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Why Xi is Visiting North Korea Now
习近平访朝：为何是“现在”？
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Why Xi is Visiting North Korea Now
习近平访朝：为何是“现在”？
中国国家主席习近平此次访问朝鲜，旨在巩固与金正恩委员长的关系。随着近期朝鲜向俄罗斯派遣万名士兵，俄朝关系日益升温，中国希望借此重新确认对朝鲜的影响力。目前，中朝贸易额约达 27 亿美元，占朝鲜对外贸易总额的 95%，朝鲜在粮食、石油和药品等物资上高度依赖中国。此次访问是一项战略举措，意在将朝鲜作为抵御美国的战略缓冲地带，并将其稳固为中国的核心盟友。
Xi Jinping just made a rare visit to North Korea.
习近平破例访问了朝鲜。rare visit 罕见的访问 / North Korea 朝鲜
He wants to pull Kim Jong Un back to China.
他试图将金正恩重新拉回到中国这一边。pull back 拉回
China fears North Korea is getting too close to Russia.
中国正警惕朝鲜与俄罗斯关系过度亲密。fears 担心 / getting too close 过于亲密 / Russia 俄罗斯
Kim recently sent 10,000 soldiers to help Russia's war.
朝鲜近期派遣了万名士兵以支援俄乌战争。sent 10,000 soldiers 派遣万名士兵 / help Russia's war 支援俄罗斯的战争
Xi wants to remind Kim who his real boss is.
习近平想让对方看清谁才是真正的“老大哥”。remind 提醒 / real boss 真正的老板/上司
China handles 95 percent of all North Korean trade.
朝鲜 95% 的贸易由中国掌控。handles 处理/掌控 / North Korean trade 朝鲜贸易
This trade is worth about 2.7 billion dollars.
贸易规模约为 27 亿美元。worth 价值 / 2.7 billion dollars 27亿美元
North Korea needs China for food, oil, and medicine.
在粮食、石油和药品供应上，朝鲜离不开中国。food, oil, and medicine 粮食、石油和药品
For Xi, North Korea is a strategic buffer zone.
对习近平而言，朝鲜是战略缓冲地带。strategic buffer zone 战略缓冲地带
It keeps U.S. troops away from China's own border.
这能防止美军部署到中国边境附近。keeps away 保持距离/使远离 / China's own border 中国国境
There are 28,500 U.S. soldiers in South Korea now.
目前，驻韩美军人数约为 28,500 人。28,500 U.S. soldiers 2.85万名美军 / South Korea 韩国
Xi also promised to help North Korea modernize.
习近平还承诺帮助朝鲜实现现代化。promised 承诺 / modernize 实现现代化
Russia gives Kim weapons, but China gives him survival.
俄罗斯提供武器，而中国提供生存保障。weapons 武器 / survival 生存
Beijing will not let its junior ally drift away.
中国不会坐视朝鲜这个次要盟友渐行渐远。junior ally 次要盟友 / drift away 疏远
This visit marks a new starting point for them.
此次访问标志着两国关系开启了新的起点。marks a new starting point 标志着新的起点
Quiz 🧠
Q1. A country that gets almost all its food and fuel from one neighbor depends heavily on that neighbor.
查看答案
✅ True
如果一个国家的大部分粮食和燃料都依赖某个邻国，就必然会深受该邻国的影响。
When a country buys most of its vital supplies from one place, it relies on that neighbor to survive.
Q2. What does 'drift away' mean in 'drift away from a friend'?
查看答案
✅ become less close
'drift away'表示随着时间的推移，彼此关系逐渐疏远或淡化。
To 'drift away' means to slowly grow distant or lose a close connection over time.
Q3. Why does China want to keep North Korea as a friendly buffer state?
查看答案
✅ To keep U.S. troops away
朝鲜起到了缓冲地带的作用，在地理上隔开了中国边境与驻韩美军。
North Korea sits between China and thousands of American soldiers stationed in South Korea.
