A North Korean cargo ship being closely tailed by the United States Navy appears to be changing course, and may be returning to North Korea. The ship has come to be seen as an initial test of new United Nations restrictions on Pyongyang.
受到美国海军紧密跟踪的北韩货轮看来改变了航向，或许要返回北韩。这艘北韩货轮已被看作是对联合国向平壤施加的制裁措施是否有效的初步检验。
U.S. officials say the Kang Nam, a North Korean cargo ship, is apparently abandoning the course it has been on for a week toward Southeast Asia, and may now be headed back home.
美国官员说，北韩货轮"江南"号显然改变了一个星期来驶往东南亚的航向，现在可能正在打道回府。
The ship, which intelligence officials describe as having a history of transporting North Korean weapons for sale, was believed to have been headed toward Burma. A U.S. Navy destroyer group began tracking the ship about a week ago under suspicion it may be carrying items banned under a recently passed United Nations Security Council Resolution.
情报官员认为，这艘船过去曾经为北韩运送过供出售的武器。该船这次被认为是开往缅甸。美国海军驱逐舰队根据最近通过的联合国安全理事会决议，从一个星期之前开始跟踪这艘可能运载违禁物品的北韩货船。
The ship was expected to refuel in Singapore, where the government had promised what it called "appropriate action" under the U.N. resolution. Park Seung-jae, an analyst with the Asia Strategy Institute in Seoul, says that may have helped change Pyongyang's mind about the voyage.
该船预计将在新加坡增添燃料，新加坡政府已承诺根据联合国决议采取"适当的行动"。首尔的亚洲战略研究所分析家朴升宰说，新加坡的行动是造成平壤改变初衷的原因之一。
"When they (North Korea) go through Singapore, they cannot ignore inspection from Singapore. Also, on the other hand, it may be very difficult for them to throw out weapons or nuclear equipment on the sea," said Park.
朴升宰说：“当他们（北韩）经过新加坡的时候，可能无法回避新加坡的检查。此外，它很可能无法把武器或者核设备抛到大海里。”
Park says if the ship does return to the North, it will bolster the impression that international sanctions against Pyongyang are effective. He says the United States and its partners will need to maintain close scrutiny of the North's shipping.
朴升宰说，如果该船返回北韩，那将增强有关国际制裁平壤已经产生效果的印象。他说，美国和其合作伙伴将对这艘北韩货船保持密切的关注。
"North Korean ships in Myanmar and Iran will be the first priority to watch," he said.
朴升宰说：“开往缅甸和伊朗的北韩货轮将是优先关注的对象。”
Weapons sales are an important source of hard currency for North Korea, one of the most economically isolated and impoverished nations in the world. Washington also fears Pyongyang may attempt to cash in on its nuclear programs by selling equipment, technology, or even fissile material to nations or groups hostile to the United States.
武器销售是北韩这个世界上经济上最孤立和最贫穷国家的一个重要收入来源。美国还担心北韩可能试图通过向与美国为敌的国家出售设备和技术，甚至是核裂变材料，利用自己的核计划获得硬通货。
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, passed in response to North Korea's nuclear test in May, authorizes member states to inspect the North's ships in their ports or territory.
联合国安理会今年5月针对北韩核试验通过的第1874号决议 授权成员国可以在其港口或者海域检查北韩船只。
North Korea has said on several recent occasions it would view any attempt to stop and inspect its ships by the United States or South Korea as an act of war, and retaliate accordingly. Pyongyang's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper extended that threat to Japan Wednesday, saying "responsibility for all consequences" of military action would rest will Tokyo if it attempted an inspection.
北韩最近在若干场合表示，美国和韩国任何试图阻截或者检查北韩船只的行为都将被视为战争行为，北韩将做出相应的报复行动。平壤官方报纸劳动新闻星期三把威胁扩大到日本，并且说，如果东京试图检查北韩货轮，日本要为军事行动的 “一切后果负责”。 |