Report: Russia tests new intercontinental missile in response to NATO defense shield

Russia has tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile designed to penetrate NATO's new missile defense shield, the BBC reports, citing the Russian Interfax news agency.

"This is one of the ... measures being developed by Russia's military and political leadership in response to the U.S. deployment of a global anti-missile system," former strategic forces director Viktor Yesin told Interfax, according to the BBC.  

News of the test comes just days after NATO leaders approved the first phase of their European-based missile shield during last weekend's summit in Chicago. President Obama and administration officials have expressed confidence that Russia will come around to determining that the shield is designed to protect Europe from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea, but the latest news provides further evidence that's unlikely to happen.

The plan that NATO approved over the weekend will put a U.S. Navy ship stationed in the Mediterranean and a radar station located in Turkey under NATO command.

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