US Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Off California Amid North Korea Nuclear Threat

The United States test fired an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) late Tuesday amid growing threats from North Korea over an imminent attack on the American soil. Last week, Pyongyang's supreme leader Kim Jong Un pledged a war against the U.S. saying the North Korean military is ready to fight Washington.

Read: Entire US In Strike Range, Claims North Korea, What Options US Has?

On Tuesday, U.S. launched the unarmed Minuteman 3 missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The test firing comes as North Korea conducted two ICBM missile launches last month. The reclusive country vowed to carry out a nuclear strike on “the heart of the U.S.” if the Western nation does not stop its efforts to remove Kim as the supreme leader, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported last week.

"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," a statement from the U.S. Air Force said. This is the fourth such test conducted by the U.S. this year.

Despite the U.S. army's statement saying the missile test was not in response to North Korea's actions, its timing coincides with heightened tensions in Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang continues its nuclear advancements despite condemnation from the international community and strong sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

The July 28 missile launch by North Korea was termed by the country as a “stern warning” for the U.S., saying Washington would face destruction if it tried to attack Pyongyang, North Korea’s KCNA news agency reported.

"The test-fire reconfirmed the reliability of the ICBM system, demonstrated the capability of making a surprise launch of the ICBM in any region and place anytime, and clearly proved that the whole U.S. mainland is in the firing range of the DPRK missiles," KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

The same month, North Korea conducted another missile launch on July 4 that flew to a height of 1,741 miles and landed 577 miles from the launch site.

Read: North Korea Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Near Japan's Coast

Following the July 28 missile launch, President Donald Trump condemned Pyongyang’s actions, terming it “reckless and dangerous.”

“By threatening the world, these weapons and tests further isolate North Korea, weaken its economy, and deprive its people. The United States will take all necessary steps to ensure the security of the American homeland and protect our allies in the region,” Trump said in a statement.

In response, to North Korea's missile launch the U.S. Air Force flew two B-1 bombers over the Korean Peninsula on Sunday in a show of force.