South Korean President Says Renewed Threats from North Are 'Undesirable'

韩总统批评北韩威胁：态度不可取

　

In his first personal response to recent threats from North Korea, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has criticized Pyongyang's recent attitude. Amid reports of potential military measures by the North, Mr. Lee is calling for a new, more "straightforward" relationship between the two sides.

　

韩国总统李明博第一次对北韩最近的威胁作出反应，批评了北韩最近的态度。最近有报导说北韩可能采取某些军事对抗措施。在另一方面，李明博总统呼吁南北韩之间建立更为坦诚的新关系。

The South Korean media quotes a senior North Korean military official, Thursday, as warning that Pyongyang may take what it calls "military countermeasures" in an escalating exchange of rhetoric between the two sides.

　

韩国新闻界星期四援引北韩一名高级军事官员的警告说，在目前双方言词交锋日益激烈的形势下，北韩可能采取“军事对抗措施”。

In less than two weeks, North Korea has expelled South Korean officials from a joint industrial zone; threatened to turn South Korea into a "sea of ashes"; and, labeled South Korean President Lee Myung-bak as a "traitor" with "sycophantic" policies toward the United States.

　

不到两星期前，北韩从一个联合工业区内驱逐了韩国管理人员，并威胁要把韩国变为焦土。北韩还把韩国总统李明博称为采取向美国献媚政策的“卖国贼”。

Much of the North's anger is focused on recent testimony by South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Tae-young, who told lawmakers there are contingency plans to strike North Korea's nuclear weapons sites, if it became clear the North seems poised to attack. North Korea has demanded an apology for those remarks.

　

北韩的愤怒多半集中在韩国参谋长联席会议主席金泰荣最近发表的讲话上。金泰荣对韩国议员说，如果有迹象显示北韩确实准备进犯，那么韩国也备有袭击北韩核武器场地的应变计划。北韩要求韩国就有关说法道歉。

In his first public comments on the latest tensions, President Lee defended Kim's testimony.

　

李明博总统在他第一次公开发表的评论中为金泰荣作辩护。

He says what Kim said can be seen as a natural and ordinary reply, and the North should not interpret it differently. Therefore, says Mr. Lee, the North's attitude is "undesirable."

　

他说，金泰荣的这番话可被看作是自然和正常的回应，北韩不该对此作不同的解释，北韩的态度“不可取”。

Mr. Lee's policy toward North Korea is considerably firmer than his two predecessors, who transferred billions of dollars in aid and investment to Pyongyang with few strings attached. He told a luncheon of top military officers, Thursday, he wants to transform the North-South relationship.

　

李明博总统的北韩政策比前两任韩国总统要强硬得多，他的前任几乎不设任何条件地向北韩提供了几十亿美元的援助和投资。李明博星期四在午餐会上对高级军事官员说，他希望改变南北韩间的关系。

Mr. Lee acknowledges that North-South tensions have risen since his February inauguration, but says he does not expect them to get any worse. He says his administration wants a "more straightforward" dialogue with North Korea, and that the North should "open its mind."

　

他承认，自从2月上任以来，南北韩间越来越紧张，但是他预计南北韩关系不会继续恶化。他说，他希望与北韩开展“更为坦诚的”对话，而且北韩应当“开诚布公”。

North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. The resulting war was never formally concluded, only halted by a 1953 armistice. The United States deploys about 28-thousand troops in South Korea to deter any repeat invasion by the North.

　

北韩1950年入侵韩国。随后爆发的战争从未正式结束，只是根据1953年的停火协议下暂停下来。美国在韩国派驻有2万8千人的部队，以遏制北韩不再入侵韩国。

It is unclear precisely what North Korea may have meant Thursday, with its reported threat of "military countermeasures." However, U.S. General Burwell Bell -- Commander of American forces in Korea - warns the North should not make the mistake of using force against the South.

　

目前还不清楚北韩星期四有关“军事对抗措施”的威胁到底意味著什么。但是驻韩美军最高指挥官贝尔将军警告北韩，不要重蹈对韩国采用武力的覆辙。

"Should North Korea attack, we will defeat the attack quickly and decisively, and end the fight on terms set by the alliance," General Bell said.

　

贝尔将军说：“一旦北韩进犯，我们会迅速将他们击败，取得决定性的胜利，并根据我们的停战条件结束战事。”

Experts believe the North's military is unlikely to attack, but may be contemplating a restriction in North-South contact by closing off border access points which it controls.

　

专家认为北韩不大可能发动进攻，但是可能正在酝酿通过关闭边界来限制南北韩间的接触来往。