VOA慢速英语：朝鲜导弹计划进展超出美国预期

North Korea Missile Program Progressing Faster Than Thought

朝鲜导弹计划进展超出美国预期

North Korea may have a working intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, able to carry a nuclear weapon by next year.

朝鲜明年可能拥有初步可用的能够携带核武器的洲际弹道导弹。

Intelligence officials for the U.S. Defense Department made the estimate in a report published Tuesday.

美国国防部情报官员在周二公布的报告中做出了如是评估。

Some Republican lawmakers have voiced concerns about North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.

一些共和党议员已经对朝鲜的导弹和核计划表达了担忧。

The Washington Post reported that the estimate decreases the expected time in which North Korea would be able to produce a "reliable, nuclear-capable ICBM" program. Earlier estimates had stated that North Korea would need three years to build a working ICBM.

《华盛顿邮报》报道称，这一判断降低了朝鲜有能力展示“可靠的、具备核能力的洲际导弹项目”的预期时间。之前预计朝鲜需要三年时间才能造出初步可用的洲际弹道导弹。

Mac Thornberry is the Republican committee chairman of the House Armed services committee. He said he was concerned about the apparent success of North Korea's launch of a long-range missile on July 4.

麦克·索恩伯里(Mac Thornberry)是美国众议院军事委员会的主席，他是共和党人。他说，他对朝鲜7月4日成功发射远程导弹非常担心。

Thornberry wants to increase U.S. defense spending on missile defense by $2.5 billion. Analysts said that the missile launched on July 4 was capable of reaching the state of Alaska. Thornberry said Congress and President Donald Trump need to take action to ensure that the U.S. and its allies are protected.

索恩伯里希望美国增加25亿美元在导弹防御上的国防开支。分析人士称，朝鲜7月4日发射的导弹能够打到阿拉斯加州。索恩伯里表示，美国国会和川普总统需要采取行动，确保美国及其盟国得到保护。

The U.S. Defense Department has already increased the number of ground based anti-missile weapons based in Alaska. Missile defense systems are also based in the state of California.

美国国防部已经增加了部署在阿拉斯加州的地面反导武器的数量。加利福尼亚州也部署了导弹防御系统。

VOA spoke to Ken Gause, the director of the International Affairs Group of the Center for Naval Analyses in Virginia. He said North Korea's increased efforts to develop long distance missiles are aimed at bringing about talks with the United States.

美国之音与维吉尼亚海军分析中心国际事务小组主任肯·甘斯(Ken Gause)进行了交谈。他说，朝鲜加紧发展远程导弹的目的是实现与美国谈判。

He said North Korea considers its weapons programs as the only way to ensure its security.

他说，朝鲜认为其武器计划是确保其安全的唯一途径。

Gause says the North Korean government wants to develop its economy, but is unwilling to limit its weapons programs.

甘斯表示，朝鲜政府希望发展经济，但是不愿意限制其武器计划。

"They have moved away, over the last few years, away from a military first policy to a party/people first policy which the driving factor behind that is economic progress, but they cannot focus on that part of their agenda until they have security locked down."

他说：“过去几年他们已经从军事第一政策转为党和人民第一的政策，其背后的驱动因素是经济进步，但是他们无法专注于这一议程，直到他们确保安全。”

Observers say the July 4 launch showed progress.

观察人士表示，朝鲜7月4日的发射显示出了进展。

Scott Bray, an East Asia expert with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said the recent test was not a surprise. However, he added that it presented a threat to the U.S. and "to our allies in the region and to the whole world."

美国国家情报总监办公室的东亚专家斯科特·布雷(Scott Bray)表示，朝鲜最近的导弹测试并不意外。不过他补充说，这对美国，以及美国在该地区以及全球的盟友构成了威胁。

I'm Mario Ritter.

我是马里奥·里特。