South Korea and the United States held an air power exercise involving 20 fighter planes Tuesday. The allies' latest demonstration of military strength comes as North Korea is showing signs it may soon test nuclear weapons.
韩国和美国周二举行了一场涉及20架战斗机的空中力量演习。韩美联盟最近展示军事实力的时机正值朝鲜显现出可能很快试验核武器的迹象。
The training was held in the sea off South Korea's western coast. South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said it was an answer to North Korea's launch of eight ballistic missiles Sunday.
这次演习在韩国西海岸附近海域举行。韩国国防部表示，这是对朝鲜周日发射8枚导弹的回应。
Pictures released by South Korea's military showed the airplanes flying in a small, triangular formation. The exercise involved 16 South Korean fighter planes — including the F-35A, F-15K, and KF-16 — and four F-16 fighters from the U.S. Air Force, said South Korean officials.
韩国军方发布的图片显示，这些飞机以小型三角形编队飞行。韩国官员表示，此次演习涉及16架韩国战斗机，包括F-35A、F15K和KF-16，以及4架来自美国空军的F-16战斗机。
South Korea and the U.S. showed "its strong ability and willingness to strike against North Korea's provocations quickly and accurately," the South Korean military said. The two countries are watching for further actions by North Korea, it added.
韩国军方表示，韩美两国表现出快速准确打击朝鲜挑衅的强大能力和意愿。它还表示，两国正关注朝鲜的进一步行动。
North Korea on Sunday fired eight short-range ballistic missiles into the sea over a 35-minute period, South Korea's military said. It was North Korea's 18th round of missile launches this year.
韩国军方表示，朝鲜周日在5分钟时间内向海中发射了8枚短程弹道导弹。这是朝鲜今年进行的第18轮导弹发射。
On Monday, the United States and South Korea answered by launching eight missiles of their own into the ocean.
周一，美国和韩国向海中发射了8枚导弹作为回应。
South Korea's new conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has promised to answer quickly and firmly to what he calls North Korean provocations.
韩国新任保守派总统尹锡烈承诺对他所谓的朝鲜挑衅迅速予以坚定回应。
During a meeting last month, Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed holding larger joint military exercises. There had been fewer exercises under the previous South Korean government.
在上个月的一次会议上，尹锡烈和美国总统乔·拜登讨论了举行更大规模的联合军事演习。上届韩国政府很少举行演习。
There are also signs that North Korea could soon carry out its seventh nuclear test. Another nuclear test could further raise tensions in the area.
还有迹象表明，朝鲜可能很快会进行第7次核试验。再一次核试验可能会进一步加剧该地区的紧张局势。
Rafael Mariano Grossi is head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He said Monday that one of the tunnel entrances has been opened at North Korea's nuclear test site. That may be in preparation for a nuclear test, Grossi said.
拉斐尔·马里亚诺·格罗西是国际原子能机构的负责人。他周一表示，朝鲜核试验场的其中一个地道入口已经打开。格罗西表示，这可能是在为核试验做准备。
Such a test, he said "would contravene U.N. Security Council resolutions and would be a cause for serious concern."
他说，这类试验将违反联合国安理会的决议，并会引发严重关切。
North Korea is in the middle of one of its busiest years ever for weapons tests. It is attempting to make progress on a weapons development wish list created by leader Kim Jong Un in 2021.
朝鲜正处于其最繁忙的武器试验年份之一的中期。它正试图在领导人金正恩2021年制定的武器发展愿望清单上取得进展。
I'm Dan Novak.
我是丹·诺瓦克。