AS IT IS 2016-05-18 North Korea Ex-Nuclear Envoy Named Foreign Minister

AS IT IS 2016-05-18 North Korea Ex-Nuclear Envoy¹ Named Foreign Minister

North Korea has named Ri Yong Ho its new foreign minister, according to a diplomatic letter sent to Britain.

North Korea’s embassy in London informed the British government about the appointment.

The diplomatic letter did not say what would happen to the current foreign minister, Ri Su Yong. But South Korea’s spy agency said it believes he was named vice³ chairman for international affairs of the ruling Workers’ Party.

Ri Yong Ho is a career diplomat². The former vice foreign minister served as North Korea’s top negotiator in past nuclear disarmament talks with United States and South Korean representatives. He once served as ambassador to Britain.

Some analysts⁴ say Ri’s appointment may be an attempt by the isolated⁵ nation to re-start diplomacy⁶ with other countries.

International tensions increased this year when North Korea carried out a nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket a month later.

The United Nations Security Council ordered strict sanctions on North Korea for carrying out those tests. The U.N. has also condemned⁷ the country’s human rights record.

Observers say the North Korean government may ask Ri to plead his country’s case to the U.N.

Lee Ji-sue is a North Korean expert at Myongji University in South Korea. He says no major policy changes are expected under the new foreign minister.

Lee noted⁸ that the former foreign minister took orders from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and his predecessor⁹ and father, Kim Jong Il. “Ri Yong Ho won’t have much say in foreign policies,” Lee said.

Words in This Story

disarmament – n. remove or reduce military forces or weapons

isolated – adj. far away from other places or people

strict – adj. strong or exact match to rules

sanction – n. an official order that restricts trade or contacts with a country

predecessor – n. the person who held a job or office before the current holder

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

6 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

7 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。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。