朝鲜周二发射了至少一枚远程导弹，韩国军方称该导弹很可能是设计为从潜艇发射。
The launch of the missile came after South Korea successfully tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, last month.
这次导弹发射是在韩国上个月成功测试潜射弹道导弹之后发生的。
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the missile flew about 430-450 kilometers, reaching a height of 60 kilometers. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea launched a ballistic missile from waters near the eastern port of Sinpo. But it did not say whether the missile was fired from an underwater structure or a launch area above the surface.
韩国韩联社报道称，该导弹飞行了大约430到450公里的距离，达到了60公里的高度。韩国参谋长联席会议在一份声明中表示，朝鲜从东部新浦港附近海域发射了一枚弹道导弹。它它没有说明导弹是从水下设施还是水面以上发射区发射出来的。
Sinpo is a major center for North Korea's defense industry where the country builds submarines. In recent years, North Korea has also used Sinpo to develop ballistic weapons systems designed to be fired from submarines. There have also been signs that North Korea is trying to build a larger submarine that would be able to launch more than one missile.
新浦是朝鲜的重要国防工业中心，该国的潜艇就在此建造。近年来，朝鲜还在新浦开发了设计用于潜艇发射的弹道武器系统。同时还有迹象表明，朝鲜正试图建造一艘能够发射不止一枚导弹的更大型潜艇。
North Korea last tested an SLBM in October 2019. It fired a Pukguksong-3 missile from an underwater launch structure. But the North has not shown that it can fire an SLBM from a submarine.
朝鲜最后一次测试潜射弹道导弹是在2019年10月。它从水下发射设施发射了一枚北极星3型导弹。但是朝鲜并未表明它可以从潜艇发射潜射弹道导弹。
Leif-Eric Easley is a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. He said, "North Korea's SLBM is probably far from being operationally deployed with a nuclear warhead, but (North Korean leader) Kim cannot politically afford appearing to fall behind in a regional arms race."
列夫-艾瑞克·伊斯礼是首尔梨花女子大学的国际研究教授。他表示：“朝鲜的潜射弹道导弹可能远未达到配备核弹头进行作战部署，但是朝鲜领导人金正恩在政治上无法承受在地区军备竞赛中落后的情况。”
Other experts say that it would take years for North Korea to build submarines that could operate quietly and effectively execute strikes. Such an effort would require large amounts of resources and major technological improvements.
其他专家表示，朝鲜需要数年时间才能建造出能够安静运行并有效执行打击的潜艇。这种成就将需要大量资源和重大技术进步。
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command stated that North Korea's latest launch did not present an immediate threat to U.S. troops, territory or allies.
美国印太司令部表示，朝鲜最近的发射并未对美国军队、领土或盟国构成直接威胁。
Last month, North Korea claimed that it successfully tested a new hypersonic missile. The state-run Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, released a picture of a test launch of a missile called the Hwasong-8. A hypersonic missile can fly very fast and very low making it harder for missile defense systems to recognize and defend against.
上个月，朝鲜声称其成功测试了一种新型高超音速导弹。国营的朝鲜中央通讯社发布了一张试射火星8型导弹的照片。高超音速导弹可以飞得非常快而且非常低，这使得导弹防御系统更难以设别和防御。
South Korea is also starting a major defense modernization plan. The plan calls for several new missiles, fighter jets and the nation's first aircraft carrier. Later this week, South Korea is expected to launch its first space rocket developed in the country.
韩国也将启动一项重大的国防现代化计划。该计划需要几款新型导弹、战斗机和该国的第一艘航母。本周晚些时候，韩国有望发射该国开发的首枚太空火箭。
Calls for talks
呼吁会谈
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said tensions on the Korean Peninsula were at a "critical stage." He called for renewed efforts toward a diplomatic resolution of the issue.
中国外交部发言人王文斌表示，朝鲜半岛的紧张局势正处于关键阶段。他呼吁重新努力以外交方式解决这个问题。
South Korea and the United States have repeatedly offered to restart nuclear talks with North Korea also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK.
韩国和美国一再提出重启与朝鲜的核谈判。
Sung Kim is the U.S. diplomat for North Korea. He said Monday, "To reach this objective, we will seek diplomacy with the DPRK." The aim, he said, was to reduce tension and increase the security of the U.S. and its allies.
金成是美国驻朝鲜外交官。他周一表示：“为了实现这一目标，我们将寻求与朝鲜的外交。”他称这样做的目的是降低紧张局势并提高美国及其盟国的安全性。
"We harbor no hostile intent towards the DPRK, and we are open to meeting with them without preconditions," he added.
他还表示：“我们对朝鲜没有心怀敌意，我们愿意同朝鲜进行没有任何先决条件的会谈。”
In a speech last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rejected those offers. "Recently, the United States has frequently sent signals that it is not hostile to our state, but its behaviors provide us with no reason why we should believe them," Kim said.
朝鲜领导人金正恩在上周的一次演讲中拒绝了这些提议。他说：“美国最近经常发出信号称其并不敌视我们国家。但其行为让我们没有理由信任他们。”
I'm Jonathan Evans.
我是乔纳森·埃文斯。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，请勿转载，违者必究！)