朝鲜宣称成功试射中远程火箭

North Korea on Monday claimed success in developing a new long-range rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, a boast that will set off new alarms in Washington if it proves to be true.

朝鲜周一宣称成功研发出能携带核弹头的新型中远程火箭，如果这一自夸之言被证明属实，将在华盛顿拉响新的警报。

Pyongyang said a ballistic missile test early on Sunday used a new rocket that could be equipped with a “large-size heavy nuclear warhead” and warned that its weapons were capable of reaching the mainland US.

平壤方面表示，周日早进行的弹道火箭试射使用了一枚可携带“大型重量核弹头”的新型火箭，并警告其武器已能打击美国本土。

North Korean propaganda regularly overstates the country’s military capabilities and should be treated with wariness. However, the comments chime with those of experts, as well as Japanese defence officials, who noted that Pyongyang’s latest test appeared to show significantly enhanced range.

朝鲜的宣传一贯夸大该国军事能力，因此应当谨慎对待。不过，上述言论与专家及日本防务官员的说法相吻合，他们指出平壤最新的试射似乎显示出射程得到显著提高。

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “hugged officials in the field of rocket research, saying that they worked hard to achieve a great thing”, according to an English-language news report from KCNA, Pyongyang’s official news agency.

朝鲜官方通讯社朝中社(KCNA)一篇英文新闻报道称，朝鲜领导人金正恩(Kim Jong Un)“拥抱着火箭研究部门干部赞赏道，你们真辛苦了，成就了一番大事业”。

Describing US policy as “coward American-style fanfaronade militarily browbeating only weak countries”, the agency said that if the US provoked North Korea it would “not escape from the biggest disaster in the history”.

朝中社称美国的政策是“专挑无核国家、国力微弱的民族诉诸武力的卑鄙的美国式虚张声势”，该社表示如果美国冒然触犯朝鲜，“必会遭到史上最大的灾殃”。

The rocket flew about 700km and reached an altitude of more than 2,000km. If fired at a lower trajectory, analysts believe the missile could have a range of more than 4,500km, putting US bases in Guam within range.

此次试射火箭飞行距离约700公里，上升高度超过2000公里。分析人士认为，如果以较低的弹道发射，这枚导弹的射程可能超过4500公里，覆盖关岛的美军基地。

“Had North Korea launched this missile at its maximum range, it would have covered US bases in Japan, Guam and potentially Hawaii,” said Bong Youngshik, a North Korean expert at Yonsei university.

延世大学(Yonsei University)朝鲜问题专家奉英植(Bong Young-shik)表示：“如果朝鲜以最大射程发射这枚导弹，它将覆盖美国在日本、关岛、可能还有夏威夷的基地。

“The North Korea military were very mindful with this test. They wanted Seoul and Washington to recognise it and thus strengthen Pyongyang’s hand in any upcoming negotiations.”

“朝鲜军方很重视这次试射。他们希望首尔和华盛顿方面认识到它，从而强化平壤方面在任何即将到来的谈判中的地位。”