The paper attempts to read the North Korea’s prospect as a variable in the U.S.-China relations in case the country collapses. To date, the collapse of North Korea is perceived by Beijing as extremely unlikely, and thus, a foregone conclusion, while Washington, with firm conviction of the collapse, is gearing up to all possible scenarios and signals as evidenced in official statements, documents, and opinions. If Washington prevails, the consequences are that the U.S., in conjunction with South Korea and even Japan, is scheduled to make an immediate intervention in hopes to restore order and law. American endeavors are likely to draw China’s responses and eventually countermeasures. In the absence of pre-crisis discussions and arrangements between the two, the outcomes of actions and reactions by respective party will escalate the crisis to the level whereby military conflict will be inevitable. Hence, the paper seeks ways to prevent conflicts arising between the U.S. and China over North Korea’s collapse by making policy suggestions based on the finding and readings from the work of those who are supposedly to have some input into or influence over foreign policy decision making process in China.