VOA标准英语2008年-North Korea Publicly Destroys Nuclear Plant Tow

North Korea has put on a very visual spectacle to persuade the world it is serious about ending its nuclear programs. With international cameras rolling, Pyongyang blew up a cooling tower at its main nuclear facility. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin reports.
　
S. Koreans watch television broadcasting demolition¹ of N. Korea's cooling tower at its main nuclear reactor² complex, 27 Jun 2008

Video images of North Korea's carefully staged demolition were beamed around the world Friday, within hours of the actual event.

North Korea blew up a cooling tower at its main nuclear facility in Yongbyon, as promised. Cameras from a handful of invited broadcasters were rolling.

The event was a move by Pyongyang to demonstrate in very visual terms its compliance³ with a multinational⁴ agreement to eventually end its nuclear weapons capabilities⁵. China, Russia, Japan, the United States, and South Korea have promised the North energy, financial and diplomatic benefits in exchange for steps in that direction.

U.S. envoy⁶ Sung Kim attended the demolition.
　
Sung Kim, director of US State Department's Office of Korean Affairs

"The cooling tower is no longer there," he said. "It's a complete demolition of the cooling tower. This is a very significant disablement step."

Pyongyang completed another key step Thursday, when it submitted a six-month overdue⁷ declaration of its nuclear programs to China.

Foreign ministers of the G8 grouping of advanced industrial nations, meeting in Kyoto, Japan, are welcoming the North's actions. Japanese Foreign Minister Koumura Masahiko says North Korea will be held to its promises.

He says the G8 Foreign Ministers agreed on the importance of strictly⁸ verifying North Korea's declaration.

Cho Seong-ryeol, of the Institute for International Security Studies in Seoul, believes North Korea is sending a message to the international community.

He says blowing up the tower is a signal that isolated⁹ North Korea wants to return to the international community.

Daniel Pinkston, an analyst¹⁰ in Seoul with the International Crisis Group, points out the Yongbyon facility was decades obsolete¹¹ and unsafe. Nevertheless, he views the demolition as progress.

"Many critics will argue that it's something that should be shut down anyway ... but nevertheless the reality is that they [North Korea] do not have the capability¹² to produce weapons-grade plutonium now, and I think that is positive in terms of international security," he said.

Six-nation talks aimed at ending the North's nuclear capabilities altogether are expected to reconvene within days or weeks in Beijing. Envoys¹³ are expected to take on the next major challenge in the process - finding out how many actual nuclear weapons Pyongyang has, where they are ... and whether North Korea is really ready to give them up.

 

1 demolition   

n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹

参考例句：

• The church has been threatened with demolition for years. 这座教堂多年来一直面临拆毀的威胁。
• The project required the total demolition of the old bridge. 该项目要求将老桥完全拆毁。

2 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

3 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

4 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

5 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

6 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。

7 overdue   

adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的

参考例句：

• The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.飞机晚点了，被坏天气耽搁了。
• The landlady is angry because the rent is overdue.女房东生气了，因为房租过期未付。

8 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

9 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。

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

12 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

13 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。