Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Government shall, both unilaterally and alongside the international community, consider all options for exerting maximum pressure on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), in order to denuclearize the DPRK, protect the lives of United States citizens and allies, and prevent further proliferation of nuclear weapons.

expresses that the United States of America should not tolerate the DPRK’s possession of nuclear weapons or continued development of nuclear weapon and ballistic missile capabilities;

believes the United States and the international community, including the United Nations Security Council and United States regional allies, should develop and immediately implement the strictest sanctions regime and continue to exhaust every reasonable diplomatic option necessary to achieve the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of the DPRK’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs;

expresses that the United States Government should plan for every military contingency necessary to defend the American people and ensure regional and global security;

acknowledges that the ROK and Japan, both treaty allies of the United States, would likely face immediate retaliation by the DPRK in response to any potential military action by the United States and therefore that any military action by the United States should be coordinated with the Governments of the ROK and Japan;

asserts that Congress is unified in its condemnation of the DPRK’s dangerous pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capability and should be appropriately consulted prior to any use of military force; and

recognizes that Congress possesses the authority under Article I of the Constitution of the United States to declare war, and affirms that the authorization of Congress is needed prior to any pre-emptive or preventative ground war on the Korean Peninsula initiated by United States forces.