On Monday, a dozen Democratic senators sent a letter to President Trump about escalating tensions with North Korea. The lawmakers expressed their anxiety over reports that the White House is considering a preemptive military strike against North Korea, and additionally questioned the administration's decision not to nominate Dr. Victor Cha as the ambassador to South Korea because of his reported opposition to the aggressive position.
"According to some media reports, the real reason for Dr. Cha's removal [from consideration] was his disagreement with a 'bloody nose' [military strike] under consideration from the White House," the letter reads. The senators claim that it is an "enormous gamble" to believe any first strike by the U.S. would not provoke "an escalatory response from Kim Jong Un," adding that "a preventive or preemptive U.S. military strike would lack either a constitutional basis or legal authority."
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