The NK nukes are NK developed/ manufactured, means there is NO chinese PALS in them.
PALS require deep integration of the bomb parts with the enabling mechanism, that is not somethign that can be back dooring.
Actualy, the whole NK nuke project main target is to keep the independence fo the NK political class from China as well.
Simple game theroy ,scenarios:
1. NK attack south: US attack back , Chinese attack from norht, KIM DEAD ( or in prison)
2. South/US attack North Korea : Chinese attack from north, KIM DEAD ( or in prison)
3. US scared to start war, NK passive :KIM ALIVE and happy with his resorts.
So, the NK won't start war, means the main purpose of the NK military is the retaliation against the south in the event of agression. But due to the Chinese intervention the chance of this is not acceptable for Kim.
Now, what happens is they started to make retaliation capability against the US mainland, it makes the best part of the NK military redundant. They saving big pile of money now. They invest that money into the real economy.
This is scary for US/SK.
The NK now reaching the no return point of independence from US and China( from military standpoint).
China hasn't got too much room to play, but I think on a general level a nuk NK better for them than a economically collapsed one.
There is a big leap of faith to say NK developed nukes to be politically independent of China. There are many intermediary steps or 'cards' that China can play to prevent total independent of NK (from military standpoint).
Simpler game theory to prevent NK military independence from China:
- A) China offers to extend Chinese nuclear umbrella over NK, making independent NK deterrent redundant. (US extends nuke umbrella over SK/Japan)
- B) China stations Chinese troops/bases on NK soil, making independent nuke deterrent unnecessary. (US stations US troops/bases in SK)
- C) China stations Chinese tactical nukes on NK soil, making independent nuke deterrent unnecessary. (US used to station tactical nukes in SK soil)
- D) China enters into NATO nuclear weapons sharing agreement with Chinese characteristics, Chinese PALS system (US shares it's nukes with NATO allies with US PALS system)
Basically, EVERYTHING that US has done to deter SK from getting independent nuke deterrent, the Chinese *could* have done with NK.
- However, I find that given China's limited nuclear arsenal size, the option A) is off the table. China doesn't have enough nukes to provide a nuclear umbrella over NK.
- Given NK's Juche ideology which emphasizes self-sufficiency and independence, the option B) is off the table. NK propaganda against SK is that it's occupied by American boots/soldiers, so allowing Chinese boots to return is counterproductive.
- Given China's 'no-first use' doctrine, the option C) is off the table. The Chinese cannot launch tactical nukes on NK soil because 'no-first use' doctrine.
However, what we may see is option D) a defacto with Chinese characteristics, with Chinese PALS system on NK nukes, giving China plausible deniability that "NK was independently inspired to develop nukes" but it's actually under Chinese authorization after all via the AQ Khan network via Pakistan.
The logic is, if NK was going to get nukes anyways, China might as well activate the AQ Khan network so that at the very least, Chinese PALS system canbe incorporate to control nuke usage, just as US PALS system ultimately controls nuke usage by NATO member states like Italy, Belgium, Turkey, Netherlands etc...
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