朝鲜牡丹峰乐团启程来华表演

 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent his all-female pop propaganda band to China in an apparent effort to boost relations with his traditional ally.

朝鲜领导人金正恩派出他的女子流行乐团到中国演出，有明显意图欲修复与传统盟友中国的关系。

The Moranbong Band, which was reputedly handpicked by Mr Kim, is to give "friendship performances" along with the State Merited Chorus - an army orchestra - the official news agency KCNA reports. Clad in military-style uniforms, the musicians were seen off at Pyongyang station by senior party officials and the Chinese ambassador, underlining the importance of the group's first tour abroad.

牡丹峰乐团，被称是应朝鲜最高领导人金正恩指示成立的乐团，将与“功勋国家合唱团”一起进行“友好演出”，据朝鲜中央新闻社报道。乐团成员们身着军装制服，从平壤站出发，党内高层官员和中国驻朝鲜大使等为访问团送别，强调了该乐团第一次出国演出的重要性。

朝鲜牡丹峰乐团启程来华表演

It's seen as the latest sign that the two countries' longstanding alliance is on the mend again, after being strained by North Korea's third nuclear test in 2013. The band will appear at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing from 12 to 14 December, according to China's Xinhua agency.

自2013年朝鲜进行第三次核实验后，中朝两国关系一直紧张，这次公演被视为两国的长期联盟关系正在修补的最新迹象。据新华社报道，朝鲜乐团将会于12月12日-14日在北京国家大剧院进行公演。

Last in the international news in September, when rumours¹ of their disappearance² and possible fall from grace turned out to be greatly exaggerated, Moranbong were formed at Kim Jong-un's order in 2012 out of an ensemble³ favoured by his deceased father, Kim Jong-il.

此前已备受金正恩已故的父亲金正日的喜爱，2012年在金正恩的指示下成立了牡丹峰乐团。在九月的国际新闻上，牡丹峰乐团从荧屏上消失和可能失宠的传闻被严重夸大。

They are known - at least by the authoritarian⁴ state's staid standards - for their energetic, almost Western-style performances. Songs include typical North Korea propaganda items such as We Think of the Marshall (Mr Kim) Day and Night and My Country is the Best!, but also more surprising Western-inspired numbers, including the Theme from Rocky.

他们是非常受追捧的--至少以专制国家古板的标准衡量—她们的朝气蓬勃，和几乎西方式的舞台风格。表演歌曲包括典型的朝鲜歌曲《金正日将军之歌》《祖国赞歌》，还有更让人惊讶的西方歌曲如the Theme from Rocky等。

1 rumours   

n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传

参考例句：

• The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
• Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。

2 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

3 ensemble   

n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果

参考例句：

• We should consider the buildings as an ensemble.我们应把那些建筑物视作一个整体。
• It is ensemble music for up to about ten players,with one player to a part.它是最多十人演奏的合奏音乐，每人担任一部分。

4 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。