Trump reacting as any leader would: govt

A senior Liberal frontbencher is not surprised by some of the rhetoric expressed by US President Donald Trump when faced with the threat of missile attack from North Korea.

Josh Frydenberg says the president is reacting in a way any major leader would after being threatened directly by another country.

"I don't think any country wants to leave itself vulnerable to attack, let alone such a rogue state as North Korea with a young inexperienced leader who has made such damaging and dangerous threats," Mr Frydenberg told Sky News on Sunday.