VOA慢速英语2018 朝鲜减轻对韩美两国批评 转而瞄准日本

North Korea Eases Criticism of US, South, Aims at Japan Instead

North Korea's state media have greatly reduced criticism of the United States and South Korea while the countries are involved in diplomatic talks. But North Korea has increased sharp words for another target: Japan.

朝鲜官方媒体在外交谈判期间已经大大减少了对美国和韩国的批评。但是朝鲜加大了对另一个目标的尖锐言辞，这个国家就是日本。

Japan has held a harder line against North Korea than South Korea or the U.S. As a result, the North has increased its criticism possibly in an effort to divide Japan from its allies.

日本对朝鲜的态度比韩国或美国都更强硬。因此，朝鲜加大了批评力度，可能是为了分化日本跟它的盟友。

In recent days, North Korea's official media denounced Japan for discriminating¹ against its large ethnic² Korean community. And it has brought more attention to South Korean's anger over a territorial³ dispute with Japan.

最近几天，朝鲜官方媒体谴责日本歧视其庞大的朝鲜族社群，同时更加关注韩国对同日本领土争端的怒火。

North Korea also strongly criticized Japanese Foreign Minister Taro⁴ Kono. He recently suggested that Japan provide some financial support for inspection⁵ efforts related to North Korea's planned removal of nuclear weapons.

朝鲜还强烈批评日本外相河野太郎。他最近建议日本为一些涉及朝鲜放弃核武器的核查工作提供财政支持。

Historic tensions, historic meetings

历史性压力，历史性会议

Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula as a colony from 1910 to 1945. There has been a long history of bad feelings between the sides. Japan and North Korea have never had diplomatic relations.

日本在1910年到1945年期间将朝鲜半岛作为殖民地统治。双方之间的怨恨历史良久。日本和朝鲜从未建交。

In addition, North Korea has demanded that Japan pay for damage caused during its colonial rule. North Korea's ruling party newspaper recently repeated the demand for a full apology and payments.

此外，朝鲜要求日本赔偿其殖民统治期间造成的损失。朝鲜执政党党报最近重申了对日本全面道歉和赔偿的要求。

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met with the leaders of China, South Korea and the United States. But, so far, he has not met with any Japanese leaders.

朝鲜领导人已经会晤了中韩美三国领导人。但是截至目前尚未见过任何日本领导人。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reportedly considering a meeting with Kim. However, Japan has kept firm in maintaining economic and political pressure on North Korea.

据报道，日本首相安倍晋三正在考虑与金正恩会面。然而，日本一直坚定地维持对朝鲜的经济和政治压力。

The Japanese leader could meet Kim at a Russian development meeting in Vladivostok in September. That is where Kim is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

这位日本领导人可能会在9月份在海参崴举行的俄罗斯发展会议上会见金正恩。预计金正恩和俄罗斯总统普京将在这里会面。

Abe faced with hard choices

安倍面临的艰难选择

Experts note that Abe's position is difficult.

专家指出，安倍的立场很难。

The Japanese public is fearful of North Korea. Japan remains⁶ concerned about the North's medium-distance missiles although North Korea has announced a freeze on missile launches.

日本公众害怕朝鲜。尽管朝鲜宣布冻结导弹发射，但是日本仍然对朝鲜的中程导弹感到担忧。

Also, Abe aims to solve a long dispute over the fate of more than 10 Japanese citizens taken by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 80s. Japan says North Korea has not been fully⁷ truthful⁸ about their fate or whether they are still alive.

此外，安倍旨在解决对20世纪七八十年代被朝鲜特工绑架的10多名日本公民命运的长期争议。日本表示，朝鲜对这些人的命运或者是否还活着没有完全讲真话。

North Korea, however, has said that it has dealt with the issue.

然而朝鲜表示已经解决了这个问题。

Possibly the biggest problem is North Korea's demand for payment related to Japanese colonial rule. Such payment could cost Japan billions of dollars.

可能最大的问题是朝鲜要求日本对殖民统治进行赔偿。这类赔偿可能会让日本花费数十亿美元。

Japan says it paid North Korea many years ago. But, experts say, changing relations between North and South Korea and the U.S. could increase pressure on Japanese leaders to reconsider North Korea's demands.

日本称其多年前就赔偿了朝鲜。但是专家表示，朝韩美之间的关系改善可能会加大日本领导人重新考虑朝鲜要求的压力。

Words in This Story

fate –n. the things that have or will happen to a person or thing; the path or direction that events will take

1 discriminating   

a.有辨别能力的

参考例句：

• Due caution should be exercised in discriminating between the two. 在区别这两者时应该相当谨慎。
• Many businesses are accused of discriminating against women. 许多企业被控有歧视妇女的做法。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

4 taro   

n.芋，芋头

参考例句：

• Main grain crop has taro,corn,banana to wait.主要粮食作物有芋头、玉米、芭蕉等。
• You celebrate your birthday with taro,red bean and butter.用红豆、芋头和黄油给自己过生日。

5 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。