So hypothesizes Anne Applebaum. Read the whole thing, but:

Perhaps the North Koreans have stepped up their war rhetoric, and their war preparations, because China wants them to do so.

• China is the one country that actually has influence over North Korea.
• China has ambitions to replace the United States as the dominant power in East Asia.
• China knows the rest of Asia is watching this test of the Obama administration.

North Korea is a puppet state, and the Chinese are the puppeteers. They could end this farce tomorrow. If they haven’t done so yet, there must be a reason.

Confucius, Œc. Vol.

Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.