朝鲜核问题：1分钟读懂前因后果

The North Korean stand-off is a crisis that, at worst, threatens nuclear war. It’s complicated - but let’s take a step back.

目前，朝鲜谈判僵局是一场危机，最坏的情况是发生核战争。事件很复杂，但首先让我们回顾一下前因后果。

Why does North Korea want nuclear weapons?

为什么朝鲜想拥有核武器？

The Korean peninsula was divided after World War Two and the communist North developed into a Stalinesque authoritarian system.

朝鲜半岛在二战后分裂，信仰共产主义的北方发展成为斯大林式的专制国家体系。

Isolated on the global stage, it says nuclear weapons are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it.

由于闭关政策，朝鲜与其他国家严重脱离，它认为核武器是唯一可以阻止外部世界摧毁其政权的威慑力量。

Could it carry out a nuclear attack?

朝鲜能否进行核攻击？

Probably, but it is unlikely to.

也许吧，但不太可能。

North Korea has carried out six nuclear tests. One, it says, was a hydrogen bomb.

朝鲜已经进行了六次核试验，其中一个是氢弹。

It claims, though this remains unverified, to have developed a nuclear bomb small enough to be carried by a long-range missile.

尽管尚未得到证实，但朝鲜声称其已经研制出一种小型化的核弹，可以由远程导弹携带发射。

It has also has a ballistic missile that experts believe could reach the US, Pyongyang’s main adversary.

外界认为朝鲜还拥有可以发射到美国的弹道导弹，这是平壤的主要军事对手。

In response the UN, the US, the EU and have implemented increasingly tough sanctions.

作为对核试验的回应，联合国、美国、欧盟对朝鲜实施了越来越严厉的制裁措施。

Why can’t Kim just be removed?

为什么不能定点清除金正恩？

The North has missiles aimed at South Korea and Japan. A pre-emptive strike against Pyongyang could trigger devastating retaliation. It would also kill countless North Koreans.

朝鲜拥有大量瞄准韩国和日本的导弹。对平壤先发制人的打击可能会引发其毁灭性的报复，这也会杀死无数的朝鲜人。

As the biggest Asian power, China is concerned about regime collapse, and that a unified Korea would bring US forces currently stationed in the South directly to its border.

作为亚洲最大的国家，中国担心朝鲜政权瓦解，统一的朝鲜半岛可能将目前驻扎在韩国的美军直接移到中朝边界。

Could a deal be reached with the North?

有可能与朝鲜达成协议吗？

Previous attempts to negotiate aid-for-disarmament deals have failed.

之前，六方会谈企图以援助换取朝鲜无核化的协议以失败告终。

But in January, the North embarked on direct talks with Seoul and sent a team to the Winter Olympics in South Korea, and in April the Koreas’ two leaders met for a historic inter-Korean summit.

不过在1月份，朝鲜与韩国直接举行会谈，并派出一支队伍参加韩国冬季奥运会，4月份朝韩两位领导人举行了历史性的首脑会议。

Pyongyang also offered direct talks with the US - an offer Mr Trump accepted - and ordered a halt to nuclear and missile tests. The uNPRecedented meeting was due to take place in Singapore on 12 June.

平壤还打算与美国直接谈判，并停止了核试验和导弹试验，特朗普接受了这项提议。这次史无前例的会议本应于6月12日在新加坡举行。

However, on 24 May Mr Trump cancelled the summit - following an escalation in rhetoric from both sides.

然而，5月24日，随着双方言论对峙升级，特朗普总统取消了这次首脑会议。