North Korea launches 'unidentified projectile' into sea
朝鲜向海中发射“不明导弹”
North Korea has fired what has been described as an unidentified projectile into the sea, said South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
韩国参谋长联席会议（JCS）表示，朝鲜向海中发射了一种被称为身份不明的射弹。
The Japanese coast guard, which first reported the launch, said it could potentially be a ballistic missile, but no confirmation has yet been given.
最先报道此次发射的日本海岸警卫队表示，这可能是一枚弹道导弹，但尚未得到证实。
The UN prohibits North Korea from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests.
If confirmed, this would be the first such launch carried by Pyongyang this year.
联合国禁止朝鲜进行弹道和核武器试验。 如果得到证实，这将是平壤今年首次进行的此类发射。
"South Korean and US intelligence are closely analysing for further detail," the JCS said in a statement.
“韩国和美国情报部门正在密切分析进一步细节，”JCS 在一份声明中说。
The launch comes days after Mr Kim said that Pyongyang would continue to strengthen its defence capabilities due to an increasingly unstable military environment on the Korean peninsula.
金正恩表示，由于朝鲜半岛军事环境日益不稳定，平壤将继续加强其防御能力。
He made the remarks during a key end-of-year meeting of North Korea's ruling party.
他是在朝鲜执政党重要的年终会议上发表上述言论的。
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the latest launch "very regrettable," pointing to North Korea's repeated testing of missiles since 2021.
日本首相岸田文雄称最近的发射“非常令人遗憾”，指出朝鲜自 2021 年以来反复试射导弹。
In 2021, North Korea continued the advancement of its weapons programme, conducting what state media reported as the testing of a new hypersonic missile, as well as a train-based ballistic missile and a new long-range cruise missile.
2021 年，朝鲜继续推进其武器计划，进行了官方媒体报道的新型高超音速导弹、火车基弹道导弹和新型远程巡航导弹的测试。
Ballistic missiles are considered more threatening than cruise missiles because they can carry more powerful payloads, have a longer range and can fly faster.
弹道导弹被认为比巡航导弹更具威胁性，因为它们可以携带更强大的有效载荷，射程更远，飞行速度更快。
What's the situation in North Korea?
朝鲜局势如何？
The tests comes as Pyongyang struggles with food shortages due to a coronavirus blockade that has affected its economy.
这些测试是在平壤因冠状病毒封锁影响其经济而面临粮食短缺问题之际进行的。
At the end-of-year meeting, Mr Kim said the country was facing a "great life-and-death struggle", adding that increasing development and improving people's living standards were among this year's goals.
在年终会议上，金先生表示，该国正面临一场“伟大的生死斗争”，并补充说加快发展和提高人民生活水平是今年的目标之一。
United Nations officials had earlier warned that vulnerable children and elderly people in North Korea were at risk of starvation.
联合国官员早些时候曾警告说，朝鲜的弱势儿童和老人有挨饿的危险。
The US has been calling for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, and Pyongyang's relationship with President Joe Biden's administration has so far been fraught with tension.
美国一直呼吁朝鲜放弃核武器，平壤与拜登总统政府的关系迄今为止充满紧张。
North Korea has also repeatedly accused South Korea of double standards over military activities.
朝鲜还多次指责韩国对军事活动采取双重标准。
South Korea recently tested its first submarine-launched ballistic missile, which it said was needed as deterrence against North Korea's "provocations".
韩国最近测试了它的第一枚潜射弹道导弹，它说这是对朝鲜“挑衅”的威慑。
from BBC News
2021-01-05