Dialogue 🎧
Michael: Did you see that President Xi is visiting North Korea? It is very rare.
Michael: 你听说习近平主席访问朝鲜的消息了吗？这真的很罕见呢。
Olivia: I did. He wants to pull Kim Jong Un back to China immediately.
Olivia: 听说了。他是打算借此把金正恩牢牢拉回到中国这一边。
Michael: Wait, why does he need to pull him back? Are they not close?
Michael: 等一下，为什么要“拉回来”？他们原本关系不是挺好的吗？
Olivia: China fears North Korea is getting too close to Russia. They are worried.
Olivia: 中国正在警惕朝鲜与俄罗斯走得太近。看起来中方对此相当忧虑。
Michael: Is that because Kim sent 10,000 soldiers to help Russia's war? That is wild.
Michael: 是因为金委员长为了支援俄乌战争派遣了万名士兵吗？这动静确实不小。
Olivia: Exactly. Xi wants to remind Kim who his real boss is right now.
Olivia: 没错。习近平现在是想让金正恩看清楚，谁才是真正的“大哥”。
Michael: That sounds very dramatic. Does China really have that much power over them?
Michael: 哇，简直像外交大戏。中国对朝鲜的影响力真的有那么大吗？
Olivia: They do. China handles 95 percent of all North Korean trade.
Olivia: 那当然。毕竟朝鲜 95% 的对外贸易都是由中国掌控的。
Michael: Wait, 95 percent? That is an incredible amount of trade.
Michael: 等等，95%？这个贸易占比也太惊人了。
Olivia: It is worth about 2.7 billion dollars. North Korea needs it for survival.
Olivia: 金额约为 27 亿美元，对朝鲜来说，这关乎生存。
Michael: What kind of things do they get from China? Is it just weapons?
Michael: 朝鲜主要从中国进口什么？总不会全是武器吧？
Olivia: No, they need food, oil, and medicine. Russia gives weapons, but China gives survival.
Olivia: 不，主要是粮食、石油和药品这些。可以说俄罗斯给的是武器，而中国负责他们的生存。
Michael: So without China, North Korea would be in serious trouble?
Michael: 那要是没了中国，朝鲜真的会陷入大麻烦啊。
Olivia: Definitely. Beijing will not let its junior ally drift away to Russia.
Olivia: 那是肯定的。中国绝不会坐视朝鲜这个“小弟”向俄罗斯靠拢。
Michael: But why is North Korea so important for China’s strategy?
Michael: 不过，朝鲜在中国的战略中为什么如此重要呢？
Olivia: It is a strategic buffer zone. It keeps U.S. troops away from China's border.
Olivia: 因为它起到了战略缓冲地带的作用。能防止美军逼近中国边境。
Michael: Wait, are there really U.S. troops right there on the border?
Michael: 等一下，美军真的就在边境眼皮底下吗？
Olivia: There are 28,500 U.S. soldiers in South Korea now. That is very close.
Olivia: 目前有 28,500 名美军驻扎在韩国。对中国来说，这个距离非常近。
Michael: I didn't realize there were so many. That explains a lot.
Michael: 没想到有这么多。我总算理解现在的情况了。
Olivia: Yes. Xi even promised to help North Korea modernize their country.
Olivia: 是的。习近平甚至承诺要帮助朝鲜实现现代化。
Michael: So this visit is about more than just Russia?
Michael: 这么说，这次访问不仅仅是为了牵制俄罗斯？
Olivia: It is about security. They want to strengthen their friendship treaty again.
Olivia: 安全问题也是重中之重。这是要重新巩固双方的友好条约。
Michael: It sounds like a new starting point for both of them.
Michael: 感觉对两国来说都是一个全新的起点呢。
Olivia: It really is. Xi is making sure his rare visit counts.
Olivia: 确实如此。习近平想通过这次难得的访问，彻底稳固住双边关系。