U.S. Tests Unarmed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
2, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon conducted a test of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday, with the timing expected to be of note in both North Korea, which recently tested its missile arsenal,
and in China, which has been urged by the Trump administration to pressure North Korea on its nuclear program.
" the statement said. that 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,
The test came a day after Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said
that the United States was not seeking a regime change in North Korea and would be willing to talk to Pyongyang.
We handle everything." The unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California,
according to an official statement from the Air Force Global Strike Command released early Wednesday after the test was completed.
Mr. Tillerson assured North Korea "we are not your enemy," but added
that Pyongyang "is presenting an unacceptable threat to us and we have to respond." What you need to know to start your day, delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday.
"We do not seek a collapse of the regime, we do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula, we do not seek an
excuse to send our military north of the 38th Parallel," Mr. Tillerson told reporters at the State Department on Tuesday.