Dear Killarney,

A nuclear bomb does not kill millions, only 10000's, unless of course it's a hydrogen bomb (there were somewhat more casualties in Hiroshima because the houses there were made of paper).

It is unlikely that anything less than that can take out Kim.

I could not open your second link, but even your "mild" first was bad enough. Of course we know more from those few who managed to escape. Pyongyang was designed to not look as bad, there live the elites who are closer to the leadership. Sacrificing part of that city and destroying the regime's command and control in order to save the rest from the most painful slavery, is worthwhile.

yuyutsu

I tried the second link and it worked. Even so, why assume that people living under a totalitarian regime 'live in slavery'? Their movements and freedoms are heavily restricted, but this does not translate to slavery. Compared to what? Billions of people throughout the Western world live in the slavery of debt peonage. Regimes that we support, e.g. Saudi Arabia, practise horrific human rights violations (are North Korean women allowed to drive?).

'A nuclear bomb does not kill millions, only 10000's'

Oh, that's all right then. Tens of thousands of people dead and many more injured, crippled and suffering the effects of nuclear radiation. Tens of thousands of families destroyed and the country's infrastructure destroyed. But no matter .... as long as Kim is deposed.

We went down that road with Iraq and Libya and now Syria. These were all functioning societies with a good standard of living.

You knock out the leader ... and then what? The country falls into anarchy, extremist terror takes over, the country becomes dangerous and uninhabitable and tens of thousands, indeed millions, of refugees flood the neighbouring countries (including Australia).

But, hey. We meant well. We always do.

Dear Killarney,

What is the problem with anarchy?
Anarchy simply means that nobody rules over another.
The danger, we are told, is that without a strong rule, bad and strong people will harass the good and weak.
However, in North Korea the bad and strong are already torturing the good and weak - what's there to lose?

Did you know that in those concentration camps they flatten women's chests with a hot iron? Sometimes as punishment, sometimes just for "fun".
In that hell, people are forced to perform hard labour for long hours each day with no break: that pregnant young woman had to continue pushing the heavy plough even as her baby was coming out!
In that hell, hungry people are beaten and starved when caught eating grass!
In that hell, after the long day's work, one is not allowed to eat or sleep until they pass the indoctrination-class's examination!
In that hell, those suspected of doubting the regime, or whose family-member is suspected, are tortured and hanged in awkward positions for days!
In that hell, children are forced to denounce and give in their own parents to authorities!
In that hell, crying out to God instead of the "Dear Leader" is punished by painful death.

Yes, tens of thousands of people dead and many more injured, crippled and suffering the effects of nuclear radiation, is a small price to pay for the release of those who suffer beyond belief in those camps.

Had they even all been dead, that would be most merciful to them.

Comparison ought to be made with Hitler, not Saddam.
Appeasement would only bring about similar enslavement of the people of surrounding countries. Too bad that America, though it could, failed to save the Chinese from Mao, the Cambodians from Pol Pot, and the Tibetans who desperately cried for help. This should not happen again.

Or can you only think of the repercussions for Australia if they become free to leave that cursed land? Yes, a few may reach Australia, but the majority, if allowed, will rejoin their families in the South.