The Pentagon said it shot down a mock ballistic missile Tuesday, simulating a scenario they would face if North Korea sends a missile toward the United States.
May 30 (UPI) — The U. S. military said it shot down a mock ballistic missile in a test Tuesday, simulating a scenario they would likely face if North Korea shoots a missile toward the United States.
The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency said the interceptor, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, « destroyed the target in a direct collision » over the Pacific Ocean.
« The intercept of a complex, threat-representative ICBM target is an incredible accomplishment … and a critical milestone for this program, » MDA Director Vice Adm. Jim Syring said.
« This system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat. »
Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said North Korea was a factor in, but not the primary reason for the test.
« North Korea is obviously one of the reasons why we have this capability, » Davis said.
Originally scheduled for last year, the exercise was delayed due to engineering changes.
Pyongyang has performed nine missile launch tests this year, including one Monday involving a short-range ballistic missile.
In a tweet Monday, President Donald Trump condemned the test.
« North Korea has shown great disrespect North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbor, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile, » he wrote.
North Korea has also tested shooting multiple missiles in an effort to misdirect U. S. defenses.
In Tuesday’s test, the Pentagon shot down a single missile. The Defense Department said it will continue to evaluate other data to determine how the system performed.
