VOA慢速英语2013 Technology Report - New Internet Rules Offer Window into North Korea

Technology Report - New Internet Rules Offer Window into North Korea

科技报道 - 3G互联网为了解朝鲜打开一扇窗户

From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in Special English.

这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。

Foreigners in North Korea can now use Twitter, Facebook, and other social media on their mobile phones. A steady flow of tweets and Instagram pictures have been observed since the mobile service provider Koryolink launched its 3G network last week.

在朝鲜的外国人现在可以在手机上使用Twitter、Facebook和其它社交媒体。自从移动服务供应商高丽电信公司（Koryolink）上月推出其3G网络以来，便一直可以监测到推文（即Twitter消息）和Instagram图片的稳定流量。

The move came just weeks after the North Korean government announced that it would let foreigners bring their own mobile phones into the country. Until recently, foreigners were required to leave the devices with customs officials after crossing the border.

数周之前，朝鲜政府宣布允许外国人将他们自己的手机带进该国。就在不久前，外国人都被要求在入境时将手机设备交给海关官员。

The changes represent rare reforms in what is considered the most closed country in the world. Some observers say it could be a sign that North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong Un, is open to easing official restrictions 1.

这一变化象征着这个被认为是全球最封闭国家的罕见改革。一些观察人士表示，这可能是朝鲜新任领导人金正恩愿意缓和官方限制的一个信号。

Martyn Williams operates the North Korea Tech blog. He told VOA that the changes could create a hole in the wall of censorship that keeps out almost all foreign information.

马丁·威廉斯（Martyn Williams）运营着朝鲜科技博客。他对美国之音表示，这一变化可能会在几乎隔绝了所有外国信息的审查制度这一厚墙上打开一个小洞。

"Every time that new technology is adopted, especially in authoritarian 2 countries, when you look back, you'll be able to see that it was another nail in the coffin 3 of censorship. It was another crack in the wall, so to speak."

“每次新技术的应用，特别是在威权国家中，当你回头看时你都会看到，它是审查制度棺材上的另一颗钉子，也可以说是这一厚墙上的又一道裂缝。”

The new mobile Internet service will only be available to the small number of foreigners in North Korea.

这一新的移动互联网服务将只向身在朝鲜的少数外国人提供。

Martyn Williams says the service could change the way foreign media report on North Korea. He says having an Internet connection on a camera-equipped mobile phone means reporters can avoid some of the official restrictions.

威廉斯说，这一服务可能会改变外国媒体报道朝鲜的方式。他说，配备摄像头的手机有了互联网连接就意味着记者能够避免一些官方的限制。

"It gives reporters the ability to take a picture and to send the picture immediately. And then that means that once the picture is gone, even if someone comes up and says you can't take that picture, you have to delete it. You can turn around and say 'I'm sorry, but it's already sent.' Or you can delete it, but you know that it's already gone."

“它使得记者可以拍照后立即发送出去。而这意味着一旦照片发送出去后，即使有人来说你不能拍照，必须删掉，你可以转身告诉他，‘不好意思，但照片已经发出去了。’或者你删掉照片，但你知道照片已经发出去了。”

David Slatter works in Seoul as a writer for the website NKNews.org. He admits that reporters may be able to publish some images without the approval of the North Korean government. But he says their effect may be limited.

大卫·斯莱特(David Slatter)在首尔工作，是NKNews.org网站的作家。他承认，记者也许能发布一些未经朝鲜政府批准的照片。但他表示，他们的影响是有限的。

"At the moment, it seems very interesting. But in a few months, I do question how much will these photos really be covered if we just have the same handful of 10-11 people inside Pyongyang tweeting about their lunch."

“现在看上去很有意思。但几个月之后，我实在怀疑能有几张照片，如果我们只是有相同的少数10到11个人在平壤晒晒他们早餐的话。”

Gareth Johnson directs Young Pioneer Tours, which takes foreigners on trips to North Korea. He believes that these ordinary pictures could prove to be helpful.

加雷斯·约翰逊（Gareth Johnson）负责将外国人带到朝鲜旅游的先行者旅游公司（Young Pioneer Tours）。他认为这些普通的照片会被证明有帮助。

"In my mind, one fairly positive thing that is going to happen is people are going to see it less as a freak show.

“在我心中，一件即将要发生的事情就是，人们会越来越少把这当成一场荒诞秀。”

China's official Xinhua news agency says the Koryolink SIM card will cost $200. Data will cost an additional $200 for 2 gigabytes.

中国新华社报道称，高丽电信公司的SIM卡价格是200美元，2G数据流量包另需200美元。