美国国家公共电台 NPR North Korea Fires Another Missile Over Japan

 

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

In Japan, people in the northern region of Hokkaido woke up to sirens and instructions to take cover.

(SOUNDBITE OF SIRENS)

KELLY: This after North Korea again fired a ballistic missile which, again, flew over Japan. And this comes just days after the United Nations slapped another set of sanctions on North Korea. NPR's Elise Hu is tracking all of this from Seoul, South Korea.

Hi there, Elise.

ELISE HU, BYLINE¹: Good morning.

KELLY: Hi.

So give us the details. What do we know about this test today?

HU: This missile fired is believed to be the same type that was launched over Japan on August 29. But this time, it went a farther distance, about 2,200 miles, before landing in the ocean off Hokkaido's east coast. And that's important because it can send a message that if the direction of this missile were different and it was aimed at, say, Guam, then this type of missile could reach that U.S. territory, which North Korea, as you know, has threatened before.

KELLY: Indeed. So we heard the sirens there. How else is Japan reacting to the latest test?

HU: It also sent out text alerts to all cellphones in the 12-prefecture region that was affected², of course. It also interrupted radio and television broadcasts there because the Japanese government was concerned about falling debris³. Ultimately, officials say there was no debris reported and that the Japanese people were not in danger. But the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, is very upset. He's calling for international unity⁴ in getting more pressure to be applied⁵ on North Korea.

But that's really kind of all Japan can do at the moment. And the same goes for South Korea, where I'm at, because the core security issue is between the U.S. and North Korea. And both sides so far, in general, are continuing on the same path as before, which is this cycle we've been in of provocation⁶, then condemnation⁷, then isolation⁸ before the cycle starts back over again.

KELLY: Well, that's right. I mean, it does seem as though almost every week or so, at this point, there is some new test, some new provocation going on. Any sense of what might break the cycle?

HU: Well, if you speak with the proponents⁹ of isolation through sanctions, then the argument goes that if North Korea does feel sufficient pressure from these economic sanctions, that eventually, at some point, it will cry uncle and then want to return to the table for talks. There have been something like eight rounds of sanctions since 2006. And North Korea, up to this point, has only improved its nuclear capability¹⁰ and its testing in that time.

The other approach is to consider dialogue or direct talks. But even South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, who was elected on a promise of more engagement with North Korea, is now saying that it's not time for dialogue. And North Korea, for its part, has shown no indication of willingness to return to talks from its side either unless there is major concessions¹¹.

KELLY: They certainly haven't. I mean, this is - what? - like the 15th North Korean missile test this year?

HU: Yes. And this is on pace with the tests of last year. So...

KELLY: Despite all of these new round of sanctions - I mean, it's clearly not working, what's being done so far.

HU: (Laughter) Until they do, is what the proponents of sanctions say. So (laughter) we'll see what happens. But, you know, one thing to remember, of course, is that North Korea really believes this is a deterrent¹² for them, that these tests are defensive¹³ against what they see as a hostile U.S. And so it will be hard to get North Korea to give up its program.

KELLY: That's NPR's Elise Hu tracking this from Seoul.

Elise, thank you.

HU: You bet.

1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

6 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

7 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

8 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

9 proponents   

n.（某事业、理论等的）支持者，拥护者( proponent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句

10 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

11 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

12 deterrent   

n.阻碍物，制止物；adj.威慑的，遏制的

参考例句：

• Large fines act as a deterrent to motorists.高额罚款是对开车的人的制约。
• I put a net over my strawberries as a deterrent to the birds.我在草莓上罩了网，免得鸟歇上去。

13 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。