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(Image: GETTY)

Military chiefs issued the stark warning as Americans were warned Kim Jong-un is capable of launching a missile attack on the mainland.

North Korea continues to talk-up the possibility of war after successfully testing its first ICBM with tensions rising in the Korean Peninsula.

US commanders have confirmed their nation is now facing a direct threat from the rogue nation – with Hawaii becoming the first state to prepare for a North Korean attack.

Air Force General Paul Selva described the threat of war as “horrific” and said "It would be a loss of life unlike any we have experienced in our lifetimes”.

The top military boss was speaking at a Senate hearing as he made the stark warning about the devastating consequences of conflict.

General Selva said: "Many people have talked about military options (against North Korea) with words like 'unimaginable.' I would shift that slightly to ‘horrific’.

“It would be a loss of life unlike any we have experienced in our lifetimes.

"Anyone who has been alive since World War II has never seen the loss of life that could occur if there is a conflict on the Korean peninsula."

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

Meanwhile, Marine Corps General Joe Dunford also described North Korea as posing a direct threat to the states.

He said: "I can tell the American people today is North Korea is capable of launching a limited missile attack.

"The United States military can defend against a limited North Korea attack on Seoul, Japan, and the United States."

North Korea tested its nuclear ICBM on July 4 – Independence Day – and described it as a “gift to the American b*****ds”.

Kim’s regime believes securing weapons to threaten the US will allow them to secure their power and pressure South Korea.

But Pyongyang is not believed to have guidance systems to allow them to launch a precision strike on the US.

North Korea warned its enemies will pay a “harsh price” after the South passed a resolution condemning the test of an ICBM.

Pyongyang has been blasted worldwide as the US calls for the global community to put further pressure on Kim’s regime through sanctions.

Yesterday, the US unveiled the USS Gerald R. Ford, its new massive aircraft carrier, amid threats from North Korea.