Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on Developments in North Korea

Statement

Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) issued the following statement regarding reports that North Korea has successfully produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery:

"It is now more important than ever that the United States and our allies maintain a strong and united front in our response to North Korea. The sanctions issued by the U.N. Security Council on Saturday are a good first step and demonstrate that further action by Kim Jong-un's regime will be met with a concerted response.

"President Trump's warning that North Korean threats will be answered by "fire and fury' is as irresponsible as it is alarming. Instead of threats and over-the-top rhetoric, we must aggressively pursue a smart long-term, comprehensive strategy to address the growing threats posed by the regime. Among the steps that we should immediately consider are further economic sanctions aimed at those countries that continue to trade with North Korea. This critical moment demands sound judgement, not the usual bluster from the Trump Administration.

"Relatedly, it's outrageous that President Trump has barely lifted a finger to nominate an Ambassador to South Korea or fill positions in the State Department that are charged with diplomacy and the defense of our nation. Trump must show that he takes the mounting crisis in North Korea seriously, and move rapidly to fill these critical national security positions with qualified, cool-headed leaders who will treat this situation with the gravity it warrants."

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