英闻天下——268 North Korea Successfully Conducts the Third Nuclear Test

 　　North Korea has confirmed the success of its third underground nuclear test in the country's northeast, which has caused an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.9.

 

　　"The scientific field for national defense¹ of DPRK succeeded in the third underground nuclear test in the northern part of the country. The test was carried out as part of practical measures of counteraction² to defend the country's security and sovereignty in the face of the ferocious³ hostile acts of the US, which wantonly violated North Korea's legitimate⁴ right to launch satellite for peaceful purposes."

 

　　North Korean officials say the nuclear test was conducted in a 'safe and perfect manner' with a miniaturized and lighter⁵ nuclear device with greater explosive force.

 

　　China is resolutely⁶ opposed to the nuclear test, according to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry⁷.

 

　　The Ministry says China strongly demands North Korea live up to its commitment to denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, and stop any activities that may worsen the situation.

 

　　Chinese government says their stance remains⁸ 'firm and consistent' in realizing denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and it opposes any proliferation of nuclear weapons.

 

　　The Chinese government is also calling for a calm response from all parties and urging all to stay with a peaceful resolution of the issue, through consultation⁹ and dialogue.

 

　　Meantime, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has held an emergency security meeting in Seoul.

 

　　National security adviser¹⁰ Chun Yung-woo said the test was a "clear violation¹¹" of UN resolutions.

 

　　"In accordance with our consistent and firm principle that we will not tolerate North Korea's nuclear tests, the government will seek all measures, including those at the level of UN Security Council, to deter¹² North Korea's nuclear ambition."

 

　　South Korea's military has been put on a heightened alert to deter potential cross-border provocations¹³, while South Korean and U.S. forces have upgraded their border surveillance level.

 

　　Japan is also on high alert and has lodged¹⁴ a protest against North Korea's nuclear test.

 

　　Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says North Korea's move is "regrettable," and Japan will consider unilateral sanctions against North Korea.

 

　　"We are considering taking independent sanctions towards North Korea. In addition, we will make use of all possible measures to solve the situation. I also instructed all to prepare for the unforeseen and also to ensure the utmost safety of our people."

 

　　U.S. President Barack Obama has also condemned¹⁶ the nuclear test as "highly provocative," and urged for "further swift and credible¹⁷ action" by the international community.

 

　　At the same time, Russian Foreign Ministry urged North Korea to stop unlawful actions and follow all requirements of the UN Security Council.

 

　　The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet in an emergency meeting to discuss the situation on Tuesday.

 

　　Meanwhile, the test comes just hours before US President Barack Obama is scheduled to give his State of the Union speech, a major, nationally-televised address.

 

　　It is also just a few days before the birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on Saturday.

 

　　This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice¹⁸ which ended the Korean War.

 

　　Earlier, North Korea vowed¹⁹ to proceed with missile and nuclear tests targeting the United States, its "sworn enemy," after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to condemn¹⁵ its December rocket launch.

 

　　Pyongyang last conducted similar nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.

 

　　For CRI, this is Li Jing.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 counteraction   

反对的行动，抵抗，反动

参考例句：

• Thirdly, the metaphoric language means the counteraction of moralism. 第三，这种比喻性语言意味着对道德丰义的反拨。
• In center column of core, magnetic flux density is reduced by counteraction. 通过磁通在磁芯中柱的相互抵消作用，降低磁芯的磁通密度。

3 ferocious   

adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的

参考例句：

• The ferocious winds seemed about to tear the ship to pieces.狂风仿佛要把船撕成碎片似的。
• The ferocious panther is chasing a rabbit.那只凶猛的豹子正追赶一只兔子。

4 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

5 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

6 resolutely   

adj.坚决地，果断地

参考例句：

• He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。

7 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

10 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

11 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

12 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

13 provocations   

n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 )；激怒；刺激；愤怒的原因

参考例句：

• We cannot ignore such provocations. 对于这种挑衅，我们不能置之不理。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They must immediately cease all their provocations. 他们必须停止一切挑衅。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 lodged   

v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属

参考例句：

• The certificate will have to be lodged at the registry. 证书必须存放在登记处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us with the police. 我们的邻居向警方控告我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

16 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

17 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

18 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

19 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。