The ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday blasted President Trump's aggressive response to the North Korean nuclear threat, saying the administration needs to demonstrate "steady leadership" in a crisis.

“The President’s ‘fire and fury’ ad lib was not helpful. Defusing the North Korea threat will take smart, steady leadership and stronger diplomatic ties with our key allies," Sen. Jack Reed John (Jack) Francis ReedWhen 'Buy American' and common sense collide Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-R.I.) said in a statement.

“North Korea is isolated and will face further consequences from the international community for their destabilizing actions. Sanctions on the regime will continue to tighten and the U.S. and international community must work together to strategically apply pressure on North Korea at every point necessary to neutralize this threat," he continued.

“When it comes to North Korea, the United States has many tools — diplomatic, financial, and others — to work with, not just military options," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Reed's comments comes as the president intensifies his rhetoric against Pyongyang.

On Tuesday, Trump said North Korea would "be met with fire, fury and, frankly, power, the likes of which this world has never seen before" in response to news that the country had expanded its capabilities and produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit onto a missile.

The president continued his escalated rhetoric on Wednesday, saying he hoped that the "power" of the U.S. nuclear arsenal would never have to be used.

My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2017