Dear Mr. President:

We are writing out of grave concern for the course of events on the Korean Peninsula. The current approach taken by the United States is failing to stop North Korea from developing its nuclear and missile technology. The United States must initiate and lead an aggressive, urgent diplomatic effort to freeze North Korean nuclear and missile development and reduce regional tensions.

Like you, many of us have been to Seoul. Its millions of residents live within artillery range of North Korea. Military action by the United States and its allies prompting an immediate, retaliatory artillery barrage on Seoul would result in hundreds of thousands of casualties. At risk are the lives of more than 150,000 Americans living in Korea. The United States would be drawn into a preventable war.

Military options must not be the preferred course of action.

The United States and its allies must maintain a robust military posture as a deterrent to North Korea, yet the urgent need for success demands we exhaust every possible diplomatic solution.

Retired General and Flag Officers:

General Johnnie Wilson, USA (Retired)

Vice Admiral Donald Arthur, USN (Retired)

Lieutenant General Robert Gard, USA (Retired)

Lieutenant General Walter Gaskin, USMC (Retired)

Vice Admiral Kevin P. Green, USN (Retired)

Lieutenant General Arlen D. Jameson, USAF (Retired)

Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, USA (Retired)

Lieutenant General John W. Morgan III, USA (Retired)

Lieutenant General Willie Williams, USMC (Retired)

Major General Wallace C. Arnold, USA (Retired)

Major General Juan G. Ayala, USMC (Retired)

Major General Donna Barbisch, USA (Retired)

Major General David P. Burford, USA (Retired)

Major General M. P. Caulfield, USMC (Retired)

Rear Admiral Chris Cole, USN (Retired)

Major General Peter Cooke, USA (Retired)

Major General J. Gary Cooper, USMC (Retired)

Major General Mari K Eder, USA (Retired)

Rear Admiral F. Stephen Glass, JAGC, USN (Retired)

Major General Richard S. Haddad, USAF (Retired)

Major General Irv Halter, USAF (Retired)

Major General Sanford E. Holman, USA (Retired)

Rear Admiral John Hutson, JAGC, USN (Retired)

Major General Dennis Laich, USA (Retired)

Major General Steven J. Lepper, USAF (Retired)

Major General Randy Manner, USA (Retired)

Rear Admiral David Oliver, USN (Retired)

Major General John Phillips, USAF (Retired)

Major General Gale Pollock, CRNA, FACHE, FAAN, USA (Retired)

Rear Admiral Joe Sestak, USN (Retired)

Major General Antonio Taguba, USA (Retired)

Major General Keith Thurgood, USA (Retired)

Major General Margaret C. Wilmoth, PhD, MSS, RN, FAAN, USA (Retired)

Rear Admiral Dick Young, USN (Retired)

Brigadier General Clara Adams-Ender, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Ricardo Aponte, USAF (Retired)

Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett, USN (Retired)

Brigadier General Donald C. Bolduc, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General David Brahms, USMC (Retired)

Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Retired)

Rear Admiral Jay DeLoach, USN (Retired)

Brigadier General John Douglass, USAF (Retired)

Brigadier General Robert J. Felderman, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Robert A. Glacel, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Judy M. Griego, NMANG (Retired)

Rear Admiral Charles Harr, MD, USN (Retired)

Brigadier General Don Harvel, USAF (Retired)

Brigadier General David R. Irvine, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General John H. Johns, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Ronald S. Mangum, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Carlos E. Martinez, USAF (Retired)

Brigadier General Dave McGinnis, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Ronald F. Rokosz, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General John M. Schuster USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Earl Simms, USA (Retired)

Rear Admiral Michael Smith, USN (Retired)

Brigadier General Francis X. Taylor, USAF (Retired)

Brigadier General Marianne Watson, USA (Retired)