Washington Post reporter and former bureau chief, John Pomfret, reflected on his trip through North Korea, organized by a Chinese tour company, and revealed insights into Chinese attitudes toward North Korea.

Woven through the pre-approved commentary and speeches from his tour guides, Pomfret notes sensing Chinese anxiety around North Korea’s collapse – which would incite both a refugee crisis and a pro-American border country following possible unification.

But among my Chinese friends and even among some officials, I get a sense of an emerging realization. North Korea is China’s problem, too. Communist Party insiders no longer view it as a convenient way to sap U.S. strength. As one of my companions observed, “No. 3 Fatty Kim’s missiles can be pointed in any direction. Even at us.”

Read his full account here: