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Shockingly it has emerged a guided-missile destroyer was issued the command as it patrolled in the Sea of Japan.

The unnamed warship was told to ready Tomahawk cruise missiles for a potential strike on North Korea.

This is the same type of weapon used by Donald Trump to blitz an air base in Syria back in April.

A warning order – known as a WARNO – was issued to the warship, informing officers to get ready for battle stations.

Essentially, it is an order to put a finger on the trigger without actually firing.

Nuclear war remains on a knife edge in the Korean Peninsula, and this chilling incident is a horrifying example of how close conflict may be between the US and North Korea.

(Image: GETTY)

The warship was ordered to get ready to fire on North Korea following Kim’s last missile test on September 15, reports US mag Foreign Policy.

Warning signals rang out over Japan as the rogue state test-fired a missile over its northern-most island of Hokkaido.

Military sources revealed this prompted the issuing of a WARNO to vessel, as the world stood one wrong move from nuclear war.

(Image: GETTY) (Image: EPA)

An anonymous ex-defence official said: “It’s not unheard of to do that. I would say it is a fairly significant indicator that the possibility of using Tomahawks is rising.

He added: “You would certainly want your Tomahawks ready in a fast-moving scenario like that should the president or secretary of defense make the judgement to respond with an offensive strike.”

WARNOs for Tomahawk missiles mean the missiles are primed and programmed with a target.

US missile destroyers are armed with 56 cruise missiles each.

Daily Star Online revealed how war would play-out between North Korea and the US – which would begin with a huge bombing and cruise missile campaign.

Details of this incident have emerged as tensions continue to rage between Kim and Trump.

It was revealed today North Korea is on a “war footing” as the US carries out joint drills with the South led by USS Ronald Reagan.

However, other defence officials downplayed the significance of the WARNO – despite it putting the world one step from war.

(Image: GETTY)

Ted Johnson, a former Naval Commander said: "The WARNO is to force staffs to think through the problems, but not to actually do anything other than think.”

North Korea has been silent since the September 15 test, with no missile launches or bomb detonations.

Trump and Kim have engaged in a war of words this year as they both threatening the other with annihilation.