China does have a third option, and there are reports coming out of the country that it is now actively exploring them once again. But it won't be fast. It will require a huge investment in infrastructure in a neighbouring country that is highly erratic, politically, and underdeveloped and it will take some time to build the infrastructure- so it's not a quick fix.

But just a minute- China has had a lot of experience lately- particularly through companies like CCCC- with investing in unpredictable jurasdictions with suspect leaders. Practice makes perfect. You may have guessed it by now- here is an informed article from June 2017.

https://qz.com/1004330/north-korea-is-sitting-on-trillions-of-dollars-on-untapped-wealth-and-its-neighbors-want-a-piece-of-it/

This is an extremely live topic in China at the moment- but with an odd country like this one- who knows?