朝鮮表示愿與美國對話

North Korea has signalled it is willing to open dialogue with the US as diplomatic engagement on the Korean peninsula picks up pace.

朝鮮已表示愿意與美國展開對話。目前朝鮮半島外交接觸的步伐有所加快。

The comments from a North Korea envoy came as Seoul wrapped up the Winter Olympic Games, which South Korean President Moon Jae-in has used to bolster relations with the reclusive regime.

上述言論是一位朝鮮特使在平昌冬奧會閉幕時發(fā)表的。韓國總統(tǒng)文在寅(Moon Jae-in)利用此次冬奧會來改善韓國與這個與世隔絕的政權(quán)的關(guān)系。

Throughout last year, tension on the peninsula looked set to tip over into conflict as Washington and Pyongyang faced off over the regime’s development and testing of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.

去年，美國與朝鮮因后者開發(fā)和試驗彈道導彈及核武器而對峙，朝鮮半島的緊張局勢似乎一觸即發(fā)。

However, since the new year, Mr Moon has used the global sporting spectacle to engage with Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, in the hope that reduced tension can lead to negotiations over the North’s weapons programmes.

然而，進入新的一年后，文在寅利用這場全球體育盛會與朝鮮領(lǐng)導人金正恩(Kim Jong Un)進行接觸，希望局勢緩和引向有關(guān)朝鮮武器計劃的談判。

The approach met much scepticism in Seoul and Washington. However, if Pyongyang now proves sincere about engaging diplomatically with the US, Mr Moon will feel a measure of vindication.

這一做法在首爾和華盛頓都引起很多人的質(zhì)疑。然而，如果平壤現(xiàn)在表現(xiàn)出與美國進行外交接觸的誠意，那將在一定程度上證明文在寅是對的。

On Sunday, a high-ranking political delegation from Pyongyang came to the closing ceremony of the Winter Games, which featured North Korean athletes waving their national flag — a statement of inter-Korean detente that only months ago would have shocked observers.

周日，平壤一個高級別的政治代表團出席了本屆冬奧會的閉幕式，朝鮮運動員在閉幕式上揮舞著朝鮮國旗——這表明韓朝關(guān)系有所緩和，就在幾個月前，這一幕會讓觀察人士感到震驚。

Ivanka Trump, US president Donald Trump’s daughter and a senior White House adviser, also attended the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Pyeongchang alongside Kim Yong Chol, head of the high-ranking North Korean delegation.

美國總統(tǒng)特朗普的女兒及白宮的高級顧問伊萬卡•特朗普(Ivanka Trump)與朝鮮高級代表團團長金英哲(Kim Yong-chol)都出席了平昌冬奧會的閉幕式。

Mr Kim met Mr Moon before the ceremony and expressed an openness towards talks with the US.

金英哲在閉幕式前會晤文在寅，表示愿意與美國進行會談。

“The North Korean delegation agreed that North Korea-US relations must develop along with the South-North Korea relationship, while noting [Pyongyang] has enough intention to hold North Korea-US dialogue,” said a spokesman for South Korea’s presidential Blue House.

“北韓代表團同意北韓-美國關(guān)系必須與韓朝關(guān)系一同發(fā)展，同時指出，平壤方面有足夠意愿與美國對話，”韓國總統(tǒng)府青瓦臺(Blue House)的一位發(fā)言人表示。

While the comments are a positive sign for those worried about the prospect of war on the peninsula, many will question Pyongyang’s sincerity.

盡管對那些擔心朝鮮半島戰(zhàn)爭前景的人來說，這些言論是一個積極的信號，但平壤方面的誠意仍遭到許多人的質(zhì)疑。

The regime has a long history of diplomatic mind games and may well be playing for time as it puts the finishing touches on its intercontinental ballistic missile programme.

朝鮮政權(quán)向來愛玩外交心理游戲，此舉很可能是在爭取時間，以便其完成洲際彈道導彈計劃。

Only hours before the apparent overture, North Korean state media lambasted Mr Trump for pursuing ever tougher sanctions on the regime. 就在朝鮮特使貌似伸出橄欖枝的幾小時前，朝鮮官方媒體還嚴厲抨擊了特朗普對朝鮮政權(quán)實施越來越嚴厲的制裁。

Washington is “running amok to bring another dark cloud of confrontation and war over the Korean peninsula by announcing enormous sanctions against” North Korea, the official KCNA news agency said.

朝鮮官方的朝中社(KCNA)稱，通過宣布對朝實施大規(guī)模制裁，華盛頓方面正在“瘋狂地將又一片對抗和戰(zhàn)爭的烏云帶給朝鮮半島”。

Mr Trump has adopted a “maximum pressure” strategy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation in a bid to coerce Pyongyang to denuclearise.

特朗普采取了經(jīng)濟制裁與外交孤立的“史上最嚴”對朝制裁措施，以迫使平壤方面棄核。

Washington has also sent mixed signals about diplomatic talks. Before the opening ceremony of the Olympics, US vice-president Mike Pence said North Korea’s de-nuclearisation must be on the table before dialogue with the US could commence.

華盛頓方面也發(fā)出了錯綜復(fù)雜的外交談判信號。在本屆冬奧會開幕之前，美國副總統(tǒng)邁克•彭斯(Mike Pence)表示，在與美國展開對話之前，朝鮮棄核必須被納入議事日程。

Days later he appeared to reverse course, saying there were no preconditions for talks.

幾天后，他似乎改變了口風，稱談判沒有先決條件。

The US has also been wary of moves towards inter-Korean reconciliation, which Washington fears might drive a wedge into its longstanding alliance with Seoul.

美國也很警惕韓朝和解的進展，擔心這可能會離間美韓長期同盟。

Mr Moon, however, has moved carefully and has yet to accept an offer from Kim Jong Un to visit Pyongyang for an inter-Korean summit.

然而，文在寅也很謹慎，尚未接受金正恩邀請其去平壤舉行朝韓峰會的提議。

The South Korean leader has instead reiterated that US-North Korea dialogue must run in parallel to inter-Korean reconciliation.

相反，這位韓國領(lǐng)導人重申，美朝對話必須與韓朝和解平行推進。