The U.S. Air Force conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test this morning, launching the unarmed Minuteman 3 missile early on Wednesday morning.
The missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. It's the fourth launch so far this year with the last one occurring in May. The missile traveled 4,200 miles (6,800 kilometers) across the Pacific to a target area at Kwajalein Atoll.
The Air Force says tests like these are meant to check the readiness, effectiveness and accuracy of the weapons system. However, the latest series of launches come as tensions with North Korea have escalated while they have been developing its own missiles they say can hit the United States mainland.