The North Korean leader has apparently chosen person who will eventually succeed him. That news accompanies possible signs of North Korean mid-range missile tests, in addition to the long-range rocket the North may be planning to launch, later this month.
北韩领导人金正日看来确定了继位人选。与此同时，北韩有迹象将试射中程导弹，并在本月稍后时间发射远程火箭。
South Korea's National Intelligence Service disclosed to lawmakers in Seoul Tuesday North Korea's long-awaited plans for leadership in a future, post-Kim Jong Il era.
韩国国家情报部门星期二向首尔的议员报告了北韩为后金正日时代的领导安排所做的准备。
Youngest son
Intelligence analysts say the North Korean leader appears to have selected his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, to take his place.
情报分析指金正日已经选择自己最年轻的儿子金正云接替自己的位子。
Relatively little is known about the younger Kim. He is 26 or 27 years old. He is the son of Kim Jong Il's third wife, Ko Yong Hee. He was sent to a private boarding school in Switzerland for part of his education. Media reports quote his schoolmates as saying he is a fan of NBA basketball - especially star athlete Michael Jordan.
外界对这个金正云的了解不多。他大概二十六、七岁，是金正日第三任妻子高永姬所生，被送到瑞士的一家私人寄宿学校学习。有传媒引述他的同学说，金正云是美国职业篮球赛NBA的粉丝，特别是麦克尔-乔丹的崇拜者。
Lee Sang-hyun, an international security analyst with South Korea's Sejong Institute, is among many scholars who believe North Korea's recent nuclear weapon test is linked to Kim Jong Il's plans for succession.
韩国世宗研究所国际安全分析员李相贤和其他学者相信北韩近日的核武实验和金正日的让位计划有关。
He says, if North Korea can become recognized as a nuclear weapons nation, it can demand more compensation from the United States at international disarmament talks. That, says Lee, would allow a more stable transition of power in the North.
李相贤表示，如果北韩能够成为核武国家，就能在国际消除武器谈判中向美国要求更多，这能够使北韩的权力转移更加稳定。
More missile tests
The North's succession plans accompany what analysts say are actions consistent with test launch plans for medium and long-range missiles - possibly within the next few weeks.
分析还认为，北韩的权力转移与其中段程导弹测试的安排一致，很可能在最近几星期进行。
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak wrapped up a summit of Southeast Asian leaders Tuesday, saying the group agreed to cooperate more tightly on security issues like North Korea.
星期二刚结束东南亚领导人峰会的韩国总统李明博表示，各成员国同意对北韩等安全问题更加紧密的合作。
He says the leaders reaffirmed their commitments on getting rid of nuclear weapons, and called North Korea's nuclear test a serious threat to peace in Northeast Asia.
他还表示各国领导人都重申北韩废除核武的承诺，并认为北韩测试核武器严重威胁东北亚地区安全。
No sanctions
North Korea has warned of what it calls "additional defensive measures," if it is sanctioned for its recent nuclear test. South Korean defense officials say they are stepping up surveillance of the North's activities on land and at sea.
北韩警告一旦因核试验受到制裁，将会采取"特别防卫措施"。南韩国防官员表示正加紧对北韩海陆活动的监测。
Seoul is particularly concerned about a disputed maritime area west of the Korean peninsula, where the two Koreas have fought two naval battles in the past ten years. North Korea has never recognized the United Nations-drawn sea border there and warned last week it could not "guarantee the safety" of American and South Korean ships there.
首尔特别关注朝鲜半岛西面的一片有争议海域，过去十年里双方曾在这里发生两次海上军事冲突。北韩从不承认联合国在这里划出的海界，并在上周警告不保证经过这里的美国和韩国船只安全。
South Korea's navy has redeployed some of its top ships, included an Aegis class destroyer and a new guided missile ship with stealth capabilities, to the area. Bae Myung-woo is a South Korean navy spokesman.
韩国海军已经重新将最先进的舰艇派往该海域，其中包括宙斯盾级驱逐舰和拥有隐身功能的新型导弹舰艇。
He says South Korea will secure an overwhelming and predominant position of military power in its territorial waters. He says this will deter North Korea from any provocation at sea.
韩国海军发言人裴明友表示，韩国在其所属海域将确保军事力量的绝对优势，将挫败北韩任何来自海上的挑衅。 |