U.S. returns Intercontinental Ballistic Missile to N/Korea

The U.S. has tested an intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman III at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, 30th Space Wing commander, Col. Michael Hough said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The seamless partnership of Team V and our Air Force Global Strike Command mission partners has resulted in another safe Minuteman III operational test launch,” Hough stated.

The missile test was not a response to actions by North Korea, according to media reports.

The launch comes less than a week after North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile for the second time.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the July 28 test was successful with the missile reaching an altitude of 3,725 km and traveling 998 km for about 47 minutes before falling in the Sea of Japan.

In response, the United States, Japan and South Korea carried out a ten-hour show of force by flying fighter jets around the Korean Peninsula and in Japanese airspace.