The US has delayed an intercontinental ballistic missile test scheduled for next week, defence officials say.
In the past week, Pakistan has test-fired two ballistic missiles and India responded by test-firing a new short-range air-defence missile.
Over the weekend, the US cancelled a scheduled test of its Minuteman 3 ballistic missile, citing concerns that it could be misinterpreted by Pyongyang.
The Navy plans to continue using the extremely reliable Lockheed Martin D-5 ballistic missile, which has seen 135 consecutive test launches without mishap.
The test, in which an Aegis ballistic missile cruiser shot down a target fired from Hawaii, was the first exo-atmospheric kinetic intercept of a ballistic missile in the ascent phase of flight, and the third intercept from an Aegis warship.
It is the only place on earth where, under the anti-ballistic missile treaty, the United States was allowed to test its strategic interceptor missiles, a key component of President Bush's missile-defence programme, sometimes known as Star Wars II.
However, its baseline version of the interceptor is already quite capable, which is why the Navy will conduct a test this spring to see how it fares against a Trident ballistic missile flying a longer, faster trajectory than the service currently is postured to counter.
Biden is "Dr. No" with respect to pursuing development, test and deployment of missile defenses incompatible with the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
The United States might still not have intercontinental ballistic missiles and reliable space launchers today if it had responded to the succession of early flight test failures in those programs by terminating, instead of redoubling, the effort.
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