It is an interesting game being played.
Previous administrations attempted to deal with NK using weak and porous sanctions which have failed to impede the NK nuclear ambitions.
Trump is trying a different tactic of responding to their threats of aggression with threats of aggression. This has caused increased regional instability.
Like his tactics or not, the result is that China is now being forced to engage as NK is increasingly being seen as a liability to their strategic goals of remaining the economic and military powerhouse in SE Asia and growing their global presence.
The risk of western powers threatening the integrity of China with a view to regime change is long gone - Chinese nuclear weapon development and important economic ties with the west have validated this. As such, a NK communist buffer state against the West is no longer important to them.
China has matured and is entering a new phase of global power projection. They have launched a blue water capacity (aircraft carrier), established resupply bases in Africa, and participated in joint training operations with the Russians in the Baltic Sea.
So what does China want:
1. Remain the dominant military and economic power in SE Asia
2. Use this power to ultimately resolve the Taiwan issue
3. Use this power to address numerous other regional border disputes with a view to securing regional natural resources.
4. Continued development of global power projection/engagement to ensure stability of global natural resources, growth, and pursuit of Pax-Sino.
In short...
Previous attempts to rein in NK have failed
NK is becoming a liability to China.
China does not want an increased western presence in SE Asia
Trump's tactics are forcing China to deal with NK.
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