A few things here. Each player has a different agenda, and plays for differing stakes.
USA: Best case scenario for the USA, is for North Korea to remain an independent nation, transition into a democracy, embrace western values, disarm nukes, and open up it's market.
But, Democrat administration, nation tired of war, heavy debts. Obama administration would like to avoid any war action without "Just Cause". So long as no shots are fired, the USA will not move, no matter what the North says or does.
Japan: Same as the USA, with the addition of not adopting an anti-Japan education like South Korea, and China. Japan would want North Korea to become like Taiwan, a west+Japan friendly democracy with a market for Japanese goods. They have a administration that leans just right of center, heavy debts, bad economy. But they are tired of being bullied, and want to build an Army as well as manufacture and export weapons, but the constitution prevents them from taking any action. If N.Korea does instigate battle, they will use the opportunity to justify building a military against China's wishes. They also would gain respect globally by becoming a war victor on the allied side, putting behind at last, their history as a war loser.
S.Korea: Best case, the North collapses, the nations are unified, allowing Korea to gain the population and land mass to build an economy that rivals Japan. Conservative-Right administration, slowing economy. Still wants to get ahead of Japan. If a shot is fired, they will attempt to bring the US into it, and hit back. After the war, they will want to annex North Korea, but in reality it's the worst thing that could happen to them because of China's agenda.
China: Best case scenario, North Korea attacks US bases in S.Korea and Japan, then surrenders to China, ending the war without China actually incurring losses.
For China, if the North could attack the US then surrender to China preventing a US occupation, they could rebuild the nation under their influence, encourage a merge with South Korea, and use the northerner vote to 'democratically' convert South+North Korea into a China friendly nation. China would get the credit, the clout, and greater influence. If North Korea could take out US, Japanese, and S.Korean assets in the region, it would be an added bonus.
Russia: Best case scenario, North Korea shuts up and goes back to being North Korea, without added influence from the US, China, or South Korea.
North Korea: Best case scenario, they take South Korea, be accepted as a Nuclear armed nation, and force recognition on the global level as a nuclear power. If that fails, they would surrender to China, to avoid having to surrender to the USA.
The precedent here is WWII-Pacific War. Japan had political issues with China over Manchuria. They fought China, but ran out of resources. To keep the war going, they brought up "Asia for Asians" as justification for liberating European colonies, to tap into resources there. When they could not win, they surrendered to the USA and avoided surrendering to China. They were able to cut defense costs and rebuild their nation by maintaining a treaty with the USA. Despite wreaking havoc across China, they ended up without Chinese influence, modernized, got democracy. Losing was a win for Japan, thanks to the cold war. North Korea may shrewdly be looking to replicate this. If they can fight a war, then surrender to China? They can get rid of the Kims, modernize, get aid, and avoid surrendering to the USA or South Korea. China would have to make surrender good for North Korea, to avoid them surrendering to the USA.
If a war happens, it will be short. The North will invade the South with their Army. China will support the North from the shadows. If the USA-S.Korea alliance gets the upper hand, China will declare war on North Korea, as a pretext for their later surrender. The North will declare unilateral surrender to China, ending the justification for US and S.Korean presence. If it gets to that point, Russia will endorse China's occupation of N.Korea. The UN will be powerless to prevent China, as China+Russia will veto any resolutions. USA will be faced with a decision, either to retreat to S.Korea, or face off with China. Under the Obama administration it is more likely the USA will retreat. The USA will lose influence in the region, China will gain.
USA: Best case scenario for the USA, is for North Korea to remain an independent nation, transition into a democracy, embrace western values, disarm nukes, and open up it's market.
But, Democrat administration, nation tired of war, heavy debts. Obama administration would like to avoid any war action without "Just Cause". So long as no shots are fired, the USA will not move, no matter what the North says or does.
Japan: Same as the USA, with the addition of not adopting an anti-Japan education like South Korea, and China. Japan would want North Korea to become like Taiwan, a west+Japan friendly democracy with a market for Japanese goods. They have a administration that leans just right of center, heavy debts, bad economy. But they are tired of being bullied, and want to build an Army as well as manufacture and export weapons, but the constitution prevents them from taking any action. If N.Korea does instigate battle, they will use the opportunity to justify building a military against China's wishes. They also would gain respect globally by becoming a war victor on the allied side, putting behind at last, their history as a war loser.
S.Korea: Best case, the North collapses, the nations are unified, allowing Korea to gain the population and land mass to build an economy that rivals Japan. Conservative-Right administration, slowing economy. Still wants to get ahead of Japan. If a shot is fired, they will attempt to bring the US into it, and hit back. After the war, they will want to annex North Korea, but in reality it's the worst thing that could happen to them because of China's agenda.
China: Best case scenario, North Korea attacks US bases in S.Korea and Japan, then surrenders to China, ending the war without China actually incurring losses.
For China, if the North could attack the US then surrender to China preventing a US occupation, they could rebuild the nation under their influence, encourage a merge with South Korea, and use the northerner vote to 'democratically' convert South+North Korea into a China friendly nation. China would get the credit, the clout, and greater influence. If North Korea could take out US, Japanese, and S.Korean assets in the region, it would be an added bonus.
Russia: Best case scenario, North Korea shuts up and goes back to being North Korea, without added influence from the US, China, or South Korea.
North Korea: Best case scenario, they take South Korea, be accepted as a Nuclear armed nation, and force recognition on the global level as a nuclear power. If that fails, they would surrender to China, to avoid having to surrender to the USA.
The precedent here is WWII-Pacific War. Japan had political issues with China over Manchuria. They fought China, but ran out of resources. To keep the war going, they brought up "Asia for Asians" as justification for liberating European colonies, to tap into resources there. When they could not win, they surrendered to the USA and avoided surrendering to China. They were able to cut defense costs and rebuild their nation by maintaining a treaty with the USA. Despite wreaking havoc across China, they ended up without Chinese influence, modernized, got democracy. Losing was a win for Japan, thanks to the cold war. North Korea may shrewdly be looking to replicate this. If they can fight a war, then surrender to China? They can get rid of the Kims, modernize, get aid, and avoid surrendering to the USA or South Korea. China would have to make surrender good for North Korea, to avoid them surrendering to the USA.
If a war happens, it will be short. The North will invade the South with their Army. China will support the North from the shadows. If the USA-S.Korea alliance gets the upper hand, China will declare war on North Korea, as a pretext for their later surrender. The North will declare unilateral surrender to China, ending the justification for US and S.Korean presence. If it gets to that point, Russia will endorse China's occupation of N.Korea. The UN will be powerless to prevent China, as China+Russia will veto any resolutions. USA will be faced with a decision, either to retreat to S.Korea, or face off with China. Under the Obama administration it is more likely the USA will retreat. The USA will lose influence in the region, China will gain.