2006年VOA标准英语-Rice Discusses North Korean Threat on Asian Tri

By Peter Fedynsky
Washington, DC
20 October 2006
 
watch North Korea Nuclear report

North Korea's recent nuclear test has raised complex questions involving the possibility of nuclear proliferation, political and military instability, and a refugee crisis.  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is confronting these issues on her current trip to Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.  These countries and the United States were parties to suspended talks with North Korea about its nuclear program.

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Taro1 Aso answer reporters' questions during press conference, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006" width="210" border="0" src="/upimg/allimg/070505/0808290.jpg" /> Condoleezza Rice and Taro Aso answer reporters' questions during press conference, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006

Secretary Rice began her trip Wednesday in Tokyo, where Foreign Minister Taro Aso raised eyebrows² earlier in the day, saying he saw no problem discussing development of a Japanese nuclear weapon in view of the North Korean test.  Japan's constitution prohibits possession of a nuclear bomb and Prime Minister

Shinzo Abe quickly rejected further talk about the issue. "In my opinion, the debate is finished.  There is absolutely no division within the cabinet."

Secretary Rice said no one in North Korea or Japan should doubt the United States will honor its mutual³ defense⁴ treaty with Tokyo. "I reaffirm the President's statement of October 9 that the United States has the will and the capability⁵ to meet the full range, and I underscore - full range, of its deterrent⁶ and security commitments to Japan."

In Seoul, Secretary Rice said the alliance between the United States and South Korea is one of the firm pillars of stability and security on the Korean peninsula.

"I wanted to make certain that in the changed circumstances given the North Korean nuclear test that it was very clear that the United States takes its obligation under our defense arrangements very seriously and will act on those obligations."

The focus of Secretary Rice's current trip is implementation⁷ of United Nation's resolution 1718 to prevent North Korean trafficking in nuclear weapons and technologies. 

Chinese officials have been inspecting North Korean trucks on the border between the two countries.  But Beijing opposes sanctions to enforce the resolution for fear of destabilizing North Korea and triggering a wave of North Korean refugees.  Secretary Rice says the United States never anticipated an economic blockade or quarantine against North Korea.  Instead, she says the United States wants to scrutinize⁸ that country's cargo⁹ for illegal shipments and proposes radiation sensors¹⁰ at ports and intelligence sharing about suspicious cargoes¹¹.

Pyongyang says U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program would be treated as a "declaration of war" and warns of "merciless blows" against those who violate its sovereignty.

1 taro   

n.芋，芋头

参考例句：

• Main grain crop has taro,corn,banana to wait.主要粮食作物有芋头、玉米、芭蕉等。
• You celebrate your birthday with taro,red bean and butter.用红豆、芋头和黄油给自己过生日。

2 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

3 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

4 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。

5 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。

6 deterrent   

n.阻碍物，制止物；adj.威慑的，遏制的

参考例句：

• Large fines act as a deterrent to motorists.高额罚款是对开车的人的制约。
• I put a net over my strawberries as a deterrent to the birds.我在草莓上罩了网，免得鸟歇上去。

7 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

8 scrutinize   

n.详细检查，细读

参考例句：

• Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man.她的目的是通过仔细观察他的相貌以判断他是否诚实。
• She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces.她探身向前，端详他们的面容。

9 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

10 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

11 cargoes   

n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负

参考例句：

• This ship embarked cargoes. 这艘船装载货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The crew lashed cargoes of timber down. 全体船员将木材绑牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》