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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
AS IT IS 2016-09-13 North Korea Faces Condemnation1 Over Fifth Nuclear Test 针对第五次核试验,朝鲜将面临谴责
The United States and its allies are reacting to North Korea’s latest nuclear test.
The test, carried out on September 9th, was the country’s second nuclear test this year.
Some reports say the North Korean government may already be planning more testing.
Last Friday, North Korea said it exploded a nuclear device underground. It was the country’s fifth nuclear test since 2006. Measurements showed the explosion was stronger than North Korea’s four earlier nuclear tests.
A South Korean Defense2 Ministry3 official said, “With regards to (the) possibility of North Korea’s additional nuclear test, South Korea and U.S. intelligence assess that it is always ready to conduct an additional nuclear test.”
South Korean leader seeks unity4
South Korea's president, Park Geun-hye, held an emergency meeting with political leaders on Monday. She met with representatives of her Saenuri Party and the two main opposition5 parties, the Minjoo Party and the People’s Party.
Park urged unity in reacting to North Korea’s actions.
South Korea is working with the U.S., Japan and other countries to press for increased sanctions on North Korea in the United Nations Security Council. The council has already approved a number of measures aimed at punishing the North for its nuclear activities.
New proposals could expand the list of products barred for export to the country. They could also expand restrictions6 on North Korean individuals and organizations tied to the North’s military or weapons programs.
Sung Kim is the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy. He said the U.S. government is working with America’s allies to form a response. He said they are considering unilateral, bilateral7 and trilateral measures against North Korea. Kim met with Japanese officials on Sunday.
The U.S. government also has called on China to do more to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear and its missile programs.
China’s support considered very important
Existing sanctions by the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. and South Korea have hurt North Korea economically. Those measures target trade, shipping8 and finance.
China’s cooperation on sanctions is considered important because most North Korean trade flows to or through China.
Chinese officials have called on North Korea not to take steps they consider provocative9. However, China’s reaction has been limited.
Daniel Pinkston is a Northeast Asia expert with Troy University in Seoul. He says China is unwilling10 to impose measures that could cause the collapse11 of the North Korean government.
Pinkston said, “I think they will keep the lifeline in place for North Korea.”
On Monday, China’s foreign ministry said sanctions alone cannot solve the nuclear issue. It also said unilateral action will not be productive.
North Korea has intensified12 its nuclear and missile testing. In addition to its nuclear tests, the country has launched more than 20 medium- or long-range missiles.
Yet, North Korea faces problems feeding its population. And the U.N. agency for humanitarian13 affairs reported Monday that flooding in the northern part of the country has killed more than 130 people. More than 100,000 have fled their homes, the agency said.
Late last week, President Barack Obama condemned14 the latest North Korean nuclear test. He called it “a grave threat to regional security and to international peace and stability.”
Words in This Story
conduct – v. to lead, to carry out, to do
sanctions – n. measures meant to cause a country to obey international law usually through restrictions on trade or financial dealings
bilateral – adj. between two parties
trilateral – adj. between three parties
provocative – adj. meant to cause a reaction
assess – v. to study or examine; to measure
response – n. a step taken in reaction to another action
1 condemnation | |
n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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2 defense | |
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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3 ministry | |
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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4 unity | |
n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调 | |
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5 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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6 restrictions | |
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
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7 bilateral | |
adj.双方的,两边的,两侧的 | |
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8 shipping | |
n.船运(发货,运输,乘船) | |
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9 provocative | |
adj.挑衅的,煽动的,刺激的,挑逗的 | |
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10 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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11 collapse | |
vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷 | |
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12 intensified | |
v.(使)增强, (使)加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13 humanitarian | |
n.人道主义者,博爱者,基督凡人论者 | |
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14 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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