John Kerry might well be wondering what he has let himself in for. Half way through a ten-day global trip that has immersed him in the Arab-Israeli peace process and Syria’s civil war, today the new US secretary of state flies into the middle of the latest North Korea crisis.

約翰•克里(John Kerry)現在很可能在想，自己到底惹下了什么麻煩。他為期十天的全球出訪行程已經過半，迄今為止主要用于推進阿以和平進程和處理敘利亞內戰問題。今天，這位美國新任國務卿將飛往最新這場朝鮮危機的中心。

Making his first visit to Asia since taking office, Mr Kerry will travel to Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo at the very time North Korea could test its new medium-range ballistic missiles in what is widely believed to be an attempt to force new concessions or aid from the international community.

這是克里履任以來首次訪問亞洲。在朝鮮可能試射新型中程彈道導彈之際，克里將訪問首爾、北京和東京。人們普遍認為，朝鮮此舉是為了迫使國際社會做出進一步妥協或者提供進一步援助。

In a trip that will set the tone for the international response to the latest threats from North Korea, Mr Kerry’s objective will be to resist pressure from Pyongyang and provide continued reassurance to America’s South Korean and Japanese allies, while also cajoling China into putting more pressure on its North Korean ally.

克里此行將為國際社會如何回應朝鮮的最新威脅定下基調。他的目標將是：頂住來自朝鮮的壓力，再一次給韓國和日本兩個盟友吃定心丸，同時誘使中國向其盟友朝鮮加大施壓。

The new round of pledges from Pyongyang to create a “sea of fire” follow a familiar pattern, but US officials admit the crisis on the Korean peninsula is unusually tense because so little is known about the intentions of North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong-eun.

朝鮮最近多次放言要制造“一片火海”，這是它的慣用招數。但美國官員承認，如今朝鮮半島危機局勢之所以異乎尋常地緊張，是因為人們對朝鮮新領導人金正恩(Kim Jong-eun)的真實意圖知之甚少。

“His primary objective is to consolidate his power ?.?.?.?he is trying to show that he is in control,” said James Clapper, director of national intelligence, yesterday. Mr Kim did not appear to have an objective other than getting acceptance “from the world, and specifically the US, of North Korea’s arrival as a nuclear power, which would entitle him to recognition and accommodation and aid”.

美國國家情報總監詹姆斯?克拉珀(James Clapper)表示：“他的主要目標是鞏固權力……他正試圖顯示局勢在自己的掌控之中。”金正恩的目的似乎不外乎是，讓“全世界、尤其是美國”，接受“朝鮮已擁有核打擊能力的現實，從而獲得認可、接納和幫助。”

Yet while North Korea has won concessions after previous episodes of bluster, the lack of willingness to give ground this time was underlined by yesterday’s G8 summit which included a statement condemning “in the strongest possible terms” North Korea’s nuclear programme and threats by ministers to impose new sanctions if the new missile test goes ahead.

盡管朝鮮之前的數次恐嚇都曾成功迫使國際社會讓步，但昨日的八國集團(G8)峰會凸顯出國際社會此次不愿妥協的態度。峰會發表了一份聲明，“用最嚴厲的措辭”譴責了朝鮮的核計劃;與會的各國部長還威脅稱，如果朝鮮繼續試射導彈，將對其采取進一步制裁措施。 “There is no disagreement with the United States over North Korea,” said Sergei Lavrov, Russian foreign minister, on Wednesday.

俄羅斯外長謝爾蓋?拉夫羅夫(Sergei Lavrov)周三表示：“我們在朝鮮問題上與美國沒有分歧。”

Joseph DeTrani, former US special envoy for North Korea, said: “Pyongyang believes we will blink, that if they threaten enough and intimidate enough, we will give them something in return. But I don’t think anyone is prepared to do that any longer – no one wants to cave in.”

前美國朝鮮特使約瑟夫?狄長禮(Joseph DeTrani)表示：“平壤方面認為，我們會避免沖突。他們認為，如果把威脅和恐嚇的功夫做足，我們將會給他們一些好處。但我認為，誰也不打算繼續這么做了——沒有人愿意屈服。”

The united international response to North Korea’s threats puts further pressure on China, which has publicly shown its displeasure at the recent escalation in rhetoric, providing Mr Kerry an opening during his talks in Beijing tomorrow. The US and other Asian governments want China to take further steps against North Korea, including restricting some trade and closing down bank accounts.

國際社會對朝鮮威脅的聯合回應，對中國造成了更大的壓力。隨著國際社會最近對朝鮮的措辭日趨嚴厲，中國已公開表示對朝鮮的不滿，這為克里明日在北京的會談提供了機遇。美國及其他亞洲國家希望中國采取進一步措施壓制朝鮮，包括限制部分貿易、以及關閉一些銀行賬戶。

Kurt Campbell, until recently the assistant secretary of state for East Asia, believes there have been “subtle shifts” in China’s attitude to North Korea which cannot have been “lost” on Pyongyang. 剛剛卸任的美國東亞及太平洋事務助理國務卿科特?坎貝爾(Kurt Campbell)認為，中國對朝鮮的態度有“微妙轉變”，對此朝鮮不應視若無睹。 “You have seen it at the United Nations. We have seen it in our private discussions and you see it in statements in Beijing,” he said. “The most important new ingredient has been a recognition in China that their previous approach to North Korea is not bearing fruit.”

坎貝爾指出：“這一點在聯合國(UN)已經有目共睹。我們在私下的談話中看到了，大家從北京方面發表的聲明中也看到了。最重要的一點變化是，中國人承認，他們之前對朝鮮的政策沒有產生效果。”

More broadly, Mr Kerry’s trip will be closely watched for any hints he gives about his views on the Obama administration’s “pivot” to Asia. At his confirmation hearing in January, he appeared to join the critics who believe the administration has placed too much emphasis on beefing up its military presence in the region, which was bound to alienate China.

以更廣的視角來看，克里此行將是一扇窗戶，人們將透過此行、仔細尋找他對奧巴馬政府“重返亞洲”戰略看法的蛛絲馬跡。在1月份的國務卿提名人審議聽證會(confirmation hearing)上，克里似乎站在了這一戰略的批評者一邊。批評者認為，奧巴馬政府過于重視加強在亞洲的軍事力量，這必將導致中國的疏遠。

“We have a lot more forces there than any other nation in the world, including China,” he said. “And the Chinese take a look at that and say: ‘What’s the US doing? Are they trying to circle us?’ I think we need to be thoughtful in how we go forward.”

克里當時說：“我們在亞洲部署的軍力，已遠遠超過世界任何其他國家，包括中國。而中國人環顧四周之后會說，‘美國在干什么?想包圍我們嗎?’我認為我們必須三思而后行。”

However, as a result of the latest North Korea crisis, the US has sent even more assets to the region, including missile defence batteries to Guam which could also reduce the potential threat of China’s own missile force.

然而，朝鮮危機的最新動向，促使美國向亞洲部署了比以往更多的人力和物力，包括在關島部署反導系統。該系統還可能降低中國自己的導彈部隊的潛在威脅。

更多精彩資訊請關注查字典資訊網，我們將持續為您更新最新資訊!