Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio was in Jacksonville on Wednesday and strongly defended President Donald Trump's handling of the North Korean crisis.
“I don't think the rhetoric is the problem,” Rubio said. “I think the problem is a lunatic in North Korea with nuclear weapons."
The rhetoric was ratcheted up after Trump's warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday:
"North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen."
The latest confrontation with North Korea intensified after reports that North Korea developed the ability to put a small nuclear warhead on top of a missile.
Rubio, a member of the foreign relations committee, said the United States has limited options.
“Ultimately, the country will reach a point ... whether or not we want to live in a world where North Korea possess not just nuclear weapons, but the ability to strike the United States," he said.
#Rubio: I don't think the #PresidentTrump rhetoric is the problem. I think the problem is a lunatic in #NorthKorea with nuclear weapons"
— Ben Becker (@BenBeckerANjax) August 9, 2017
Rubio also had a warning for North Korea.
“The day North Korea decides to attack the United States or any neighbor would be the last day of the North Korean regime and the last day of Kim Jong Un’s life," he said. "And I think he knows that."
#Rubio "day #NorthKorea attacks the #us or any neighbor would be last day of regime, last day of #KimJongUn life and I think he knows that"
— Ben Becker (@BenBeckerANjax) August 9, 2017
Sen. Bill Nelson sent a statement to Action News Jax:
"North Korea poses a serious threat to the U.S. and all options should be on the table to protect the American people. We either do nothing, go to war or negotiate a stand down, and so far we've seen no sign that they're willing to negotiate."
Cox Media Group
