韩国军方表示，据报道朝鲜周三从首都附近发射的一枚导弹在升空不久后爆炸。韩国军方表示，这起事件似乎是一次失败的导弹试验。
The launch comes as some experts predict that the North is preparing to test a powerful weapon in its greatest provocation in years.
在此次发射之前，一些专家预测朝鲜正准备在其多年来最大的挑衅中测试一种强力武器。
The United States and South Korea have warned that North Korea may be preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) over a long distance. That would be the biggest test since 2017. Such a test would also violate United Nations Security Council resolutions placing limits on North Korea's missile program.
美国和韩国警告称，朝鲜可能正准备发射远距离洲际弹道导弹。这将是2017年以来最大的一次试验。这类试验也将违反联合国安理会限制朝鲜导弹计划的决议。
Details of the missile explosion and the possibility of civilian damage were not immediately known.
目前尚不清楚这枚导弹爆炸的细节以及造成平民伤害的可能性。
It is the 10th launch of its kind this year as North Korea continues to modernize its arsenal. Experts say the country is trying to pressure other nations into making concessions while denuclearization talks are frozen.
随着朝鲜继续对其武器库进行现代化改造，这是其今年第10次类似发射。专家表示，在无核化谈判被冻结的情况下，该国正试图迫使其它国家做出让步。
The missile blew up when it was less than 20 kilometers above the earth, an unidentified South Korean military official said. The cause of the explosion is not known, the official added.
一位身份不明的韩国军方官员表示，这枚导弹在地球上空不到20公里处爆炸。这位官员还说，爆炸的原因尚不清楚。
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier said the launch came from the Sunan area near Pyongyang, the North's capital, around 0030 UTC, but gave no other details.
韩国参谋长联席会议早些时候表示，此次发射来自于朝鲜首都附近的顺南地区，时间大约在协调世界时03：00，但是没有提供其它细节。
Lee Choon Geun is with South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute. He said the missile likely exploded less than a minute after its launch. He said if the missile's toxic fuel fell on civilian areas in North Korea, then it would likely cause major health problems. So far, there are no outside reports of such damage in North Korea.
李椿根就职于韩国科技政策研究所。他说，这枚导弹在发射后不到一分钟就爆炸了。他说，如果导弹的有毒燃料落在朝鲜的平民区，那么它可能会造成严重的健康问题。到目前为止，外界还没有关于朝鲜遭受此类伤害的报道。
The failed test showed the danger of North Korea's decision to launch from an airport close to a populated area, experts said.
专家说，试验失败表明朝鲜决定从靠近人口稠密地区的机场发射是危险的。
North Korea's newest and largest ICBM system, the Hwasong-17, was first shown at a military parade in 2020.
朝鲜最新、最大的“化城-17”洲际弹道导弹系统在2020年的阅兵式上首次亮相。
North Korea has not tested an ICBM or nuclear bomb since 2017 but has said that it could start testing again because denuclearization talks with the United States have stopped.
朝鲜自2017年以来就没有试验过洲际弹道导弹或核弹，但是表示它可能会再次开始试验，因为与美国的无核化谈判已经停止。
The North Korean missile activity has caused increased training among South Korea and U.S. forces in East Asia.
朝鲜的导弹活动导致韩国和驻东亚美军加强了训练。
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier recently led military exercises in the Yellow Sea. And air defense artillery at Osan air base in South Korea increased training measures, U.S. forces in Asia said.
亚伯拉罕·林肯号航空母舰最近在黄海领导了军事演习。驻亚洲美军表示，韩国乌山空军基地的防空火炮增加了训练手段。
I'm Susan Shand.
我是苏珊·尚德。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，请勿转载，违者必究！)