Following a significant display of force by the North Korean army while showing its “nuclear attack capability,” the US Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from California to demonstrate its might. The launch also occurs at a key time when the Chinese “spy” balloon dealt a serious diplomatic blow to US-China relations. Washington condemned Beijing and vowed to take measures against the PLA-connected businesses related to it when the balloon entered US airspace.
The test, according to a US base on Friday, was conducted from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 11:01 p.m. The US clarified the situation by calling it a regular activity and explaining that the launch’s sole purpose was to show that the country’s “nuclear deterrence is safe, secure, reliable, and effective.”
“A test launch displays the heart of our deterrence mission on the stage of the world, assuring our country and its allies that our weapons are capable and our Airmen are ready and willing to defend peace across the globe at a moment’s notice,” said Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command.
The test re-entry vehicle of the ICBM travelled approximately 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, according to information provided by the US Air Force on the launch. It was further said that the trajectory demonstrated the precision and dependability of US ICBM systems.
The commander of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, Col. Christopher Cruise, stated that “this launch sends a visible message of assurance to partners while demonstrating the dependability of our strategic deterrence systems.”
According to Cruise, “This multilateral team demonstrates the accuracy and professionalism of our leadership and our collaborative partners.”
Earlier, North Korea, which the US has been denouncing for its ballistic missile launches, performed a parade with weapons, possibly including a brand-new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that he would test in the coming months, according to experts.
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