朝鮮成功試射潛射彈道導彈
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.
朝鮮進行了迄今最成功的潛射彈道導彈(SLBM)試驗，在朝鮮半島緊張局勢加劇之際展示其在武器技術上取得快速進展。
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.
韓國的聯合參謀本部和國防部表示，這枚導彈是昨日清早從朝鮮海濱城市新浦(Sinpo)的一個潛艇基地發射的，朝着日本方向飛行了大約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.
這枚潛射彈道導彈落在日本的防空識別區，招致日本首相安倍晉三(Shinzo Abe)的強烈抗議。“這是對日本安全的嚴重威脅，也是有損地區穩定與和平的不可原諒的行爲，”安倍對記者們表示。
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.
韓國總統朴槿惠(Park Geun-hye)召開了國家安全會議，商討如何迴應這次導彈發射。韓國外交部譴責了這次發射，稱此舉違反了聯合國安理會(UN Security Council)決議，只會帶來進一步的孤立和更嚴厲的國際制裁。
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.
朝鮮試射導彈兩天前，美國和韓國開始史上規模最大的聯合軍事演習之一；這項年度演練被朝鮮視爲入侵排練。平壤方面威脅稱，要針對這場爲期兩週的演習對韓國發動“先發制人的”打擊。
“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.
“這種挑釁行爲只會增強國際社會對付朝鮮違禁活動的決心，包括通過實施現有的聯合國安理會制裁，”美國太平洋司令部(US Pacific Command)在一份聲明中表示。
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.
對於朝鮮最新試射所展現的導彈技術快速進展，軍事專家們表示了擔憂。迄今只有六個國家，包括美國、俄羅斯和中國，掌握了潛射彈道導彈技術。
While North Korea fired such missiles twice this year, in April and July, they flew only 10km and 30km respectively.
雖然朝鮮今年4月和7月曾兩次發射這種導彈，但那兩枚導彈分別只飛行了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.
朝鮮在今年還發射了其他種類的導彈，包括本月初墜落在距離日本海岸僅250公里處的一枚中程彈道導彈。
“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.”
“隨着北韓繼續發射導彈，其潛射彈道導彈技術正在接近完善，命中精度越來越高，”韓國退役海軍軍官、潛艇戰專家文槿植（音，Moon Keun-sik）表示。“北韓正走向其最終目標，即在潛射彈道導彈上安裝微型核彈頭。”
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，此次試射表明，朝鮮今年就能夠把潛射彈道導彈投入實戰部署，遠遠快於韓國軍方官員此前預計的至少兩年。
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.
昨日的導彈試射是在中國、日本和韓國外長在東京舉行三方會議之前進行的。與此同時，上週朝鮮駐英國公使叛逃後，朝鮮半島緊張局勢加劇。
