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，它正準備向太空發(fā)射一顆衛(wèi)星，從而加劇了該地區(qū)對于一次挑釁的遠程導彈試驗可能即將來臨的擔憂。

當朝鮮在1998年發(fā)射了一枚導彈穿越日本領空時，它也將那次發(fā)射稱為衛(wèi)星發(fā)射。美韓情報機構的消息來源認為，這個共產黨國家正在準備試射大浦洞2號(Taepodong-2)，一種射程可達阿拉斯加的導彈，而太空項目只是它用來掩飾升級彈道導彈的煙幕。

朝鮮宇宙空間技術委員會向官方媒體表示：“如果這顆衛(wèi)星發(fā)射成功，我國太空技術將向使我國成為經濟強國的方向邁出重要的一大步。”

朝鮮表示，它的衛(wèi)星將會被用于通信、地質勘探和氣象預報。

朝鮮在2006年首次引爆了核裝置，但軍事分析師認為，它仍然缺乏將核彈頭安裝到導彈上的技術知識。

美韓均堅稱，朝鮮的任何火箭發(fā)射，都將違反聯合國安理會第1718號決議。該決議在2006年朝鮮核試驗之后通過，旨在遏制朝鮮發(fā)展彈道導彈。

美國還譴責朝鮮盟友伊朗通過太空項目提升自身的彈道導彈專業(yè)技術。這個伊斯蘭共和國宣布，它已經于本月成功發(fā)生了一顆衛(wèi)星。

朝鮮最近對其富裕的南部鄰國采取了異常好斗的姿態(tài)。它指責韓國將兩個國家?guī)У搅藨?zhàn)爭的邊緣，并且表示，它正在撕毀雙邊協定，其中包括一個涉及南北韓海上界線的協定。

朝鮮國家領導人金正日(Kim Jong-il)被韓國的保守派總統(tǒng)激怒，后者拒絕以左翼前政府的方式來取悅他，并將停止核武計劃的談判取得進展列為援助的先決條件。按照計劃，日本首相麻生太郎(Taro Aso)昨日應該與美國總統(tǒng)巴拉克·奧巴馬(Barack Obama)在華盛頓討論了朝鮮問題。韓國外長則飛到北京，與中國就朝鮮問題進行磋商。