North Korea has apparently revalued its currency, in a move that may be aimed at tightening domestic market activity.
北韩重新调整了其货币价值。此举可能是为了更加严格控制其国内市场活动。
South Korean media quoted unnamed North Korean sources Tuesday as saying the North has sharply raised the value of its currency. If accurate, this would be the first North Korean currency reform in 17 years.
星期二，韩国媒体援引未具名的北韩消息，说北韩大幅调高其货币价值。如果消息准确，这将是北韩17年来首次进行货币改革。
China's state news agency Xinhua also reported the revaluation, saying embassies in Pyongyang had been informed about it.
中国官方媒体新华社也报导了北韩货币升值的消息，称驻平壤的外交使团已被告知这一消息。
According to the reports, Pyongyang announced that old North Korean won notes are to be exchanged for new notes at the rate of 100 to one. Citizens will reportedly be ordered to trade in old 1,000-won bills for new 10-won notes this week.
根据报导，平壤宣布，北韩的旧货币将被新货币取代，100元旧货币兑换1元新货币。据报导，北韩居民本周被要求用1000元旧货币兑换10元新货币。
The reports say the announcement has caused confusion, and created a sudden spike in demand in North Korea for Chinese yuan and U.S. dollars, an apparent flight to stable currencies.
报导说，这一消息让人们产生困惑，并使北韩各地对人民币和美元等稳定货币的需求急剧攀升。
South Korean Unification Ministry Spokesman Chun Hae-sung downplayed the reports, saying his ministry has seen no announcements from Pyongyang.
韩国统一部发言人千海成则对该报导显得很低调，表示他所在的部门并未看到平壤就此发表了任何声明。
He says in the past, North Korean media announced such directives on the same day they came from the officials who issued them.
他说，过去北韩媒体在官方发布这类指令的同一天就会报导此事。
Cho Bong-hyeon is a researcher specializing in the North's economy at the Industrial Bank of Korea. He says a revaluation could be aimed at tightening control over the economy.
曹奉玄是韩国工业银行研究北韩经济的研究员。他说，重新评估货币价值可能是为了更严格地管控经济。
He describes the reform as a strategic card, which North Korea is playing to punish wealthier North Koreans while pumping money into government.
North Korea has experienced severe shortages of food, medicine, and other basic needs for two decades, due to the government's economic mismanagement and isolation. North Korea scholars say a black market now flourishes, mainly across the border with China. A number of North Koreans are believed to cross into China regularly to trade and work. This week's currency reform may be aimed at flushing out earnings from such activities.
由于北韩政府经济管理不善且闭关锁国，20年来，北韩在食品、药品和其它生活必需品方面都严重短缺。北韩学者说，现在黑市繁荣，主要是在边境和中国进行经济活动。许多北韩人据信经常到中国进行贸易和工作。本周的货币改革也许就是为了打击这些活动。
Cho says the reform also is likely to stunt domestic markets that have emerged in North Korea since Pyongyang introduced limited reforms in 2002.
曹奉玄说，改革还可能阻碍北韩在2002年有限改革后产生的国内新兴市场。
He says North Korean wholesalers and other business people will need to re-price products, but have no guidelines for how to do it. As a result, says Cho, they are likely to hoard their inventories for at least the time being, which will chill market activity.
他说，北韩的批发商和其他生意人需要重新定价商品。但是他们没有任何指导，不知道如何去做。曹奉玄说，结果就是他们很可能会将货物囤积一段时间。这将让市场活动降温。
Cho also points out that the currency reform is unlikely to keep pace with North Korea's rapidly rising consumer prices, meaning impoverished citizens may find it even harder to purchase basic goods.
他还指出，货币改革可能跟不上北韩飞涨的物价。这意味着穷人可能更难买到必需品。 |