VOA常速英语2015--韩美军事演习向朝鲜发出的信号（在线收听）

韩美军事演习向朝鲜发出的信号

SEOUL— The annual joint military training exercises being conducted by the United States and South Korea have been accompanied by the expected - reciprocal missile launches from North Korea - and the unexpected - an assault on the U.S. ambassador to South Korea by a radical Korean nationalist. Washington and Seoul say these regularly scheduled drills are necessary to demonstrate military readiness and resolve, but they also increase tensions and the potential for conflict on the Korean peninsula.

The annual exercises mobilize around 10,000 South Korean and 8,000 U.S. troops to conduct land, sea and air maneuvers. They also utilize computer-simulated conflict scenarios that involve responding to attacks and incursions from the North.

这次年度演习调集了约一万名韩国士兵和8000名美国士兵，进行陆上、海洋和空中演练。还使用了电脑模拟的冲突场景，包括应对来自朝鲜的袭击和入侵。

U.S. Rear Admiral Lisa Franchetti said these are defensive drills only, designed to enhance U.S. and South Korean operational proficiency.

美国海军少将丽莎·弗兰切蒂称这些只是防御性的演练而已，旨在提高美国和韩国军队的操作熟练度。

“Our goal is to be able to work together to deter any type of activity by North Korea and if necessary to defend the Republic of Korea,” said Franchetti.

“我们的目标是能一起合作遏制韩国的任何活动，如果有必要还要捍卫大韩民国。”

Pyongyang has protested these drills as provocative rehearsals for a possible invasion. In response North Korea, as it had during past drills, conducted missile launches on two occasions.

平壤对此表示抗议，称演练是为可能侵略进行的挑衅性预演，作为回应，韩国像过去那样在演习期间发射了两次导弹。

While these exercises may increase tensions in the region, Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea analyst with the International Crisis Group, said they actually keep the peace by projecting military strength.

尽管这些演练活动可能加剧该地区的紧张，但国际危机组织的朝鲜问题分析家丹尼尔·帕金斯顿称这事实上通过展示军事力量维持了和平。

“The instrument for resolving political disputes both internally in Pyongyang and externally is force. So if they see a weakness they will exploit that weakness,” said Pinkston.

“无论在平壤国内还是国外，用以解决政治冲突的工具就是武力，所以如果他们看到有弱点，就会利用这种弱点。”

Still there is always the possibility that something unexpected could trigger armed conflict when opposing armies are practicing for war. Pinkston said he is most concerned that North Korean operational commanders, who have been conditioned to believe the United States and South Korea are planning to invade the North, may misread the intent of the joint maneuvers.

不过，当敌对方在为战争演练时，仍可能会发生意想不到的事情并触发武装冲突。帕金斯顿说他最担心的是朝鲜的作战指挥员，因为这些指挥员一直认为美国和韩国在策划入侵朝鲜，这可能会误导联合演练的初衷。

“Or [there’s a possibility] it’s interpreted incorrectly, or there is a local commander who is over zealous and sees an opportunity to respond and shoot down an aircraft after firing at ships, or something like that, that’s what I’m most worried about,” said Pinkston.

“或者有可能是理解错误，或者是当地指挥官过于狂热，在对船只开枪后看到有机会击落飞机，等等诸如此类的情况，这就是我最担心的事。”

What did not spark a wider conflict this year was the recent attack on the U.S. ambassador in Seoul by a South Korean radical nationalist. The ambassador was not seriously hurt and the lone assailant is not believed to be connected to North Korea, even though Pyongyang called the attack a just punishment.

最近韩国极端民族主主义者对首尔美国大使的袭击没有导致更大范围的冲突，这位大使受伤不严重，据悉这名独身刺客与朝鲜无关，即使平壤称这次袭击是一次正义的惩罚。

That attack seemed to only increase South Korean support for the strong military alliance between Washington and Seoul.

这次袭击似乎只是加强了韩国对华盛顿和首尔强大军事联盟的支持。