Editor’s note: What If? is an NK News series that provides readers with thoughtful, informed speculation about North Korea’s future. Articles in this series draw on verified facts and rigorous analysis to explore hypothetical scenarios in the years and decades ahead.

“The People’s Republic of China calls for all parties to face squarely the crux of the current tensions on the peninsula, adhere to the direction of political settlement and resolve their concerns in a balanced way through meaningful dialogue.”

The statement by China’s foreign minister comes hours after North Korea launches a barrage of artillery, short-range rockets and suicide