(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in Special English.
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.
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.
Tweeting in North Korea
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.
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.
"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."
The new mobile Internet service will only be available to the small number of foreigners in North Korea.
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
"In my mind, one fairly positive thing that is going to happen is people are going to see it less as a freak show.
China's official Xinhua news agency says the Koryolink SIM card will cost $200. Data will cost an additional $200 for 2 gigabytes.
英文文本来自51voa,译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.censorship n. 审查制度；审查机构
The government today announced that press censorship was being lifted.
政府今天宣布将取消新闻审查制度。
2.authoritarian n. 权力主义者，专制者，独裁者； 独裁主义者 adj. 权力主义的； 独裁主义的
Senior officers could be considering a coup to restore authoritarian rule.
高官们可能会策划一场政变来复辟独裁统治。
参考译文
美国之音慢速英语科技报道。
在朝鲜的外国人现在可以在手机上用Twitter,Facebook等社交媒体，自从移动服务提供商高丽电信上周启动3G网络以来，这里的手机就能收到稳定的微薄和Instagram图片。
就在几周前，朝鲜政府宣布允许外国人带手机进入本国。直到最近，外国人还只能将手机留在海关才能过境。
对这个全世界最封闭的国家来说，这是罕见的改革。观察家称这意味着朝鲜的新领袖金正恩愿意放宽官方限制。
马汀·威廉姆斯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。
“每次一个国家采用这种新科技，尤其在专制国家，回顾一下，就会明白审查制度正一步步走向消亡。”
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。
马汀·威廉姆斯说，该服务改变了外国媒体报道朝鲜的方式，他说在配备摄像头的手机连上网络意味着记者可以避开一些官方限制。
“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。
“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。”
加雷斯·约翰逊是少先队员旅游项目负责人，该项目负责带外国人到朝鲜旅游。他说这些平常的图片会有用的。
“我觉得，这件事的一个积极的作用是，人们将不再视之为怪异表演。”
中国官方机构新华社称Koryolink SIM卡售价200美元，而2G数据也要花费另外200美元。
