The top U.S. commander for the Asia-Pacific region said Wednesday he could not rule out a nuclear first strike by North Korea, telling lawmakers the U.S. was prepared to launch a nuclear counterattack. Admiral Harry Harris was speaking to the House Armed Services Committee.

Adm. Harry Harris: “With every test, Kim Jong-un moves closer to his stated goal of a preemptive nuclear strike capability against American cities. And he’s not afraid to fail in public. Defending our homeland is my top priority, so I must assume that Kim Jong-un’s nuclear claims are true.”

Admiral Harris’s remarks came as President Trump summoned nearly every U.S. senator to the White House grounds for an unusual hour-long classified briefing on North Korea.