聯合國祕書長潘基文計劃訪問朝鮮
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon is planning to visit North Korea this week, South Korean Yonhap news agency has reported, raising hopes for progress in relations between the two Koreas.
據韓國聯合通訊社報道，本週聯合國祕書長潘基文計劃將訪問朝鮮。潘基文此行將給朝鮮半島兩國關係帶來改善的契機。
The surprise trip will be Mr Ban’s first trip to Pyongyang in his capacity as UN chief, a high-level UN source told Yonhap.
聯合國高層人員透露，本次出行是潘基文首次以聯合國首長的身份訪問朝鮮。
It is hoped the UN chief’s trip will bolster efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear standoff.
人們希望潘基文此行能夠緩解朝鮮核問題的僵局。
Recent reports that North Korea has declared a no-sail zone off its east coast have been seen as a possible indication the country could be preparing for a missile test-launch in the area.
近日有報道稱，朝鮮宣佈其在東面領海設立禁航區。這被視爲朝鮮可能會在該區域準備進行導彈試射。
Sources from the South Korean government on Sunday told Yonhap North Korea declared the no-sail zone in the East Sea area near Wonsan from November 11 to December 7.
本週日，韓國政府有關人員宣稱，在11月11日至12月7日，將在元山附近的東海設立禁航區。
The unidentified UN source told Yonhap Mr Ban was almost certain to meet with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un, who is yet to receive a head of state since taking over from his late father Kim Jong-il in 2011.
身份不明的聯合國人員稱，潘基文幾乎已經確認要和金正恩會面。金正恩在2011年從其父金正日手中接過朝鮮元首的頭銜。
"There can’t be such a situation where the UN secretary-general visits North Korea and does not meet with the supreme leader of the UN member state," the source said.
該人員稱：“如果聯合國祕書長訪問朝鮮，而未與其最高領導人會面，那麼這實在不合情理。”
The UN spokesman’s office in New York has not commented on the reported visit and is yet to formally announce the trip including dates or other specific details.
聯合國發言人辦公室並未對與訪問相關的報道發表評論，但其已做好正式宣佈行程的準備，包括日期等一些其他細節。
Although Pyongyang gave no official explanation for revoking the invitation, it was seen as a response to comments the UN chief made at the time warning the North against raising tensions on the divided peninsula.
在五月份，潘基文曾計劃訪問朝鮮邊境城市開城。開城市位於韓國的工業聯合中心。但是朝鮮方面在最後收回了邀請。儘管潘基文對邀請撤銷未發表任何官方解釋，這被看做是對潘基文彼時警告朝鮮不要在半島加劇緊張局勢的言論的某種迴應。
Mr Ban has repeatedly spoken of his desire to promote inter-Korean reconciliation and resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.
潘基文曾多次表達他迫切希望能促進朝鮮半島兩國和解，並化解朝鮮核危機。
It will not be his first visit to the North. He crossed the border to visit the joint industrial zone of Kaesong with a delegation of foreign diplomats in 2006 when he was South Korea’s foreign minister.
此次訪問並非他首次前往朝鮮。在2006年時任韓國外長之際，他曾獲外交授權，穿過朝韓邊境訪問兩國聯合工業中心開城市。
Two UN secretary generals have visited North Korea in the past. They include Kurt Waldheim in 1979 and, in 1993, Boutros Boutros-Ghali who met with then-leader Kim Il-Sung to discuss tensions over its nuclear ambitions.
過去，有兩位聯合國祕書長訪問過朝鮮，包括1979年的瓦爾德海姆之行以及1993年的布特羅斯.蓋裏之行。布特羅斯.蓋裏還與當時的朝鮮領導接班人金日成一起討論朝鮮核計劃所帶來的緊張局勢。
