Dems warn of any pre-emptive attack on North Korea

US Democrats are warning Republican President Donald Trump not to launch an attack against North Korea.

A group of 64 Democrats concerned with breakout of war with the nuclear power said in a letter Tuesday that any preemptive attack should be approved by US Congress ahead of being operationalized, The New York Times reported.

“Few decisions are more needing of debate than a move to launch attacks, or declare war, on a nuclear-armed state such as North Korea,” read the letter. “In such a volatile region, an inconsistent or unpredictable policy runs the risk of unimaginable conflict.”

They also asked the Trump administration to present evidence of a policy aimed at boosting prospects of negotiations with Pyongyang.

“We respectfully request more information about the steps your administration is taking to advance the prospects or direct negotiations that could lower the potential for catastrophic war and ultimately lead to the de-nuclearization of the peninsula.”

Tensions have been running high in the region over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, which Pyongyang sees as a deterrent against a potential invasion by its adversaries.

In the letter, the Democrats argued that all previous administrations have ruled out the possibility of military action against the country.

“[They] ultimately determined there was no military option that would not run the unacceptable risk of counterreaction from Pyongyang,” read the letter.

North Korea recently test-fired a new ballistic missile dubbed Pukguksong-2, drawing condemnation from the UN Security Council.

Last month, the US sent a naval strike group into the West Pacific near the Korean Peninsula to threaten Pyongyang.