Top U.S. general says tensions too high to leave Korea to testify on Capitol Hill

By Justin Fishel

Published April 07, 2013

FoxNews.com

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  FILE: Undated: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, (r.), with the Korean People's Army senior officers, preparing a satellite launch.AP

Gen. James Thurman, the head of U.S. Forces Korea, has delayed his planned visit to Capitol Hill this week due to heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Thurman was scheduled to begin testifying Tuesday before multiple Senate and House committees about the situation in which the totalitarian North Korean government has declare a “state of war” on neighboring South Korea.  Kim Jong Un -- North Korea’s new, young leader has also said he would restart nuclear reactors.

The United State earlier this month sent B-52 aircraft to South Korea as part of a training exercise and has moved a Navy ship capable of intercepting missiles to waters off the coast, signals from the White House that the U.S. wants to head off any potential conflict by flexing its military might. 

"Given the current situation, Gen. Thurman will remain in Seoul next week as a prudent measure," Col. Amy Hannah, a spokeswoman for the general, told Fox News on Sunday.

Hannah said the general has asked the House and Senate Armed Services committees and others to excuse his absence until he can testify at a later date.

“He looks forward to appearing before the committees at the earliest possible date," she also said.

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Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords' husband, to testify in support of Colorado gun law

Former astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, will testify in Colorado Monday in support of one of seven gun control bills, Fox 31 Denver reports.

Kelly will testify in support of House Bill 1229, which would mandate that all private gun sales and transfers are subject to background checks, according to the station.

Kelly testified before Congress earlier this year in support of gun-control measures.

He and Giffords, who was shot in the head outside a Tucson grocery store more than two years ago, have started their own gun control advocacy group, “Americans for Responsible Solutions,” earlier this year to “combat the influence of the gun lobby.”

According to Fox 31, Patricia Maisich, the woman who tackled the Tucson gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, as he was reloading, is also going to be at the Colorado Capitol Monday to testify in support of House Bill 1224, which will ban high-capacity magazines of more than 15 rounds.

Public testimony on each bill will be limited to three hours — 90 minutes for each side.

Click for more from Fox 31 Denver.

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