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US military personnel will test fire the deadly Minuteman III ICBM at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California around 1pm on Wednesday April 26.

Air Force Global Strike Command confirmed it will carry out the test to ensure the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon.

Col John Moss, 30th Space Wing commander, will oversee the launch of the long range missile.

(Image: WIKIPEDIA/GETTY)

He said: “Team V is once again ready to work with Air Force Global Strike Command to successfully launch another Minuteman III missile.

"These Minuteman launches are essential to verify the status of our national nuclear force and to demonstrate our national nuclear capabilities.

"We are proud of our long history in partnering with the men and women of the 576th Flight Test Squadron to execute these missions for the nation."

The test comes as North Korea and the US appear to be marching towards a nuclear conflict.

(Image: WIKIPEDIA)

An armada of US warships – including aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson – is marauding towards the Korean peninsula.

A nuclear-capable submarine is among the fleet of ships sent to intimidate supreme leader Kim Jong-un.

But defiant Pyongyang has hit back claiming its arsenal of intercontinental missiles are aimed and ready to hit the US mainland.

North Korea have been a thorn in US President Donald Trump’s side having fired a number of missiles into the Sea of Japan.

(Image: GETTY)

But the commander-in-chief has signed off a nuclear test of his own after branding the reclusive communist country “a real threat to the world.”

Col Deane Konowicz, the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron commander, said the test will send a message to enemies of the US.

He said: “The Simulated Electronic Launch of a Minuteman III ICBM is a signal to the American people, our allies, and our adversaries that our ICBM capability is safe, secure, lethal and ready.

“It highlights the ground and airborne command and control elements of an electrically-isolated ICBM, demonstrating that our deployed ICBMs will respond to critical launch commands.”