(Image: GETTY )

Vice Admiral James Syring, head of the US's Missile Defence Agency, made the shock announcement to the House Armed Services committee this week.

Brazen dictator Kim Jong-un has threatened the world with nuclear weapons and this threat shows no sign of diminishing.

Syring said the country "must assume that North Korea can reach us with a ballistic missile”.

(Image: GETTY )

He added: “I would not say we are comfortably ahead of the threat.”

Syring acknowledged North Korea had made huge strides in developing the range of their missile forces.

He continued: “The advancements in the last six months have caused great concern to me and others in the advancement of and demonstration of technology of ballistic missiles from North Korea."

Kim Jong-un GRINS as latest missile test brings nuclear weapons ever closer View gallery

Syring said US missile defences may not be able to protect the mainland from a strike.

Though tests have been successful recently in shooting down a mock intercontinental ballistic missile.

This comes as North Korea fired what appeared to be multiple land-to-ship missiles off its east coast on Thursday.

The short-range anti-ship missiles were launched from the city of Wonsan, on North Korea's east coast.

They flew about 124 miles before falling into the Sea of Japan.

A military expert also warned a war between the US and North Korea is imminent.

Both sides have been gearing up for a devastating conflict that could drawn in nations from across the world, Dr George Friedman said.

Show more

US president Donald Trump has vowed to stop the Hermit Kingdom from developing a nuclear missile.

But tyrant Kim has not listened to his demands.