韓國：朝鮮可能在準備新一次核試驗

South Korea's intelligence agency says the North may be preparing to conduct another missile test, just days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s Asia trip.

Officials with the National Intelligence Service told lawmakers Thursday it has detected a flurry of activity at North Korea's missile research facilities in the capital, Pyongyang.

North Korea has conducted a series of tests on it nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs in recent years in defiance of international sanctions. NIS officials testified the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site possibly sustained damage after the regime conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 3, as the explosion triggered at least three aftershocks.

"The North will constantly push for further nuclear tests going forward, and the miniaturization and diversification of warheads," the agency said during the briefing.

North Korea's continued nuclear and ballistic missile test programs have led to a war of words between Pyongyang and Trump, who has openly threatened to launch military action against the North. The issue will be a major focus of the U.S. president's upcoming five-nation trip to the Asia Pacific region, which includes a stop Tuesday in Seoul. Trump will also visit Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.美國總統川普亞洲之行幾天前，韓國情報機構表示，朝鮮可能正準備進行新一次導彈試驗。

韓國國家情報院官員星期四對議會表示，發現位於朝鮮平壤的導彈研究設施突然有頻繁活動。

朝鮮近年來不顧國際制裁，多次進行核試驗和彈道導彈試驗。韓國國家情報院官員在議會作證稱，朝鮮的豐溪里核試驗場可能在最近9月3號的那次核試驗後受損。9月3號的核試驗是朝鮮六次試驗中最強的一次，爆炸至少引發了三次餘震。

韓國情報院在簡報中說：“朝鮮將持續推動其核項目，並將彈頭縮小化、多樣化。”

朝鮮持續進行核試驗和彈道導彈試驗導致平壤和美國總統川普之間的言語衝突。川普公開威脅將對朝鮮採取軍事行動。朝核問題將是川普接下來亞太五國之行重點關注的問題。川普星期二將到訪首爾，他此行還將訪問日本、中國、越南和菲律賓。