Comment: Google: "James Woolsey North Korean EMP attack could kill 9 out 10 Americans."

Apart from a devastating EMP attack noted by the former CIA Director, Kim could easily kill tens of millions with biological weapons, chemical weapons (esp. against SK), smuggled nukes into Allied ports.

What's changed recently is that on 4 July NK successfully tested an ICBM capable of hitting most of the mainland US.  According to many sources such as the WAPO and the DIA NK has successfully miniaturized a warhead to fit on the ICBM;  a few days ago they successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.

They can also launch SCUDs with nuclear warheads from freighters and a year ago NK successfully tested a submarine launched missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

And the NKs have exchanged weapons and technology with the countries such as Iran noted in the previous post.

Your fears about balkanization are justified but available information suggests that NK could murder at least 300 million right now.