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U.S. conducts unarmed ICBM test from California days after North Korea test

ABOVE: The US Air Force has successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The overnight test is the U.S. Military's own show of force in the wake of North Korea's recent testing of two missiles capable of hitting North America – Aug 2, 2017

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The U.S. Air Force was preparing Tuesday to test an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile with a launch from California, the fourth such test this year.

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The 30th Space Wing says the missile was to be launched between 12:01 a.m. and 6:01 a.m. Wednesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 209 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles.

An Air Force statement said the test would show the effectiveness, readiness, and accuracy of the weapon system.

READ MORE: North Korea showing ‘unprecedented levels’ of submarine activity, report says

Minuteman missiles are regularly tested with launches from Vandenberg that send unarmed re-entry vehicles 6,800 kilometres across the Pacific to a target area at Kwajalein Atoll.

However, the latest U.S. launches come amid tensions with North Korea as that nation develops its own ICBMs.

WATCH: U.S. military launches unarmed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile in California

Flight data on North Korea’s most recent test, conducted Friday, showed that a broad part of the mainland United States, including Los Angeles and Chicago, is now in range of Pyongyang’s weapons, according to analysts.

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READ MORE: U.S. flies bombers over Korean Peninsula as show of force after North Korea missile test

In response, the U.S. Air Force flew two B-1 bombers over the Korean Peninsula on Sunday in a show of force. The U.S. also said it conducted a successful test of a missile defence system located in Alaska.

Previous Minuteman ICBM launches this year were conducted in February, April and May. That month, the Air Force also conducted a test of a missile interceptor launched from Vandenberg. The interceptor destroyed a mock warhead over the Pacific.

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