The (Ex) Washington Realist

I found this piece on China's growing irritation with North Korea to be of interest. How Beijing may reorder its strategic priorities based on how Pyongyang's actions affect its key interests is fascinating. Stability on the Korean peninsula/keeping a northern buffer state versus not wanting any hint of Japanese nuclearization and also a greater U.S. seaborne presence (via the PSI)? No North Korean program, and the rationale for the other two responses also evaporates.