08-30-06

韓媒體：金正日可能在華訪問 (South Korean Media: Kim Jong Il May Be Visiting China)

南韓媒體說，北韓領導人金正日目前可能在中國。中國是北韓這個封閉的共產黨國家為數不多的盟友之一。東亞日報星期三援引南韓情報渠道的話說，美國或俄羅斯通過衛星圖像證實北韓一列特別列車駛入中國，但消息人士不能確定金正日是否在車上。

這位北韓領導人很少出國，他今年1月曾經乘專列前往中國訪問。目前，要求金正日重返有關北韓核項目的多邊談判的壓力越來越大。

South Korean media say North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, may be in China, one of the few allies of the reclusive communist state. The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper cites South Korean intelligence sources Wednesday as saying the United States or Russia confirmed through satellite imagery that a special North Korean train has traveled to China. The sources could not confirm whether Kim Jong Il was on the train.

The North Korean leader rarely travels abroad. He used a special train to visit China in January. Kim Jong Il is under mounting pressure to return to multilateral talks about his country's nuclear program.

北京指日本在油氣田爭端上又製造麻煩 (China Accuses Japan of Making More Trouble in Gas Field Dispute)

日本抗議中國在有爭議的東海開採天然氣，對此中國指責日本在兩國間製造更多的衝突。中國外交部發言人秦剛星期三說，中國是在自己的水域進行鑽探，這一行動“無可指責”。他說， 中國反對日本在這個問題上製造新的事端。

日本星期一說，有報導說中國人員開始在雙方都聲稱擁有主權的海域附近鑽探，對此日本向北京方面提出了抗議。日本認為，中國鑽探的地點距日本的海域太近，可能會從地下吸走日本一方的資源。

China is accusing Japan of creating more conflict between the countries by protesting Beijing's exploration for gas near a disputed area of the East China Sea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, said Wednesday that China is drilling in its own waters, and that the activity is what he called "beyond reproach." He said China is opposed to Japan making new trouble on the issue.

Japan said Monday it had lodged a protest with Beijing against reports that Chinese crews had begun work on a gas field near an area of ocean claimed by both countries. Japan contends China is drilling so close to its territory that it could be sucking undersea resources from the Japanese side.