VOA慢速英語：科學家稱朝鮮核試驗場可能已坍塌

Scientists Say N. Korea's Nuclear Test Site Likely Collapsed

科學家稱朝鮮核試驗場可能已坍塌

Chinese researchers say the mountain above North Korea's main nuclear test site has likely collapsed. If so, the collapse would make the test site unsafe for future testing, and the area would need to be examined for any leaking radiation.

中國研究人員表示，朝鮮主要核試驗場上方的山脈可能已經(jīng)崩塌。如果是這樣，這種崩塌會使得核試驗場對未來的核試驗來說不安全，該地區(qū)還需要檢查是否存在任何輻射泄露。

Scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China carried out the research. Their findings may give new meaning to North Korean President Kim Jong Un's recent announcement. He said this month that his country was ending its nuclear testing program ahead of planned meetings with the leaders of South Korea and the United States.

中國科學技術大學的科學家們進行了這項研究。他們的研究結果給朝鮮總統(tǒng)金正恩最近的聲明賦予了新的意義。金正恩本月表示，朝鮮將在會見韓、美領導人之前終止該國的核試驗項目。

The results also support findings of an earlier study by a group of Chinese researchers. That report was published in March by the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

這一結果也支持了一群中國研究人員先前研究的結果。那份報告于3月份發(fā)表在《地球物理研究快報》上。

The latest study has also been accepted for publication by Geophysical Research Letters.

這項最近研究也已經(jīng)被《地球物理研究快報》接收準備發(fā)表。

What could have happened?

可能發(fā)生了什么?

The data in the most recent Chinese study was collected following the most powerful of North Korea's six nuclear device tests, on September 3. That test was at least 10 times stronger than anything the country had tested before. Scientists say the explosion may have helped cause four earthquakes in the following weeks. Earthquakes do not naturally happen in the area around the test site.

中國這項最新研究中的數(shù)據(jù)是在9月3日朝鮮最強烈的第六次核試驗之后收集到的。這次核試驗的強度比該國此前進行的任何試驗都要強至少10倍以上。科學家表示，這次爆炸可能助長了接下來幾周發(fā)生的四次地震。該試驗場附近地區(qū)的地震并非自然發(fā)生。

The report by University of Science and Technology researchers said the first of those earthquakes was "an onsite collapse toward the nuclear test center." They urged officials to continue to watch for leaks of radioactive material.

中科大研究人員的報告稱，其中第一次地震是朝著核試驗中心的現(xiàn)場坍塌。他們督促有關官員繼續(xù)關注放射性物質的泄露。

Special concern to China

中國特別關注

North Korea's nuclear tests are of special concern to China; the test site is less than 100 kilometers from the China-North Korea border.

中國特別關注朝鮮的核試驗。該試驗場距離中超邊境不到100公里。

North Korean nuclear tests have caused seismic events in Chinese border towns and cities. The explosions have led to evacuations of schools and offices, and fears of wind-carried radiation.

朝鮮核試驗已經(jīng)造成中國邊境城鎮(zhèn)發(fā)生數(shù)次地震。這些爆炸還導致學校和辦公室疏散，以及對大風吹來輻射的擔心。

Chinese officials have said they have not measured any radiation risk from recent samples collected along the China-North Korea border.

中國官員表示，他們沒有測到中朝邊境沿線近期采集樣本的輻射風險。

Relations between China and North Korea have been worsening. Last month, North Korean President Kim Jong Un made a visit to Beijing, after Chinese officials put United Nations economic sanctions against the North in place. The sanctions reduced trade between the two countries by as much as 90 percent.

中朝兩國之間的關系一直在惡化。上月，朝鮮總統(tǒng)金正恩在中國官員落實聯(lián)合國對朝經(jīng)濟制裁之后訪問了北京。制裁使得兩國之間的貿(mào)易減少了多達90%。

On Saturday, North Korea announced it would close its nuclear testing site and suspend nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. U.S. President Donald Trump called the moves "big progress."

周六，朝鮮宣布將會關閉其核試驗場，并暫停核試驗和洲際導彈試驗。美國總統(tǒng)川普稱這些舉動是“重大進展。”

However, the North did not say whether it would give up its nuclear weapons or limit its production of missiles and their related parts.

然而，朝鮮并未說明是否會放棄核武器或限制其導彈及相關部件的生產(chǎn)。

I'm Jonathan Evans.

喬納森·埃文斯報道。