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The Bill is to stop Trump launching a pre-emptive strike against North Korea
DEMOCRAT Senators have introduced a Bill to prevent Donald Trump from launching a nuclear first strike against North Korea without approval from Congress.
Senator Chris Murphy introduced the Bill on Tuesday, the co-sponsors include Bernie Sanders, Liz Warren and Cory Booker, along with Brian Schatz, Tammy Duckworth, Jeff Merkley and Tom Udall.
The senators cited the “escalation of irresponsible rhetoric” and “contradictory behavior from Trump and officials in his administration”.
Mr Murphy said: “We need to take the President seriously when he threatens war because the dam could break at any moment.
“Republican and Democratic senators are alarmed over the path we’re on, and it’s important we join forces to reclaim Congress’ constitutional role in matters of war and peace before there’s no turning back.”
He added: “This bill shouldn’t be controversial since it essentially restates current law, but Congress needs to make it crystal clear that the President does not have the authority to take preemptive military action in North Korea without congressional consent.”
Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have been building after a series of nuclear and missile tests by North Korea and heated exchanges between Trump and Kim Jong-un.
Kim Jong-un described the President as a “lunatic” and Trump has threatened North Korea with “fire and fury”.
If war broke out on the Korean Peninsula, there would be barely any time to evacuate millions of citizens and 30,000 US troops.
Despite this, Donald Trump has warned military solutions remain on the table.
Combat veteran Duckworth of Illinois said: “A preemptive strike against North Korea could be catastrophic for the nearly 80,000 American service members who are stationed in the region and for the tens of millions of innocent human beings who live on the Korean Peninsula.
“We need our nation’s commander in chief to show a steady hand and sound judgment, not to engage in irresponsible and dangerous verbal attacks that only serve to escalate an already dangerous situation and put American lives at risk.”
Kim Jong-un visits cosmetics factory alongside his wife Ri Sol-ju
Sun, October 29, 2017
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a recently renovated cosmetics factory in Pyongyang
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory, as his wife Ri Sol-Ju looks on
All war game scenarios show the US winning any military conflict, but the victory could cost hundreds of thousands of deaths, mostly in South Korea which is in range of North Korea’s missile capabilities.
The White House defended Trump’s approach to the North Korean crisis, insisting Trump is not closing the door to diplomacy but rejecting the possibility of direct talks with North Korea.
An administration official said: “North Korea has shown zero inclination to engage in substantive talks with anyone in the world on the subject.”
Two senior administration officials said the Trump administration is still increasing pressure on the North Korean regime through diplomacy.
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Senator Murphy said the President needs to be taken seriously
This is despite Trump’s tweet earlier this month that his secretary of state was “wasting his time trying to negotiate” with North Korea.
A senior administration official said: “The President did not tweet that diplomacy was a waste of time. He tweeted that direct talks were a waste of time.
“The diplomatic campaign goes on. But the administration’s position — the President’s clear position — is that direct talks with North Korea are unwise at this time.”
Defence Secretary James Mattis said he prefers a diplomatic resolution but said on Saturday that Washington “does not accept a nuclear North Korea”.
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If war broke out there would be hardly any time to evacuate civilians
He added: “Any use of nuclear weapons by the North will be met with a massive military response, effective and overwhelming.”
Republicans control majorities in both the Senate and House and there is no indication that congressional leader would allow a vote.
Similar measures introduced this year have also failed to progress.
Congress passed a bill in July barring the President from lifting sanctions on Russia without lawmakers’ approval.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday held a hearing on a new authorisation for the use of military force.
After the hearing, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said Trump does not have the authority to use force against North Korea without an imminent threat.
But, they failed to define what the threat would be.