北韓稱美國主導推動核潛艦，可作為其自身擴充武器的正當理由

首爾，9月16日（路透社）— 在美國與澳洲、英國簽署的澳英美安全夥伴關係（AUKUS）防務協定即將屆滿5週年之際，北韓週三指控美國正在擴大一個「核潛艦聯盟」，並稱此舉正破壞全球核安全。SEOUL, Sept 16 (Reuters) - North Korea accused the United States on Wednesday of expanding a "nuclear submarine alliance" that it said was undermining global nuclear security, as the fifth anniversary of its AUKUS defence pact with Australia and Britain arrives.

北韓國營媒體朝中社（KCNA）報導稱，華府正加強核擴散行動；報導引述名為崔柱賢（Choe Ju Hyon）的國際事務分析人士說法，指控一名美國海軍高層官員鼓勵日本和南韓發展核動力潛艦。Washington was intensifying nuclear proliferation efforts, state media KCNA said, citing an international affairs analyst named Choe Ju Hyon who accused a senior U.S. naval official of encouraging Japan and South Korea to pursue nuclear-powered submarines.

這篇評論指出，美國與英國正在AUKUS協定架構下協助澳洲取得核動力潛艦，而該協定已成為華府尋求擴展至南韓、日本等其他盟邦的模板。評論並提及首爾正推動核動力潛艦，東京也有相關討論，稱這些發展使北韓持續強化自身核嚇阻力量具有正當性。Saying that the AUKUS pact — under which the U.S. and Britain are helping Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines — has become a template Washington is seeking to extend to other allies including South Korea and Japan, and noting Seoul's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and discussion in Tokyo, the commentary said the developments justified North Korea's continued build-up of its own nuclear deterrent.

北韓一直推進自身發展核動力、搭載核武潛艦的計畫。去年12月，北韓國營媒體發布的照片顯示，金正恩造訪一處造船廠，視察一艘被稱為8,700噸級核動力潛艦的船體；照片中該潛艦船體大致已完工。北韓稱，這是海軍現代化與核武裝化的關鍵一步。North Korea has been advancing its own push for a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed submarine. In December, North Korean state media photos showed a largely completed hull of a submarine as Kim visited a shipyard to inspect what it described as an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine, calling it a crucial step in the modernisation and nuclear armament of the navy.

另外，朝中社報導，由北韓國防省副相金剛日（Kim Kang Il）率領的北韓國防省代表團，週二已離開平壤，前往中國出席名為第13屆北京香山論壇的區域安全會議。Separately, KCNA reported that a delegation from North Korea's Ministry of National Defence, led by Vice Minister Kim Kang Il, departed Pyongyang on Tuesday to attend a regional security conference in China called the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

（喬伊斯・李報導；丹尼爾・華利斯編輯）(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Daniel Wallis)