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US Congress may ban 'unilateral' N. Korea strike

January 23, 2018

The U.S. Congress has proposed a bill to prohibit the government from conducting any preemptive strikes against North Korea.

A group of 65 lawmakers — led by U.S. Representative for California, Ro Khanna — submitted the bill named "No Unconstitutional Strike Against North Korea Act," last week, according to Congress.

The bill is under review from military committees of Congress.

However, the bill also comes with a clause under which the country can launch a preemptive strike against North Korea when the attack is aimed at rescuing U.S. citizens or stopping Pyongyang from attacking the world's largest economy and its allies.

Once U.S. President Donald Trump passes the bill, he cannot push ahead with any military actions against the reclusive regime before winning approval from Congress.

The bill will also prevent U.S. Department of Defense and relevant organizations from executing related military budgets.

This comes about three months after John Conyers, a former Representative for Michigan, proposed the bill in October last year. But with him stepping down from the post over alleged sexual harassment, the bill had to be proposed again.

Meanwhile, CIA Director Mike Pompeo warned of North Korea's growing nuclear threat.

In a recent media interview, he said North Korea is "a few months away" from having the capability to strike a U.S. city with a nuclear warhead.

He also called for policymakers to understand the growing military threat from North Korea, as its nuclear weapons project is on track to become more powerful and sophisticated.

He did not give details about the development stage of the regime's nuclear program, but remained confident that Pyongyang will continue to put a priority on developing more threatening nuclear weapons.

The CIA chief also said he cannot say for sure when the North will conduct another nuclear test.

The remarks come at a time when North Korea is showing signs of a reconciliatory posture to South Korea, with both sides agreeing to form a joint ice hockey team at the upcoming PyeongChang Olympics.

Starting this year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un refrained from stepping up his provocative rhetoric against his South Korean counterpart.

On Sunday, a group of North Korean delegates also visited Seoul to pre-inspect the performance venues for the upcoming sporting event.

"The CIA chief's remarks are partly aimed at diverting international attention from the ongoing thaw in the inter-Korean relationship, and ensuring an eye is kept on the North Korean regime during the upcoming Olympics," a government official said, on condition of anonymity.