> North Korea is a liability that they may well decide that they cannot afford.
Hard to tell. On the other hand, their influence over North Korea is an asset they can use in negotiations with other superpowers. Plus, they start to look good in comparison.
I've not gotten the impression that North Korea really likes China, just that they tolerate them (because they are the only ones willing to deal with them). Maybe things will change a bit now, but I was always under the impression that N.K. could have easily lobbed a nuke at China 'just because.' That kind of uncertainty is a liability.
Hard to tell. On the other hand, their influence over North Korea is an asset they can use in negotiations with other superpowers. Plus, they start to look good in comparison.