US test fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile over Pacific Ocean

In yet ar offensive after exiting a US-Russia arms treaty in August, United States tested a medium-range ballistic missile on December 12. Thursday's test was second of a ground-launched, medium-range nuclear-capable missile since US' exit. A base spokesperson told media that US Air Force launched conventionally configured missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base rthwest of Los Angeles at about 8:30 am local time (1630 GMT). Pentagon said that proto ground-launched missile flew more than 500 kilometres (300 miles) before plunging into Pacific Ocean. 

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Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Robert Carver told media that data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform Department of Defense's development of future intermediate-range capabilities.

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Missile tests after breaking US-Russia treaty

If US was in treaty with Russia, INF would have forbidden testing of missile, as well as a cruise missile, tested in August. US Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg, delivering a test reentry vehicle to Kwajalein Atoll 4,200 miles away in western Pacific on October 2 which is cited as unrelated to INF. Meanwhile, Russia is planning to arm its rrn Fleet's Arctic division with an S-400 air defence system. A Russian naval commander on Monday said that Russia will create an air defence "dome" across its polar region to prevent an enemy aerial attack of any kind.

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A signal to rth Korea

Reports speculate that tests could also be a signal to rth Korea, which has demonstrated its own cross-Pacific nuclear threat with multiple successful short, medium and long-range ballistic missile tests. Pyongyang recently hinted that it may undertake ar test as a "Christmas gift" if US does t meet deline to come up with concessions in bilateral relations. It furr accused United States of “hostile provocation” on Thursday for criticizing its ballistic missile tests during a United Nations Security Council meeting and warned that Trump ministration may have lost its chance for nuclear negotiations. In same meeting, US Ambassor Kelly Craft said rth Korea’s “deeply counterproductive” ballistic missile tests risk closing door on prospects for negotiating peace but said Trump ministration is “prepared to be flexible” and take concrete, parallel steps toward an agreement on resuming talks.

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