The U.S. Air Force confirmed it launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from a California base into the Pacific Ocean to show “readiness” of the United States’ nuclear capabilities, about a week after the U.S. military shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon.
An unarmed Minuteman missile was launched at 11:01 p.m. PT from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to a military news release.
While tensions between the United States and China are elevated after a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon transited over the country, the military described the test as routine. Meanwhile, North Korea paraded its own nuclear attack capability by showcasing about a dozen intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in downtown Pyongyang this week, according to reports and video footage published online….