Advertisement NH congressional delegation calls Trump ‘fire and fury’ threat ‘chilling,’ ‘dangerous,’ 'bellicose' Democratic members of Congress react to president’s provocative remarks about North Korean aggression Share Shares Copy Link Copy

New Hampshire’s all-Democratic congressional delegation used terms such as “bellicose,” “chilling,” "dangerous” and "overly aggressive" to describe President Donald Trump‘s threat Tuesday to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea if its provocative behavior continues.U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and U.S. Reps. Carol Shea-Porter said the president should chose his words carefully and act strategically in dealing with the increasingly volatile situation. U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster said his remark may undermine efforts to deescalate tensions in the region.Trump, during a press briefing at his Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey, responded to a question about North Korea’s nuclear capabilities following reports that the rogue nation has succeeded in producing a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit onto an intercontinental ballistic missile. He also spoke about the opioid crisis at the briefing, which can be viewed here.“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” Trump said. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”Then, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Trump said, “He has been very threatening beyond a normal statement. And as I said, they will be met with fire, fury, and, frankly, power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.”The president's comments also followed a threat by Kim to unleash “physical action” against the United States and other members of the United Nations after the UN Security Council unanimously passed a measure imposing tough sanctions against North Korea.“Donald Trump’s response is chilling,” Shea-Porter wrote in a Facebook post. “This is a dangerous moment that requires skill, experience and knowledge to deal with North Korea’s threats and aggression. He needs to seek out people with those skills. Now.”Hassan said she remains “deeply concerned about North Korea’s destabilizing actions and nuclear program” and supports “steps to check their aggression.”But she called it “an extremely volatile situation" that warrants “steady and strategic leadership from the White House, not dangerous rhetoric that could further inflame this situation.”“The President's bellicose reaction does not make our country safer,” said Shaheen. "The United States must be measured and strategic in dealing with the threat from North Korea.“On all matters of national security, it's vitally important that the President choose his words carefully," she said.Shaheen and Hassan also called for continued cooperation with other nations, including China, to ensure the security council-approved sanctions are enforced.Kuster was more measured in her reaction to Trump's comments, saying "I’m concerned that overly aggressive language may only serve to undermine efforts to deescalate tensions on the Korean peninsula.”She called the intelligence reports indicating that North Korea has been able to miniaturize a nuclear warhead "alarming.""I have confidence in our intelligence community and military leadership and am hopeful that a peaceful resolution can be achieved," Kuster said.