2006年VOA标准英语-North Korea Finds Itself Increasingly Isolated

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
25 July 2006

General view of the plenary session at the 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 25, 2006  
  

As North Korean diplomats¹ prepare to take part in a regional security forum² in Malaysia, Pyongyang is finding itself isolated³ not just by its usual critics, but also by some of its usually friendly neighbors.

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North Korean state media on Tuesday lashed⁴ out at U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Tuesday, calling her a "political imbecile."

Rice described North Korea as a "completely irresponsible" state after it test-fired seven missiles without warning early this month.

Those missile launches are expected to be the primary focus at a Southeast Asian security forum in Malaysia later this week, which Rice and senior North Korean officials are expected to attend. Because of the launches, Pyongyang is finding itself beset⁵ by angry neighbors.

Japan imposed transportation restrictions⁶ on North Korea after the launches, and may add economic sanctions. China, Pyongyang's main patron, supported a United Nations resolution condemning⁷ the launches, and may be pursuing financial sanctions because of alleged⁸ North Korean counterfeiting⁹ and money laundering¹⁰.

And South Korea, which has tried to engage North Korea for several years, suspended aid shipments to its impoverished¹¹ neighbor.

Peter Beck, the Northeast Asia director of the International Crisis Group research organization, says he is surprised that North Korea has not even secured sympathy from South Korea.

"I really expected the North to do a bit better job of what the Koreans call 'minjok giri', or 'Koreans only' - playing to this troubled but nevertheless long-lost brother. But they really haven't. In fact they've done everything they can to offend virtually everyone in the South," he said.

North Korea has defended the missile tests as important for its national defense¹² and says they were conducted safely. Pyongyang in the past has said it needs missiles and nuclear weapons to defend itself from what it considers a threat of invasion by the United States. Washington denies having any intention of attacking North Korea.

Kim Byun-ho, an expert on the two Koreas with Seoul National University, says South Korean public sentiment toward the North has taken a turn for the worse.

He says even humanitarian¹³ groups that usually set aside politics are so disappointed with North Korea that they are becoming hesitant about future aid efforts.

Russia and the United States have joined China, Japan and South Korea in pushing Pyongyang to return to six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons programs. Pyongyang refuses to do so until Washington lifts sanctions imposed on North Korean enterprises because of alleged financial crimes.

When he arrived in Malaysia Tuesday for the regional gathering¹⁴, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said he hoped to arrange informal six-party talks this week to help Pyongyang end its isolation¹⁵. However, Ban indicated he was not optimistic of even being able to meet alone with his North Korean counterpart.

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 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 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。

4 lashed   

adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
• The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 beset   

v.镶嵌；困扰，包围

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• The plan was beset with difficulties from the beginning.这项计划自开始就困难重重。

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）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

9 counterfeiting   

n.伪造v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was sent to prison for counterfeiting five-dollar bills. 他因伪造5美元的钞票被捕入狱。 来自辞典例句
• National bureau released securities, certificates with security anti-counterfeiting paper technical standards. 国家质量技术监督局发布了证券、证件用安全性防伪纸张技术标准。 来自互联网

10 laundering   

n.洗涤（衣等），洗烫（衣等）；洗（钱）v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的现在分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入）

参考例句：

• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 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。

13 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

14 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

15 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。