US missile test follows N Korea’s launch

THE US military tested an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile yesterday, officials said, just days after North Korea launched its own ICBM.

Tests at southern California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base are usually scheduled weeks or even months in advance, but this one came at a time of soaring tensions with North Korea.

“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,” the Air Force Global Strike Command said.

It said the test was not a response to North Korea.

The Minuteman III missile had gone up just after 11am (SA time) yesterday, Global Strike Command said.

The ICBM arced into the night sky from Vandenberg and travelled about 6 760km to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

North Korea has alarmed the international community by the pace and progress of its missile development programme, and last month held two tests of an ICBM – the first such demonstration.

The first of these trials, which leader Kim Jong-un called a gift to “American bastards”, showed that the rocket could hit Alaska.

The second rocket test last week flew even longer, with some experts even suggesting that New York could be in range.