Take an extra step in Congress to prevent war with N. Korea

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 2, 2018

The Herald has reported on the amazing development of a warm meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea. This is a wonderful thing, providing momentum toward a possible constructive meeting between President Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. But the very fact that this was such a “surprising development after a year of threats and missile launches,” as reports said, should remind us that the situation could turn bad again just as quickly.

We’ve been through that before with North Korea. Given President Trump’s habits of dire threats and impulsive actions, it is up to Congress to impose some caution. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell can make a real contribution to caution by cosponsoring the Preventing Preemptive War in North Korea Act, Senate Bill 2047. Without a measure such as this requiring Congressional approval, President Trump can act solely on his own to launch a nuclear attack on North Korea.

Jim Eachus

Lynnwood