North Korea set to defy US warning with rocket launch

NORTH KOREA was today set to launch a long-range rocket after completing preparations to put a satellite into space, defying international calls to scrap the plan.

朝鲜今日将在完成准备工作之后发射远程火箭把卫星送入太空，而无视国际社会的要求取消这一计划。

State media said this morning it would launch its controversial rocket "soon" as regional powers deployed warships and trained satellites on the communist country to monitor what they suspect will be a long-range missile test. US President Barack Obama warned yesterday that the international community would take action if North Korea went ahead.

国家媒体于今早报道说，他们将“很快”发射的火箭是一个具有争议的远程导弹实验，以作为其区域力量来部署军舰和卫星瞄准以监视他们所怀疑的共产主义国家 。美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马于昨日警告说，国际社会将采取行动，如果朝鲜一意孤行。

"We will work with all interested partners in the international community to take appropriate steps to let North Korea know that they cannot threaten the safety and stability of other countries with impunity," he said.

“我们将协同所有国际社会利益相关伙伴，采取适当的措施，使朝鲜知道他们将不可能毫无惩罚代价的威胁其他国家的安全与稳定，”他说。

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak convened a meeting of his top security officials in the basement bunker at the presidential Blue House. Today is the first day in the April 4-8 timeframe set by the secretive North for what it calls a satellite launch.

韩国总统李明博在总统府青瓦台的防空洞内召集了高级安全官员会议。今天是神秘北方（指朝鲜）所规定时限4月4号至8号所谓的卫星发射的第一天 。

The United States, South Korea and Japan say the launch is a disguised test of the Taepodong-2 missile designed to carry a warhead capable of reaching Alaska.

据美国，韩国和日本说，此次发射是大浦洞2号导弹的伪装实验，其设计能力为可携带弹头打到美国的阿拉斯加。