英闻天下——491 North Korea to Pull out Workers from Kaesong

 　　The Chinese government is calling on North Korea to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomats¹ in Pyongyang.

 

　　The comments come after the North Korean government announced plans to suspend all operations at its Kaesong joint² industrial zone with South Korea.

 

　　CRI's Zhang Shuangfeng reports.

 

　　North Korea state television has announced the North Korean government is pulling out all of its nationals from the Kaesong industrial zone.

 

　　The zone is where around 120 South Korean companies employ some 54-thousand North Koreans.

 

　　"It will temporarily suspend the operations in the zone and examine the issue of whether it will allow its existence or close it as the South Korean authorities and military warmongers³ seek to turn it into a hotbed of confrontation⁴ between compatriots and war against our county, hurting its dignity."

 

　　The pronouncement has prompted a response from the Chinese government.

 

　　Chinese Foreign Ministry⁵ spokesperson Hong Lei:

 

　　"Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, we want peace not war. We want reconciliation⁶ not tension, we want dialogue not confrontation. Conflicts or even wars on the Korean peninsula are not in the interest of any party. China is committed to the　peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia as well as denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."

 

　　The Chinese government says its embassy in North Korea is operating normally for the time being.

 

　　The Chinese side has called on North Korea to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel at its embassy.

 

　　At the same time, the South Korean Defence Ministry says it believes the North could be preparing for its 4th nuclear test sometime this week.

 

　　Spokesperson Kim Min-seok:

 

　　"We are aware of the possibility of North Korea launching a ballistic missile around the 10th of April. We are closely monitoring the movement of North Korea's ballistic missile launch by using joint South Korea-US intelligence assets."

 

　　Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been increasing on an almost-daily basis following the latest UN resolution against North Korea following its latest nuclear test in February.

 

　　For CRI, this is Zhang Shuangfeng.

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 warmongers   

n.战争贩子( warmonger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The speech hits out at warmongers. 演讲猛烈地抨击了战争贩子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The imperialist warmongers stand condemned by the people of the whole world. 帝国主义的战争贩子受到全世界人民的谴责。 来自互联网

4 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

5 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。

6 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。