Tony Abbott has called for Australia urgently to consider a missile defence shield to protect against attack by nuclear-armed North Korea.

This means that Australia's two most recent former leaders – one Labor and one Liberal – have now made such a call in the last four weeks.

Australia has no defence against intercontinental ballistic missiles. The government has yet to indicate any interest in acquiring one.

After US President Donald Trump this week said he would deal with Pyongyang's threats with "fire and fury", North Korea said that "only absolute force can work on him".