A new Cold War between the U.S. and China is emerging, and North Korea has every reason to welcome it: The DPRK survived by playing superpowers against one another during the last Cold War, and is set to take advantage of this one just as much.

Even though the two countries aren’t particularly fond of each other, North Korea needs Chinese money and China needs North Korea to act as a buffer state between itself and the U.S.-allied South Korea.

North Korea is an economic basket case. The state can provide stable and comfortable lives for its hereditary ruling class,