朝鲜成功试射潜射弹道导弹

North Korea has conducted its most successful submarine-launched ballistic missile test to date, in a display of its rapid advances in weapons technology amid heightened tension on the Korean peninsula.

朝鲜进行了迄今最成功的潜射弹道导弹(SLBM)试验，在朝鲜半岛紧张局势加剧之际展示其在武器技术上取得快速进展。

The missile was launched early yesterday from a submarine base in the North’s coastal city of Sinpo, Seoul’s joint chiefs of staff and defence ministry said, flying about 500km towards Japan.

韩国的联合参谋本部和国防部表示，这枚导弹是昨日清早从朝鲜海滨城市新浦(Sinpo)的一个潜艇基地发射的，朝着日本方向飞行了大约500公里。

The SLBM landed in Japan’s air-defence identification zone, sparking strong protests from prime minister Shinzo Abe. “It is a grave threat to Japan’s security and an unforgivable act to regional stability and peace,” Mr Abe told reporters.

这枚潜射弹道导弹落在日本的防空识别区，招致日本首相安倍晋三(Shinzo Abe)的强烈抗议。“这是对日本安全的严重威胁，也是有损地区稳定与和平的不可原谅的行为，”安倍对记者们表示。

South Korean President Park Geun-hye held a national security meeting to discuss how to respond to the launch. Seoul’s foreign ministry condemned the launch, saying it was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and would only bring further isolation and tougher international sanctions.

韩国总统朴槿惠(Park Geun-hye)召开了国家安全会议，商讨如何回应这次导弹发射。韩国外交部谴责了这次发射，称此举违反了联合国安理会(UN Security Council)决议，只会带来进一步的孤立和更严厉的国际制裁。

The launch came two days after the US and South Korea began one of their largest ever joint military exercises; an annual drill that the North views as an invasion rehearsal. Pyongyang has threatened a “pre-emptive” attack on South Korea in response to the two-week manoeuvres.

朝鲜试射导弹两天前，美国和韩国开始史上规模最大的联合军事演习之一；这项年度演练被朝鲜视为入侵排练。平壤方面威胁称，要针对这场为期两周的演习对韩国发动“先发制人的”打击。

“This provocation only serves to increase the international community's resolve to counter the DPRK’s prohibited activities, including through implementing existing UN Security Council sanctions,” the US Pacific Command command said in a statement.

“这种挑衅行为只会增强国际社会对付朝鲜违禁活动的决心，包括通过实施现有的联合国安理会制裁，”美国太平洋司令部(US Pacific Command)在一份声明中表示。

Military experts have raised concerns over the rapid missile technology development demonstrated by the latest launch. Only six countries including the US, Russia and China have mastered SLBM technology.

对于朝鲜最新试射所展现的导弹技术快速进展，军事专家们表示了担忧。迄今只有六个国家，包括美国、俄罗斯和中国，掌握了潜射弹道导弹技术。

While North Korea fired such missiles twice this year, in April and July, they flew only 10km and 30km respectively.

虽然朝鲜今年4月和7月曾两次发射这种导弹，但那两枚导弹分别只飞行了10公里和30公里。

The country has fired various other missiles this year, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile earlier this month that crashed just 250km short of the Japanese coast.

朝鲜在今年还发射了其他种类的导弹，包括本月初坠落在距离日本海岸仅250公里处的一枚中程弹道导弹。

“Its SLBM technology is nearing perfection with increasing accuracy as North Korea continues to fire the missiles,” said Moon Keun-sik, a retired South Korean navy officer and expert in submarine warfare. “North Korea is moving towards its ultimate goal of mounting a miniaturised nuclear warhead on an SLBM.”

“随着北韩继续发射导弹，其潜射弹道导弹技术正在接近完善，命中精度越来越高，”韩国退役海军军官、潜艇战专家文槿植（音，Moon Keun-sik）表示。“北韩正走向其最终目标，即在潜射弹道导弹上安装微型核弹头。”

Mr Moon said the launch showed that North Korea would be able to install SLBMs in real military settings this year, much faster than South Korean military officials’ previous expectations of at least two years.

文槿植表示，此次试射表明，朝鲜今年就能够把潜射弹道导弹投入实战部署，远远快于韩国军方官员此前预计的至少两年。

Yesterday’s missile launch came ahead of a trilateral meeting of Chinese, Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers in Tokyo. It also coincides with heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula following the defection last week of North Korea’s deputy ambassador in London.

昨日的导弹试射是在中国、日本和韩国外长在东京举行三方会议之前进行的。与此同时，上周朝鲜驻英国公使叛逃后，朝鲜半岛紧张局势加剧。