Top general warns North Korea will have nuclear weapons capable of reaching the US in a 'very short rime’

It is a matter of a "very short time" before North Korea is able to attack the United States.

That warning comes from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford.

He spoke about the potential threat during his reappointment hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"While there are still technical elements the regime must overcome, I view those as engineering solutions that will be developed over time," said Dunford.

RELATED: Activists protest North Korea

President Trump has repeatedly said that Pyongyang is developing nuclear missiles capable of reaching the US “will not happen’, according to the Independent.

However, Dunford said ‘We should assume today that North Korea has the capability and has the will to use that capability.’

Dunford’s assessment comes on the heels of escalating tensions between Washington and Pyongyang.

Trump has threatened "fire and fury" against the regime after it launched several missiles and recently imposed more sanctions on North Korea.