衛星圖像顯示朝鮮準備發射火箭

New satellite images of a North Korean rocket site show evidence of increased preparation for a space launch that Washington sees as cover for a long-range missile test. The U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said Sunday that satellite photos taken last Wednesday show a mobile radar trailer, not previously present at the new Tongchang-ri site, and rows of what appear to be empty fuel and oxidizer tanks. The Institute said the photos also show what appears to be activity near the launcher assembly building, where news reports indicate the stages of the Unha-3 rocket are located.

Pyongyang says the launch will put a functional satellite into orbit as part of the celebration of the 100th birthday of the late leader Kim Il Sung, the founder of the communist state and Kim Jong Un's grandfather. The United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan all have condemned the planned launch. Even Pyongyang's long-time ally, China, has expressed rare disapproval, while U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned."新的衛星圖片顯示，朝鮮火箭基地上增加了太空發射的準備工作。美國認爲朝鮮的衛星發射是爲遠程導彈試驗作掩護。約翰·霍普金斯大學高級國際問題研究學院美韓研究所星期天表示，上星期三拍攝的衛星圖片顯示，東倉里基地出現了此前沒有的一臺移動式雷達拖車，以及幾排看上去是空的燃料桶和氧化劑貯藏罐。美韓研究學院說，這些照片還顯示，發射臺組裝樓附近似乎有活動。據報道，朝鮮的“銀河3號”多級火箭就存放在那裏。

平壤表示，這次發射將把一顆衛星送入軌道，用於慶祝這個共產黨國家的已故開國領導人、金正恩的祖父金日成百年誕辰。美國、俄羅斯、韓國和日本譴責了朝鮮的發射計劃。就連朝鮮的長期盟友中國都罕見地表示反對。聯合國祕書長潘基文說，他感到“非常擔憂”。