US launches unarmed ICBM to test nuclear capabilities amid tensions with North Korea

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US test launches unarmed ICBM to test nuclear capabilities

The U.S. conducted a test launch of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Wednesday. (U.S. Space Force video by Senior Airman Tiarra Sibley)

The U.S. Air Force and Space Force collaborated on a test missile launch Wednesday amid rising tensions with North Korea.

Air Force Global Strike Command test launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

"The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to validate and verify the safety, security, effectiveness, and readiness of the weapon system," a statement from Vandenberg Space Force Base read.

"The Airmen and Guardians who perform this vital mission are some of the most skillfully trained and dedicated personnel in America’s Air Force," said Space Launch Delta 30 vice commander Col. Bryan Titus. "These test launches demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent."

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A still image captures the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Wednesday. (Vandenberg Space Force Base)

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White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan issued a stern warning to North Korea during a press briefing on Tuesday, responding to reports that dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet in-person.

"[This] is not going to reflect well on North Korea and they will pay a price for this in the international community," Sullivan said. "We will continue to call on North Korea to abide by its public commitments not to supply weapons to Russia that will end up killing Ukrainians."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia in April 2019. (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said last week that "arms negotiations" between the two U.S. adversaries were "actively advancing." 

Putin wants North Korea to supply Russia with artillery shells and antitank missiles, and in exchange, Kim wants Russia to give North Korea advanced technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines, sources told The New York Times. Additionally, Kim wants food aid for his starving nation.

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The intercontinental ballistic missile launch from the Vandenberg Space Force Base is seen from a distance on Wednesday. (Vandenberg Space Force Base)

Russia has rebuffed questions about the talks, however. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he "can't" confirm the talks and said there is "nothing to say."

One expert said the test launch was also meant to send a message to Russia.

"This was almost certainly a response to Russia placing its nuclear Sarmat missile on combat duty last Friday," former Defense Intelligence Agency officer Rebekah Koffler told Fox News Digital. "With the successful test of the nuclear unarmed Minuteman ICBM, Washington is signaling to Moscow that it’s nuclear deterrent is combat ready should Putin decide to resort to nuclear warfare whether on the battlefield in Ukraine or outside of it."

Koffler added, "While the US and Russia test their nuclear readiness periodically, the risk of unintentional escalation due to misinterpretation of each other’s intentions is now heightened during an ongoing conflict in Ukraine which is a de facto U.S.-Russia proxy war."

Fox News' Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.