The long-term costs of a worsening security confrontation with the US would exceed the short-term tactical benefits to be derived from continuing to support the North as a buffer state, especially given China’s deepening relationship with South Korea. Though Park’s visit to Beijing has not closed the gap between the Chinese and South Korean approaches to the North Korean nuclear issue, it does seem to have prepared the ground for closer coordination between the two governments.
如此结局不符合中国的利益。对美安全冲突恶化的长期成本将压倒继续支持朝鲜作为缓冲国所获得的战术好处，特别是在中国欲韩国关系深化的条件下。尽管朴槿惠的北京之行并没有完全弥合中国和韩国关于朝鲜核问题的分歧，但的确为两国政府跟紧密的合作做了铺垫。