Nearly 60 retired military leaders sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to use words, not military action, to deal with North Korea, The Washington Post reported.
And preferably words that invite diplomacy.
"The current approach taken by the United States is failing to stop North Korea from developing its nuclear and missile technology," states the letter, signed by the 58 leaders, the Post reported.
"The United States must initiate and lead an aggressive, urgent diplomatic effort to freeze North Korean nuclear and missile development and reduce regional tensions," reads the letter, which will be sent to the White House on Wednesday, the Post reported.
However, the White House on Wednesday said now is not the right time for talks with the rogue nation and its leader, Kim Jong Un.
"Given North Korea's most recent missile test, clearly right now is not the time (for negotiations)," a White House National Security Council spokesman said.
The letter was the idea of retired Navy Rear Admiral Michael Smith, who told the Post that "we felt we had a moral obligation to share our concerns with the president."
The leaders go on to issue a warning to Trump.
"Military action by the United States and its allies prompting an immediate, retaliatory artillery barrage on Seoul would result in hundreds of thousands of casualties," it states.
"At risk are the lives of more than 150,000 Americans living in Korea. The United States would be drawn into a preventable war.
"Military options must not be the preferred course of action," the letter reads.
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