Democrats in US Congress Urge Tillerson to Moderate Trump Rhetoric on N. Korea

Sixty-four Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress are seeking help from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to tone down President Donald Trump’s threats of military action against North Korea, according to a copy of a letter released on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Congressman John Conyers, ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee was the first to sign the letter to Tillerson.

"We respectfully but firmly urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that President Trump and other administration officials understand the importance of speaking and acting with the utmost caution and restraint on this delicate issue," the letter said.

The letter claimed that a US military strike threatens to unleash retaliation that could place 30,000 American service members and 100,000 American residents of South Korea in jeopardy and result in the death of one third of the nation’s population of 51 million.

US intelligence reports claiming that North Korea has miniaturized a nuclear bomb to fit on top of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States have prompted Trump to threaten massive retaliation if Pyongyang attacks.

North Korea responded by claiming it is preparing a plan to fire missiles at the US territory of Guam in the western Pacific.