朝鲜宣布即将发射卫星

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.

朝鲜昨日表示，它正准备向太空发射一颗卫星，从而加剧了该地区对于一次挑衅的远程导弹试验可能即将来临的担忧。

当朝鲜在1998年发射了一枚导弹穿越日本领空时，它也将那次发射称为卫星发射。美韩情报机构的消息来源认为，这个共产党国家正在准备试射大浦洞2号(Taepodong-2)，一种射程可达阿拉斯加的导弹，而太空项目只是它用来掩饰升级弹道导弹的烟幕。

朝鲜宇宙空间技术委员会向官方媒体表示：“如果这颗卫星发射成功，我国太空技术将向使我国成为经济强国的方向迈出重要的一大步。”

朝鲜表示，它的卫星将会被用于通信、地质勘探和气象预报。

朝鲜在2006年首次引爆了核装置，但军事分析师认为，它仍然缺乏将核弹头安装到导弹上的技术知识。

美韩均坚称，朝鲜的任何火箭发射，都将违反联合国安理会第1718号决议。该决议在2006年朝鲜核试验之后通过，旨在遏制朝鲜发展弹道导弹。

美国还谴责朝鲜盟友伊朗通过太空项目提升自身的弹道导弹专业技术。这个伊斯兰共和国宣布，它已经于本月成功发生了一颗卫星。

朝鲜最近对其富裕的南部邻国采取了异常好斗的姿态。它指责韩国将两个国家带到了战争的边缘，并且表示，它正在撕毁双边协定，其中包括一个涉及南北韩海上界线的协定。

朝鲜国家领导人金正日(Kim Jong-il)被韩国的保守派总统激怒，后者拒绝以左翼前政府的方式来取悦他，并将停止核武计划的谈判取得进展列为援助的先决条件。按照计划，日本首相麻生太郎(Taro Aso)昨日应该与美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马(Barack Obama)在华盛顿讨论了朝鲜问题。韩国外长则飞到北京，与中国就朝鲜问题进行磋商。