Days after North Korea fired the second missile in less than a month, into the Sea of Japan, the U.S. Air Force launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) early Wednesday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The unarmed Minuteman III missile was launched 2:10 a.m. local time from the base, about 12 miles northwest of Lompoc, of Los Angeles.
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A statement from the U.S. Air Force said: “While not a response to recent North Korean actions, the test demonstrates that the United States’ nuclear enterprise is safe, secure, effective and ready to be able to deter, detect and defend against attacks on the United States and its allies,” according to ABC News.
North Korea claimed the missile fired on Friday is capable of reaching California and other cities in the US.
The US conducted its deterrent nuclear abilities.
In February, a missile equipped with a nonexplosive payload was launched and traveled to the Marshall Islands.
On April 26 another operational test was conducted, and a third test rocket fired from the same base.
The fourth unarmed Minuteman III missile was launched on May 3 to check the weapon to ensure an “effective nuclear deterrent,” according to the U.S. Air Force.
On May 30, a flight test exercise of a ground-based interceptor was also launched from the air base.
The interceptor successfully targeted and destroyed an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile launched from the Marshall Islands.
