VOA慢速英语:New Internet Rules Offer Window into North Korea

Foreigners in North Korea can now use Twitter, Facebook, and other social media on their mobile phones. A steady flow of tweets and Instagram pictures have been observed since the mobile service provider Koryolink launched its 3G network last week.
在朝鲜的外国人现在可以在手机上用Twitter,Facebook等社交媒体。自从移动服务供应商Koryolink上月推出其3G网络以来，这里的手机就能收到稳定的推特信息和Instagram图片。

The move came just weeks after the North Korean government announced that it would let foreigners bring their own mobile phones into the country. Until recently, foreigners were required to leave the devices with customs officials after crossing the border.
就在几周前，朝鲜政府宣布允许外国人带手机进入本国。而不久前，外国人都被要求在入境时将手机设备交给海关官员。

The changes represent rare reforms in what is considered the most closed country in the world. Some observers say it could be a sign that North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong Un, is open to easing official restrictions.
对这个全世界最封闭的国家来说，这是罕见的改革。一些观察人士称，这可能是朝鲜新任领导人金正恩愿意缓和官方限制的一个信号。

Martyn Williams operates the North Korea Tech blog. He told VOA that the changes could create a hole in the wall of censorship that keeps out almost all foreign information.
Martyn Williams经营着朝鲜科技博客，他告诉美国之音，这种该变令这个严禁一切外国信息的审查制度上打开了一个口子。

"Every time that new technology is adopted, especially in authoritarian countries, when you look back, you'll be able to see that it was another nail in the coffin of censorship. It was another crack in the wall, so to speak."
“每次一个国家采用这种新科技，尤其在专制国家，当你回头看时你都会看到，它是审查制度棺材上的另一颗钉子，也可以说是这一厚墙上的又一道裂缝。”

The new mobile Internet service will only be available to the small number of foreigners in North Korea.
这种新的移动网络服务目前只提供给在朝鲜的少数外国人。

Martyn Williams says the service could change the way foreign media report on North Korea. He says having an Internet connection on a camera-equipped mobile phone means reporters can avoid some of the official restrictions.
Martyn Williams说，该服务改变了外国媒体报道朝鲜的方式，他说配备摄像头的手机有了互联网连接就意味着记者能够避免一些官方的限制。

"It gives reporters the ability to take a picture and to send the picture immediately. And then that means that once the picture is gone, even if someone comes up and says you can't take that picture, you have to delete it. You can turn around and say 'I'm sorry, but it's already sent.' Or you can delete it, but you know that it's already gone."
“这样记者就可以拍下图片并即时发送出去，这意味着一旦图片发出，即使有人过来告诉你不能拍图片，必须删掉，你可以转过身说，‘抱歉，我已经发出去了。’或者可以删掉，但你知道已经发出了。”

David Slatter works in Seoul as a writer for the website NKNews.org. He admits that reporters may be able to publish some images without the approval of the North Korean government. But he says their effect may be limited.
David Slatter在首尔工作，他是网站NKNews.org的作者。他承认记者或许可以不经朝鲜政府同意就发布一些图片，但他说其效果很有限。

"At the moment, it seems very interesting. But in a few months, I do question how much will these photos really be covered if we just have the same handful of 10-11 people inside Pyongyang tweeting about their lunch."
“目前看来很有趣，但几个月后，我很好奇在平壤用微薄发布午餐图片的10到11个外国人能发多少类型的图片。”

Gareth Johnson directs Young Pioneer Tours, which takes foreigners on trips to North Korea. He believes that these ordinary pictures could prove to be helpful.
Gareth Johnson负责将外国人带到朝鲜旅游的Young Pioneer Tours公司。他说这些平常的图片会有用的。

"In my mind, one fairly positive thing that is going to happen is people are going to see it less as a freak show.
“在我的印象中，这件事的一个积极的作用是，人们将不再视之为怪异表演。”

China's official Xinhua news agency says the Koryolink SIM card will cost $200. Data will cost an additional $200 for 2 gigabytes.
中国的新华社称Koryolink 的SIM卡售价是200美元，而2G数据也要额外的200美元。