[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Sputnik News reported that the United States conducted the test launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Minuteman-3' on the 16th (local time), which had been postponed earlier this month amid escalating tensions with China over Taiwan.
The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) launched an unarmed Minuteman-3 equipped with a test atmospheric reentry vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 12:49 a.m. that day. The Minuteman-3, with a range of 9,600 km and a speed of 24,000 km/h, is considered one of the core components of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
The U.S. Air Force emphasized in a statement, "This launch will demonstrate the United States' nuclear readiness and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of its nuclear deterrent."
Originally, the U.S. military planned to conduct the Minuteman-3 test launch earlier this month, but postponed the schedule after China strongly opposed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and conducted large-scale military exercises near Taiwan.
The U.S. military also postponed the Minuteman-3 test launch in March due to concerns over escalating tensions with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
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