VOA慢速英语：美国大学生被朝鲜扣押

美国大学生被朝鲜扣押

An American college student detained in North Korea last month has appeared in public in North Korea.

上个月被朝鲜扣押的美国大学生首次公开露面。

Otto Warmbier appeared at a North Korean press conference and made a public statement apologizing and asking for forgiveness.

奥托·瓦姆比尔出席朝鲜记者会，对自己的罪行公开道歉并请求原谅。

The 21-year-old University of Virginia student was arrested last month before boarding a plane out of the country. He has been charged with committing a hostile act against the state, with the help of the United States.

21岁的美国弗吉尼亚大学学生瓦姆比尔于上个月在登机离开朝鲜时被捕，他被指控受美国政府纵容和指使，从事反朝敌对活动。

Warmbier said he removed a sign from a hotel in an area only for workers. He and his tour group stayed at the hotel. He said a member of his church asked him to bring the sign to the United States to show to others.

瓦姆比尔承认自己和所在旅行团住在平壤羊角岛酒店职员区时，偷走了一条挂在墙上的政治标语，并说自己行前接受了美国一家教会的唆使，从朝鲜带一个政治标语回美国。

Warmbier was reportedly in North Korea on a discount tour for college students, not a church group.

据朝鲜媒体报道，瓦姆比尔是通过一个平价大学生旅行团来到朝鲜，而非教会旅行团。

North Korea has not said what punishment Warmbier may face.

朝鲜还未表示瓦姆比尔将会受到何种惩罚。

“I understand the severity of my crime, and I have no idea what sort of penalty I may face, but I am begging to the Korean people and government for my forgiveness,” Warmbier said. “And I am praying to the heavens so that I may be returned home to my family.”

“我认识到了我所犯罪行的严重性，我不知道我会接受何种惩罚，但我请求朝鲜人民和政府的原谅，”瓦姆比尔说，“我祈祷我能回家，回到家人的身边。”

North Korea has often detained Americans and other foreign citizens on false charges. The detainees are usually forced to read statements to foreign journalists confessing to crimes against the state.

朝鲜经常由于错误的指控扣押美国和他国公民。被扣押者常被要求在外媒面前承认自己的罪行。

Most experts say the detainees are forced to make the statements. When the detainees are released, they often say they did not make the statements voluntarily and that they do not agree with what they were forced to say.

许多专家认为被看押者是被迫承认罪行。当他们被释放，他们说自己并不是自愿承认自己的罪行，并且不认同自己被要求说的认罪声明。

Experts say North Korea often tries to use the detainees in negotiations with the West.

专家表示，朝鲜经常用看押者作为与西方谈判的筹码。

Companies that work with travelers bring people to North Korea so they can see how people live in the closed country. But the U.S. and Canadian governments say people should not travel to North Korea.

旅行公司带游客去朝鲜以便人们了解人们在一个封闭的国家是怎样生活的，但美国和加拿大政府表示人们不应该去朝鲜。