Detained American in North Korea Makes ’Public Confession’

An American college student detained in North Korea has publicly confessed to attempting to steal a political banner from a Pyongyang hotel.

一位在朝鲜被逮捕的美国大学生公开承认试图盗窃一间平壤酒店中的政治标语。

Otto Warmbier appeared before a group of domestic and foreign journalists Monday in the North Korean capital, accompanied by North Korean guards. The 21-year-old University of Virginia student, who was visiting North Korea with a tour group, 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.

周一，奥托·瓦姆比尔在朝鲜看守的陪同下于平壤出现在国内外媒体面前。这位21岁的弗吉尼亚大学学生上月随团来朝鲜旅游，在登机离开朝鲜之前被逮捕。他被控在美国帮助下做出敌对朝鲜行为。

Warmbier told reporters he removed a political slogan from a staff-only area of the hotel where the group was staying to give to a member of his church who wanted the banner to display as a "trophy."

瓦姆比尔告诉记者，他从旅行团所居住的酒店中的工作人员区域拿走了一副政治标语，并准备把标语给教会的一名成员。这位教会成员想要将其作为“纪念品”展示。

He said the church member offered him a used car worth $10,000 and told him that if he was caught and unable to return, Warmbier’s mother would get $200,000.

他说，这位成员为他提供了一辆价值一万美金的二手车，并且告诉他如果他被捕而无法回国，他的母亲将得到两万美金。

"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. And I am praying to the heavens so that I may be returned home to my family,” he said during the statement.

他在声明中说：“我知道我罪行的严重程度，我也不知道我将面临怎样的处罚，但是我请求朝鲜人民和政府原谅我。并且我向上天祈祷，希望或许能够回到家中。”

Pyongyang has not said what possible punishment Warmbier may face.

朝鲜政府并未说明瓦姆比尔将可能受到怎样的处罚。

North Korea has often detained Americans and other foreign citizens on trumped up charges. The detainees are usually brought before foreign journalists to read statements confessing to crimes committed against the dictatorial regime. The statements are widely considered to have been coerced, and detainees often recant their confessions after their release.

朝鲜此前就经常捏造指控来羁押美国人和其他外国公民。被羁押的人员经常被带到外国记者面前阅读承认犯下反对该独裁政权的声明。这些声明被广泛认为是强迫之下的产物，而被羁押人员常常在重获自由后撤回声明。

Analysts say Pyongyang often tries to use the detainees as bargaining chips with the West.

分析员称，朝鲜经常试图用被拘留者作为和西方讨价还价的筹码。

Tour groups sponsor regular visits to the North for sightseers curious to see what life is like under the repressive regime. The U.S. and Canadian governments both advise against travel to North Korea.

到朝鲜的定期观光旅游团满足那些对压制性政权下的生活充满好奇心的人。美国政府和加拿大政府并不建议到朝鲜观光。

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来源:VOA英语新闻爱语吧作者:雨西