The 18 senators, led by Martin Heinrich, stressed the risk of retaliation if the White House continued to pursue a strike. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Democratic senators say Trump lacks authority for military strike against North Korea

Nearly 20 Democratic senators, led by Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, warned President Donald Trump in a letter Monday that he lacks “congressional” authority to launch a preemptive military strike against North Korea.

“Like many, we are deeply concerned about the potential consequences of a preemptive military strike on North Korea and the risks of miscalculation and retaliation,” the senators said. “Moreover, without congressional authorization, a preventative or preemptive U.S. military strike would lack either a Constitutional basis or legal authority.”


The 18 senators stressed the risk of retaliation if the White House continues to pursue a strike. “Ultimately, it is an enormous gamble to believe that a particular type of limited, preemptive strike will not be met with an escalatory response from Kim Jong Un and neither the United States nor our allies should take that step lightly.”

The senators also expressed concern over the vacancy in the position of U.S. ambassador to South Korea, noting the importance of diplomatic leadership in that role. They questioned why Victor Cha had been dropped from consideration, despite his qualifications for the position.

“We write to express our serious concerns regarding the continued absence of a U.S. Ambassador to South Korea and the reported removal from consideration of a highly qualified candidate, Dr. Victor Cha, for that position,” they said in the letter. “We ask that you provide clear reasoning and justification for his removal from consideration.”

Cha served as director for Asian affairs on the National Security Council during President George W. Bush’s administration.

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The letter comes after a Jan. 30 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, at which various experts argued against the White House’s reported consideration of a “bloody nose” strategy against North Korea . Cha reportedly disapproved of the idea.

For that reason, the senators alleged that the Trump administration removed Cha from consideration. “According to some media reports, the real reason for Dr. Cha’s removal was his disagreement with a ‘bloody nose’ strategy under consideration by the White House,” they wrote.

The letter called a potential preemptive strike irresponsible and urged the president to fill the ambassador position as soon as possible.

“While we must always be ready to respond with decisive action to a North Korean provocation, it would be extremely irresponsible to instigate military conflict prior to exhausting every diplomatic option,” they wrote.

