Minot Air Force Base scored another victory in it's defense and deterrence role in our nations security early Monday morning.

An unarmed Minuteman III Missile was successfully test launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California hitting it's targets thousands of miles away in the Pacific Ocean.

Tonight Shaun Sipma was there for the launch and continues his story on the significance behind the launch.

Monday mornings test launch of a Minuteman III ICB missile from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California was not only testing the accuracy and reliability of the technology but also served as a warning.

(Maj. Gen. Roger Berg, Commander of the 20th Air Force, Air Space Command, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming) "Any adversary of the United States can easily see our capability when accomplish a test like this. There are people across the ocean right now reviewing the material that they collected on this test event and the reliability and capability of this event will be obvious to them."


However Air Force officials on hand for the test launch say this wasn't in anyway in response to the recent threats from North Korea and their upcoming missile test launch.

(Lt. Col. Craig Ramsey, MAFB Operations Officer) "This doesn't say anything about a specific country other than the United States. This really points to our readiness to provide deterrence to the United States and our allies at anytime at anyplace where the need may arise. This has been scheduled for two plus years so it's not in response to anything of recent actions purely just happen to coincide."


And what is happening overseas has the U.S. military and the much of the world very concerned

According to Japanese intelligence, North Korea is planning to launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii on the 4th of July, Americas independence day

The missile has a range of up to 4,000 miles and Hawaii sits 4,500 miles from North Korea.

North Korea test-fired a similar missile three years ago, but it failed seconds after liftoff.

Monday mornings test fire of the Minuteman III missile by the Air Force may have been planned for months but comes at a time of heightened national security concerns.

(Colonel Chris Ayres, Minot Air Force 91st Missile Wing Commander) "Certainly they are the backbone of our nations defense. They have been a deterrence force and a resolve that we take real seriously, our capabilities in our nations strength.

(Jason Schuhmacher, Master Sgt. Maintenance NCOC for the Task Force) "We have a great role in Deterrence. I believe it allows us to.. the men and women who do go overseas to fight for our country it's to know that we have their backs at Minot to defend our homeland."


Backed by a tried and true technology developed in the 1970's that has been refurbished and upgraded to last well into the 21st century.

(Maj. Gen. Roger Berg, Commander of the 20th Air Force, Air Space Command, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming) "The design is 30 years old in some cases. The missile you saw tonight is almost brand new from top to bottom. We have reinvested in new capability and so what has been in the field for the last 30 years has been replaced. New booster, remodeled guiDance set new re-enter system so it's a major investment in the tax payer money and expect it to go many years into the future."


At Vandenburg Air Force Base in California, Shaun Sipma KX News. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list