VOA慢速英语:US, South Korea to Deploy THAAD Missile Defense(翻译)

United States and South Korean officials have announced plans to deploy a U.S. missile defense system to South Korea.
美韩官员宣布计划在韩国部署一种美国导弹防御系统。

The officials said the deployment is to answer North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development programs.
这些官员们称，这一部署是为了回应朝鲜的核武器和弹道导弹研发项目。

General Thomas Vandal is the chief of staff for U.S. Forces in Korea. He and South Korean Deputy Minister of Defense Ryu Je-seung made the announcement in Seoul.
托马斯·梵德尔（Thomas Vandal）将军是驻韩美军总参谋长。他和韩国国防部副部长柳济胜（Ryu Je-seung）在韩国首尔宣布了这个决定。

Vandal said the two countries had to defend themselves from North Korean weapons. He criticized North Korea's continued development of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction.
梵德尔表示，两国必须保卫自己免遭朝鲜武器攻击。他批评了朝鲜继续发展弹道导弹和大规模杀伤性武器。

The missile system is called THAAD, short for Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense. It can shoot down ballistic missiles before they hit their targets on the ground.
该导弹系统被称之为萨德系统，也就是终端高空区域防御系统的简称。该系统可以在导弹击中地面目标前摧毁它。

On Friday, North Korea criticized the U.S. and South Korean agreement. China also expressed strong opposition to the planned deployment and urged the U.S. and South Korea to put a stop to it.
周五，朝鲜指责了这项美韩协议。中国也对这一部署计划表示强烈反对，并督促美国和韩国中止该计划。

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the missile system is not helpful for keeping peace on the Korean peninsula. It also said the deployment will harm the security of countries in the area, including China.
中国外交部表示，该导弹系统无助于维护朝鲜半岛和平。中国外交部还表示这一部署会损害包括中国在内的该地区国家的安全。

In the past, Chinese officials have raised concerns that the THAAD radar system could be used to observe Chinese territory.
中国官员以前就表达了对萨德雷达系统可能被用于监视中国领土的担忧。

The U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement that the only weapons to be watched will be North Korean weapons.
美国国防部在一份申明中表示，唯一受监视的将是朝鲜武器。

The Russian government also criticized the planned deployment. It said THAAD will have "irreparable consequences" and will increase tensions in East Asia.
俄罗斯政府也批评了该部署计划。该国表示，萨德系统将产生不可挽回的后果，并增加东亚地区的紧张局势。

South Korea and the United States opened talks about THAAD in February. That followed North Korea's most recent nuclear test and launch of a long-range rocket.
韩国和朝鲜于今年二月就萨德系统展开了会谈。这是在朝鲜最近的核试验和发射远程导弹之后。

U.S. officials say North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear and missile program in violation of United Nations sanctions.
美国官员表示，朝鲜仍在继续发展违背联合国制裁的核武器和导弹项目。

Last month, North Korea launched a partially-successful test of a Musudan missile. That missile flew about 400 kilometers before falling into the sea. But there were signs the North Korean military had or is close to developing the ability to reach U.S. bases in Asia and on islands in the Pacific Ocean.
上个月，朝鲜试射舞水端导弹取得局部成功。这枚导弹在落入大海前飞行了大约400公里。但是有迹象表明，朝鲜军方已经具有或接近开发出打击到美国亚洲基地及太平洋岛屿的能力。

North Korea is believed to have 30 Musudan missiles. The North Koreans also have close to 1,000 other Soviet model missiles. These missiles can reach targets in South Korea and Japan.
据信朝鲜拥有30枚舞水端导弹。该国还拥有将近1千枚其它苏联模式的导弹。这些导弹可以打击到韩国和日本的目标。

American officials have said they believe North Korea has enough plutonium to make eight to 12 nuclear weapons.
美国官员表示，他们认为朝鲜拥有足够的钚可以制造8到12枚核武器。