很多人都在问朝鲜领导人金正恩可能在哪。这位惯于掩藏自己的领导人已经有两个多星期没有在公开场合露面了。因此关于他是否出事了的谣言四处传播。
The United States and its allies, including South Korea and Japan, closely watch the health of North Korea's leaders. That is because the country controls nuclear weapons which the government has repeatedly threatened to use.
美国及其包括韩日在内的盟国都在密切关注着这位i朝鲜领导人的健康状况。这是因为朝鲜控制着该国政府一再威胁要使用的核武器。
Some reports say Kim has injured his lower leg. Others say he has kidney problems or that he had an unsuccessful heart operation. Some say he is staying separated to avoid the new coronavirus. There even is a report that he was injured in a failed missile test.
有报道称金正恩弄伤了小腿。还有报道称他有肾病，或是做心脏手术失败。有报道称他为了避免感染新冠病毒一直处于隔离状况。甚至有报道称他在一次失败的导弹试射中受伤。
Rumors are also spreading about Kim's current condition. Some reports have said he is in a vegetative state or is dead. Other reports say there is nothing wrong with his health.
关于金正恩目前健康状态的谣言也在流传。有报道称他处于植物人状态或者已经死亡。还有报道称他的健康没有任何问题。
Explosion of rumors
谣言四起
The rumors began after Kim Jong Un failed to attend the birthday observance of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung. The day, April 15, is very important in North Korea's culture of respect for and obedience to the ruling family.
在金正恩未出席其祖父金日成的诞辰庆祝活动之后谣言便开始流传。4月15日这天对朝鲜尊重和服从统治家族的文化来说非常重要。
After that, The Daily NK, a website based in Seoul, reported that Kim had had a heart operation. It said Kim reportedly was having health problems caused by smoking and his weight.
之后，首尔的《每日朝鲜》网站报道称金正恩做了心脏手术。该网站称，据传金正恩因为吸烟和超重而导致了健康问题。
The same day, the American cable news channel CNN reported that Kim was in "grave danger" after a medical operation.
同一天，美国有线电视新闻网报道称，金正恩在手术后处于非常危险的状态。
North Korea remains quiet
朝鲜保持沉默
North Korea has not answered the rumors. State operated media have said that the leader is carrying out business as usual. But no recent pictures of Kim have been published.
朝鲜没有回应这些谣言。官方媒体称金正恩照常履行职务。但是没有发表金正恩最近的照片。
Rachel Minyoung Lee, a North Korea expert based in Seoul, said North Korea's latest actions are not new.
驻首尔的朝鲜专家雷切尔·李明永说，朝鲜的最新举动并不新鲜。
"North Korea does not react to rumors about the leader's health," Lee said.
李明永表示：“朝鲜不会回应有关领导人健康的传言。”
For example, in 2014, Kim was not seen in public for 41 days. "North Korea did not issue any official reaction at the time, or in 2009 when [Kim's father] Kim Jong Il was out for 51 days," she noted.
例如，2014年金正恩有41天没有公开露面。她指出：“朝鲜当时没有做出任何正式回应，包括2009年金正恩的父亲金正日消失51天时也是如此。”
Kim reappeared in 2014 using a cane for support. North Korean media said only that he had experienced "discomfort" but did not give details.
金正恩在2014年拄着拐杖重新现身。朝鲜媒体只说他经历了身体不适，但是没有透露细节。
Little information available
消息甚少
South Korea has not supported reports about Kim being in poor health. On Monday, South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-Chul said South Korea's intelligence can say there is "no unusual movements" in the North.
韩国不支持有关金正恩身体状况不佳的报道。韩国统一部部长金尹哲表示，韩国情报部门可以说，朝鲜没有“异常动作。”
An adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently said, "Kim Jong Un is alive and well. He has been in the Wonsan area since April 13."
韩国总统文在寅的一名顾问最近表示：“金正恩活得好好的。他从4月13日起一直在元山地区。”
Satellite pictures from last week showed that Kim Jong Un's special train was in the Wonsan area.
上周的卫星图片显示，金正恩的专列在元山地区。
Additional reports say there has been an increase in the buying of cleaning supplies and imported foods in North Korea. The increase began on April 20, a person in the North Korean capital Pyongyang told VOA. However, the person said the buying might have been connected to an extended coronavirus lockdown. It has reported no cases of infection from the virus, a claim that experts dispute.
另有报道称，朝鲜加大了采购清洁用品和进口食品。朝鲜首都平壤的一位人士对美国之音表示，朝鲜加大采购始于4月20日。不过这位知情人士表示，采购可能跟延长新冠病毒封锁有关。朝鲜没有报告任何新冠病毒感染病例，专家们对此表示怀疑。
However, longtime North Korea observers warn against fast judgements.
然而，资深的朝鲜观察员警告不要过快判断。
Bruce Klingner is a North Korea expert at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. He said, "Over the years, there have been many false reports exclaiming the decline health or death of Kim Jong Un."
布鲁斯·克林纳是华盛顿遗产基金会的朝鲜专家。他说：“这些年来，有许多虚假报道惊呼金正恩的健康恶化或死亡。”
Andray Abrahamian, another North Korea expert, said that "reasonable speculation" about Kim's health has turned into a lot of false reports and "hyperbole."
另一位朝鲜专家安德烈·亚布拉罕表示，关于金正恩健康状况的“合理推测”已经演变成许多虚假报道和夸大其词的说法。
I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
我是小马里奥·里特。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)