North Korean leader Kim Jong Un placed his military on high alert and declared a "quasi-state of war" in areas near the country's border with South Korea Friday. The action took place after North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire near the border.
朝鲜领导人金正恩周五命令军队进入最高戒备状态，并宣布该国靠近韩国的边境地区进入“准战争状态”。这一举动发生在朝韩两国在边境附近互相炮击之后。
The Korean Central News Agency reported that Mr. Kim said frontline groups would "enter a wartime state" starting at 5:00 p.m. local time Friday.
朝鲜中央新闻社报道称，金正恩表示，前沿地区将于当地时间周五下午5点进入战时状态。
North Korea has made similar declarations in 2010 and 2013. The two Koreas are technically at war. The truce that ended the Korean War in the 1950s did not become a peace treaty.
朝鲜在2010年和2013年也做出过类似声明。朝韩两国理论上仍然处于战争状态。20世纪50年代结束韩战的停战协定并未成为一个和平条约。
North-South relations became strained
朝韩关系变得紧张
Tensions increased Thursday when North Korea fired artillery at South Korean military positions along the western border. The South responded by launching artillery rounds at the North. The artillery shells appeared to have fallen into the demilitarized zone, or DMZ, separating the two Koreas. Neither side reported damage or injuries.
当周四朝鲜炮击韩国西部边境沿线的军事目标时两国之间的紧张局势升级。韩国向朝鲜发射炮弹作为回应。这些炮弹似乎都落入了分隔朝韩两国的非军事区内。双方都没有报告损失和伤亡情况。
North Korea's ambassador to China Ji Jae Ryong spoke to reporters late Friday in Beijing. He said "If the enemy ignores our warning it is inevitable that there will be action. Our army does not use empty words."
朝鲜驻中国大使池在龙（Ji Jae Ryong）周五晚些时候在北京举行了记者会。他说，“如果敌人无视我们的警告，那么进一步行动就无可避免。我军从不说空话。”
North-South relations became strained after South Korea accused the North of planting landmines that exploded this month near the border. Two South Korean soldiers were wounded. South Korea answered by restarting anti-North Korean broadcasts on loudspeakers near the border.
在韩国指责朝鲜这个月在边境附近埋设地雷发生爆炸之后，两国关系变得紧张。两名韩国士兵在爆炸中受伤。作为回应，韩国在边境附近重新启动了反朝广播。
The North warned Thursday that it would take further military action if South Korea did not stop the broadcasts within 48 hours. South Korean officials have said the broadcasts would continue. And it has raised its military readiness alert to its highest level to indicate immediate danger, imminent attack or invasion.
朝鲜周四警告说，如果韩国不在48小时内停止广播，朝方将会采取进一步军事行动。韩国官员表示广播将会继续。并且韩国已经将军事战备警报提高到最高水平以表明遇到即刻的危险，迫在眉睫的攻击或入侵。
Korea expert Daniel Pinkston is with the International Crisis Group in Seoul. He says neither side feels it can back down but neither side wants war either.
朝鲜专家丹尼尔·平克斯顿（Daniel Pinkston）就职于首尔国际危机研究所。他说，任何一方都觉得不能退缩，但是任何一方都不希望发生战争。
"I think that both sides want to avoid a high intensity conflict but nevertheless there's a possibility of miscalculation and inadvertent escalation."
他说，“我认为双方都希望避免高强度冲突，但是仍然存在误判和意外升级的可能。”
US says 'provocative actions' increase tensions
美国称“挑衅行为”加剧紧张局势
The United States Thursday said it was watching the situation closely. State Department spokesman John Kirby said that "provocative actions" by the North only heighten tensions. He urged North Korea to refrain from actions and rhetoric that threaten peace and security in the area.
美国周四表示正密切关注事态发展。国务院发言人约翰·柯比（John Kirby）表示，朝鲜的这种挑衅行为只会加剧紧张局势。他督促朝鲜采取克制态度避免威胁地区和平与安全的言行。
The latest tension also comes during annual joint military exercises that began Monday. North Korea condemns them as preparation for war. The exercises include South Korea, the U.S. and other allies including Britain, Canada and Australia.
最近的紧张局势还源于韩国和美国两国周一开始的年度联合军演。朝鲜谴责军演是为战争做准备。参加这次演习的国家有韩国、美国，以及包括英国、加拿大和澳大利亚在内的其他盟国。
Daniel Pinkston says having the multinational military presence on the Korean Peninsula might keep North Korea from acting but may also restrain South Korea.
平克斯顿表示，朝鲜半岛的多国军事存在可能会阻止朝鲜采取行动，但也可能会约束韩国。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)