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Trump’s congressional allies nominate him for Nobel Peace Prize

Thursday, 03 May 2018 5:56 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 03 May 2018 6:51 PM ]

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a swearing-in ceremony for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department in Washington, US, May 2, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

President Donald Trump's closest Republican allies in Congress have nominated him for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, giving him credit for pressuring North Korea into accepting a possible denuclearization.

Led by Indiana Representative Luke Messer, 18 of Trump’s most ardent supporters in the House of Representatives wrote a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Wednesday, recommending the Republican head of state for his work to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula.

"Since taking office, President Trump has worked tirelessly to apply maximum pressure on North Korea to end its illicit weapons program and bring peace to the region," the letter read.

The lawmakers hailed, in particular, Trump’s spearheading of “one of the most successful international sanctions regime in history” to prevent Pyongyang from advancing its ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.

PressTV-Seoul: US forces to stay regardless of peace with North

South Korea says US military presence in the Asian country will continue whether or not a peace treaty is signed with the North.

The economic punishments were aimed at North Korea’s exports of textiles and coal as well as its shipping industry.

“The sanctions have decimated the North Korean economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table,” the letter added, referring to the latest steps taken by South and North Korean leaders to de-escalate.

The two neighbors began mending fences in January, when North Korean leader Kim Jung-un said he would be interested in talks between officials from the two countries. A series of overtures ensued, culminating in the late April summit.

Kim and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea held a historic summit at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone on April 27. Kim said at the meeting that he would suspend North Korea’s missile test and shut down its main nuclear site as a sign of goodwill.

PressTV-Trump threatens North Korea with ‘destruction’

The US president advises Pyongyang against underestimating the US strength and determination.

President Moon has also commended Trump’s work on the issue, saying recently that he deserves the prestigious award.

Joining Messer in the letter were major conservative figures like Freedom Caucus leader Representative Mark Meadows and Representative Steve King.

Should he win the award, Trump will be the fifth American president bestowed with the honor after former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.

Obama received the award despite being the only US president to serve two complete terms with his country at war.

Critics say Trump does not deserve the prize either, as he has so far stepped up unauthorized US military interventions in Syria, Afghanistan and a number of African countries. He has also threatened North Korea with nuclear attack.

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