韩国将举行大规模炮兵演习

South Korea’s military said yesterday it would conduct its largest ever artillery drill near the border with North Korea, a day after Pyongyang said it had resumed plutonium production and would continue nuclear tests.

韩国军方昨天表示，将在韩朝边境附近开展史上规模最大的炮兵演习。就在一天前，朝鲜表示已重启钚生产，并且会继续进行核试验。

Seoul’s defence ministry said the large-scale drill marked the first anniversary of exchange of fire near the demilitarised zone that separates the two Koreas. On August 20 last year, North Korea fired at a South Korean frontline army unit near the zone, prompting South Korea to fire back amid high tension on the peninsula.

韩国国防部表示，这次大规模演习是对韩朝双方在非军事区附近交火一周年的纪念。非军事区将朝鲜与韩国分开。去年8月20日，在朝鲜半岛局势高度紧张之际，朝鲜曾向非军事区附近的韩国前线部队开火，促使韩国方面予以还击。

About 300 artillery pieces from 49 artillery battalions will take part in the live-fire exercise to counter possible provocations from North Korea, the ministry said.

韩国国防部表示，来自49个炮兵营的大约300门炮将参加这次实弹演习，以反制来自朝鲜的可能挑衅。

It criticised Pyongyang for its reported resumption of plutonium production, saying it was a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit nuclear-related activities.

韩国国防部对报道所称的朝鲜政府重启钚生产的行为表示谴责，称此举明确违反了联合国安理会(UN Security Council)禁止开展与核有关的活动的决议。

“We are well aware that North Korea has been seeking reprocessing [of spent nuclear fuel rods] to secure more plutonium,” the ministry said, adding that Seoul would discuss with related countries how to respond.

韩国国防部表示：“我们十分清楚，北韩一直在试图再加工（废弃核燃料棒），以获得更多钚。”该部还表示，首尔方面会与相关国家讨论如何回应。

Pyongyang told Kyodo News on Wednesday it had resumed plutonium production and had no plans to stop nuclear tests as long as perceived threats from the US continued.

周三，朝鲜政府曾向共同社(Kyodo News)表示，它已恢复钚生产，而且只要它眼中来自美国的威胁继续存在，就不打算停止核试验。

North Korea’s atomic energy institute, which oversees the main nuclear facilities at the Yongbyon complex, said the country had also been producing highly enriched uranium necessary for nuclear arms and power generation “as scheduled”. The confirmation came after Kim Jong Un, North Korean leader, told a party congress in May that North Korea should strengthen its nuclear force in quality and quantity for self-defence.

负责宁边(Yongbyon)主要核设施的朝鲜原子能研究院表示，朝鲜也一直在“按计划”提炼核武器和发电所需的高浓缩铀。该机构做出这一确认之前，朝鲜领导人金正恩(Kim Jong Un)今年5月在一次党代会上表示，出于自卫，朝鲜应该从质和量两方面加强其核力量。

The sabre-rattling comes amid questions over Mr Kim’s grip on power after North Korea’s deputy ambassador in London defected to the South. Seoul’s unification ministry said Tae Young-ho and his family were now under South Korean government protection.

朝鲜炫耀武力之际，金正恩对权力的掌控正面临质疑，原因是朝鲜驻英国公使叛逃至韩国。韩国统一部表示，太勇浩(Tae Young-ho)及家人目前处于韩国政府保护之下。

It said his case underlined growing internal scepticism of Mr Kim’s regime in North Korea and weakening unity among its ruling elite.

该部表示，太勇浩一案突出表明，朝鲜内部对金正恩政权的怀疑日渐增加，精英统治阶层越来越不团结。