GW into the Yellow Sea, to the west of Korea. China Bristles at Prospect of U.S. Aircraft Carrier in the Yellow Sea which caused the US and SK naval forces to keep to the east of it.
China has been reluctant to rein in NK even over the nuclear development issue. North Korean Refugees in China has also been another issue between NK and China
For some takes on the situation from China's bloggers show different views.

If you are not familiar with the relationship between NK and SK, this is yet another incident. SK (ROK) does not want a war and will do what it takes, short of surrender to ensure that there is no break out in hostilities. As I mentioned in the post above, the ROK did not go to war over the sinking of the Cheonan. By military alliance agreements, the US has control over the forces in the ROK.

China feeling pressure over the US sending the GW into the Yellow Sea will probably put more pressure on NK to back off. If you have read some of the Chinese blog site in my previous post, it appears that the Chinese, at lease those who blog feel that NK is a problem.

The long term issue is dealing with the Kim Dynasty in NK and have them dismantle their nuclear weapons program. China needs to step up, they are the only "friend" that NK has.

The big question is the unknown. Kim Jong Un is unknown to the outside world, including China. We don't know if there will battle for power in NK after the "Glorious Leader KJI dies. Even if KJU has been designated as the heir apparent, he still has an older brothers to contend with. There may also be Generals within the Government that want to take control. Korea has not had a dynasty since the ending of the Joseon Dynasty; but of course the Kim Dynasty power is limited to NK.

McCain: Time to discuss `regime change' in NKorea

Nice try at an Ad-Hom.


This was sammi jo presenting U. S. military actions in a negative light and so you tried to defend them. One was the no fly zone in Iraq which as we all know you've harped on several times in the past as a justification for invasion. I just decided to couinter that old falsehood before you started up again.

Here's your justification :
The list that sammi jo was presenting was about this :


I just picked one out of the list because you tried to justify it and it's one we've been over a million times in the past. And as I've told you before everytime you do try that I'll counter it.

Anything else where you want to call my mental health into question?

Are aware that SDW has placed you on his ignore list?

Yes. The difference here and other recent wars is that N. Korea really has WMD that can reach us. The other difference is that they are allies with China which could pull them into any larger conflict.

Yes this is very serious and not something to take lightly. However I'm betting that China least of all wants a big war right now. They're feeling the pinch of global economic troubles just like everyone else. Their potential customers fighting isn't good for business. That's why I've said for years war isn't profitable any more. We have a global economy that makes everyone dependent on everyone else. War profit only works when you are independent entities. That's why these smaller wars are semi viable in the short run ( but still cost us more over all than we gain ) but a real war with a real threat that involves even larger allies just doesn't operate the same way.

The other thing is that N. Korea is a place we don't really know what they're likely to do. They might just be crazy enough to provoke a conflict. That's where China comes in to calm them down.

Yup! Why don't you ask him or trumpy what the've done when I put them on one in the past?

They've continued to reply to what I've said so I'm just doing the same thing. If they really hold to it they won't see my replies and it shouldn't bother them. Right? Well up to now we've tried several times ( and yes I notified them when I put them on one ) and it's never worked when I put them on one. That's why I laughed when trumpy threatened this.

By the time the aircraft are launched by SK with permission from the US Command, the artillery along the DMZ will have heavily damaged many parts of Seoul. A full scale war on the peninsula will devastate the SK economy, impact China's, Japan's and the US economy. No they do not want a war with NK.

China must step up and rein in KJI and make sure KJU understands that they will have to toe the line. McCain is wrong about NK's economy....NK doesn't have one except the military and its nuclear and missile development programs. China, and the other powers taking part in the nuclear disarmament talks need to set some long term goals and force NK to quit playing these games.

NK does it Palin style... do stupid shit to get attention at all cost.

China a "rising power" that's naive. China is "THE POWER". They finance our wars. Do you think they will finance a war with NK?

I wonder if the US, given the tension, should have stopped it's war games with SK, as China wanted. Strikes me that that could have helped ease things, instead of the tension being upped even higher.

They almost certainly should have. But when you're the biggest kid on the block you do whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want.

Actually, China is engaged more because of the carrier in "their pond". What is happening in Korea is nothing new. For years SK has discovered tunnels under the DMZ that are several truck widths that lead to strategic points in SK. North Korean attack on South Korea: 8 provocations of the past decade. Nk was also responsible for downing US intelligence air craft flying in international air space and capturing the US Pueblo, and no war or bombing NK targets.

What happens now is more in China's ball park. They need to rein in the NK régime and work on long term solutions to keep them in check. Once NK develops nuclear weapons and has the capability to launch first strike nuclear confrontation, China will have little control of the little tyrants.....KJI is a nut case and China should have controlled NK before it got out hand.

My understanding isn't that China's particularly concerned about the US carrier in it's 200 mile zone, but instead that it wants the US to turn back. China by doing this is also sending a message to NK that it's not alone, which isn't that surprising.

Clearly SK want's to appear more resolved in its dealing with NK. To me that seems dangerous and to be honest futile. No doubt someone's putting votes ahead of lives in SK or the US is trying to get something out of China, or both.

Perhaps China is playing the diplomacy game diplomacy needs ambiguity but SK has different views about the Complex Sino-NK relations limit Chinese diplomacy. This lead to The Cheonan Compromise: Chinese diplomacy in action which didn't really resolve the issue of SK-NK relations.

But NK has beenunresponsive to Chinese diplomacy in the past over misslie testing after the Cheonan incideent. Perhaps China can put pressure on NK by refusing to recognize the planned succession of KJI with KJU. China could also tie this with cutting military aid, controlling fuel and food exports to NK to only humanitarian uses.

I don't think they'd view a war in their backyard as good for business.

As a matter of fact from what I've heard they're concerned that if N. Korea fell they'd have to deal with the flood of refuges that would come into China.

If this sounds familiar, S.Korea to stage joint naval drill with US despite China protest, it's what happened after the sinking of the ROK ship, the Cheonan. The US and ROK naval forces stayed out of the Yellow Sea. There was speculation that the naval exercises were to occur on the west coast of Korea, thus causing tensions between the US and China over the incident. China did not pressure NK over the incident and here we are:

North Korean Refugees in China have been a problem for China for decades. China does not want to compound it by a total collapse of the NK régime. What then can do is pressure KJI that China will not recognize the succession to KJU. They can force changes within the NK government where KJU will have power, but it will be more at China's discretion.