Local congressmen react to Trump-North Korea feud

North Korea is reportedly "seriously examining a plan" to launch a missile strike targeting an area near the U.S. territory of Guam in response to President Trump's warning to Pyongyang that any additional threats will be met with "fire and fury,"

The President's comments come just days after the U.N. security council voted 15-0 to impose sanctions on North Korea, totaling over $1 billion, with hopes it will cripple the nation's economy and bring them to the negotiating table.

Because local matters, 47abc went to congressional leaders across Delmarva to get their reactions to the president's comments, and how he is handling the crisis.

Delaware's junior senator Chris Coons took to the airwaves, agreeing to an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.  Coons explained that the moment is "very dangerous," and that now is the time for the president to not be unpredictable.

Coons also offered a word of advice for the administration, to try diplomacy, instead of its tough talk.

"But I think this is a time for us to re-double our diplomatic efforts with China, and to make sure that we are coordinating closely with our regional allies to avoid a miscalculation."

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen says this comment could be a change to U.S. policy, insinuating a possible preemptive strike.

"If you're going to an establish red lines, as Senator McCain just said, you need to be prepared to back that up, and there's no indication that the president has a strategy to back that up."

Eastern Shore Representative Andy Harris disagrees with Coons and Van Hollen, saying this is the type of talk the United States has been missing for years, and that Trump's administration is cleaning up the mess left from former President Barack Obama.

"He has a big mess to clean up from the last administration, which just wasn't tough on any of our enemies overseas."

Harris says not only is the president restoring American power with its bark, but also with its bite.

"He realizes that the U.S. has to return to prominence on the world stage in terms of its military strength.  I think the president is doing that, he is restoring the military strength."

The latest threat on Guam comes on the heels of a previous KCNA report that North Korea's military was "examining the operational plan" to strike areas around the US territory of Guam with medium-to-long-range strategic ballistic missiles.