朝鮮宣布即將發(fā)射衛(wèi)星

North Korea yesterday said it was preparing to fire a satellite into space, heightening regional fears that a provocative long-range missile test could be imminent.

When North Korea blasted a missile over Japan in 1998, it also described that as a satellite launch. US and South Korean intelligence sources believe the communist state is preparing to test-fire the Taepodong-2 – a missile designed to reach as far as Alaska – using its space programme as a smokescreen for upgrading ballistic weapons.

“If this satellite is successfully launched, our country's space technology will have taken another important stride towards making our nation an economic powerhouse,” North Korea's space technology committee told state media.

The country said that its satellite would be used for communications, geological exploration and weather-forecasting.

North Korea first detonated a nuclear device in 2006 but military analysts think it still lacks the know-ledge to fit an atomic warhead on to a missile.

Both the US and South Korea insist any rocket firing by Pyongyang will contravene United Nations Security Council resolution 1718, which was adopted to contain North Korean ballistics after the 2006 atomic test.

Washington also accuses Iran, North Korea's ally, of advancing ballistic expertise through its space programme. The Islamic republic announced it had successfully launched a satellite this month.

North Korea has struck an unusually bellicose stance with its rich southern neighbour recently. It has accused Seoul of bringing the two nations to the brink of war and has said it is tearing up bilateral pacts, including one covering the north-south maritime border.

Kim Jong-il, North Korea's leader, has been infuriated by the South's conservative president, who has refused to court him in the manner of previous leftwing administrations and made aid contingent on progress in talks to end nuclear advancement. Taro Aso, Japan's prime minister, was due yesterday to discuss North Korea with Barack Obama, the US president, in Washington. South Korea's foreign minister flew to Beijing for consultations on North Korea.

朝鮮昨日表示，它正準(zhǔn)備向太空發(fā)射一顆衛(wèi)星，從而加劇了該地區(qū)對(duì)于一次挑釁的遠(yuǎn)程導(dǎo)彈試驗(yàn)可能即將來(lái)臨的擔(dān)憂。

當(dāng)朝鮮在1998年發(fā)射了一枚導(dǎo)彈穿越日本領(lǐng)空時(shí)，它也將那次發(fā)射稱為衛(wèi)星發(fā)射。美韓情報(bào)機(jī)構(gòu)的消息來(lái)源認(rèn)為，這個(gè)共產(chǎn)黨國(guó)家正在準(zhǔn)備試射大浦洞2號(hào)(Taepodong-2)，一種射程可達(dá)阿拉斯加的導(dǎo)彈，而太空項(xiàng)目只是它用來(lái)掩飾升級(jí)彈道導(dǎo)彈的煙幕。

朝鮮宇宙空間技術(shù)委員會(huì)向官方媒體表示：“如果這顆衛(wèi)星發(fā)射成功，我國(guó)太空技術(shù)將向使我國(guó)成為經(jīng)濟(jì)強(qiáng)國(guó)的方向邁出重要的一大步。”

朝鮮表示，它的衛(wèi)星將會(huì)被用于通信、地質(zhì)勘探和氣象預(yù)報(bào)。

朝鮮在2006年首次引爆了核裝置，但軍事分析師認(rèn)為，它仍然缺乏將核彈頭安裝到導(dǎo)彈上的技術(shù)知識(shí)。

美韓均堅(jiān)稱，朝鮮的任何火箭發(fā)射，都將違反聯(lián)合國(guó)安理會(huì)第1718號(hào)決議。該決議在2006年朝鮮核試驗(yàn)之后通過(guò)，旨在遏制朝鮮發(fā)展彈道導(dǎo)彈。

美國(guó)還譴責(zé)朝鮮盟友伊朗通過(guò)太空項(xiàng)目提升自身的彈道導(dǎo)彈專業(yè)技術(shù)。這個(gè)伊斯蘭共和國(guó)宣布，它已經(jīng)于本月成功發(fā)生了一顆衛(wèi)星。

朝鮮最近對(duì)其富裕的南部鄰國(guó)采取了異常好斗的姿態(tài)。它指責(zé)韓國(guó)將兩個(gè)國(guó)家?guī)У搅藨?zhàn)爭(zhēng)的邊緣，并且表示，它正在撕毀雙邊協(xié)定，其中包括一個(gè)涉及南北韓海上界線的協(xié)定。

朝鮮國(guó)家領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人金正日(Kim Jong-il)被韓國(guó)的保守派總統(tǒng)激怒，后者拒絕以左翼前政府的方式來(lái)取悅他，并將停止核武計(jì)劃的談判取得進(jìn)展列為援助的先決條件。按照計(jì)劃，日本首相麻生太郎(Taro Aso)昨日應(yīng)該與美國(guó)總統(tǒng)巴拉克·奧巴馬(Barack Obama)在華盛頓討論了朝鮮問(wèn)題。韓國(guó)外長(zhǎng)則飛到北京，與中國(guó)就朝鮮問(wèn)題進(jìn)行磋商。