Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Tuesday that the consequences of a nuclear war would be "devastating."

“You’ve got two bullies chiding each other with outrageous comments — and it doesn’t help the situation in terms of trying to resolve something that has to be resolved peacefully," Panetta told Politico Tuesday.

"The question is: Does [President Trump] get so frustrated with the North Korean leader — who’s yelling every other day — that he feels that somehow the North Korean leader is attacking his manhood?"

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Panetta further raised questions about where the situation with North Korea was headed.

“[Trump], this is a guy who, if he feels that, does he decide, 'OK, enough is enough?' So we’re living on that brink right now," he said.

"We’re not sure what direction this is going to take. ... It’s a very dangerous world that’s out there, and it’s going to require a lot of decisions on some tough issues.”

Trump, as commander in chief, can make a decision that could "really impact the lives of Americans," he said.

Panetta said the only strategy that can be used with North Korea is "containment and deterrence."

“You have to make very clear that if they do anything that is provocative, that we can come back in a way that will end the regime," he said.

"That, frankly, for 60 years, is what we’ve been doing — and as a result, we’ve been able to avoid war.”

His comments come after Trump on Tuesday ratcheted up his rhetoric on North Korea, warning its leader, Kim Jong Un, not to make "any more threats" to the U.S.

"He has been very threatening beyond a normal state, and as I said they will be met with fire, fury and, frankly, power, the likes of which this world has never seen before,” Trump said at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE on Wednesday, however, said he doesn't believe there is "any imminent threat" from North Korea and urged Americans to remain calm.