VOA标准英语2009-US Mulling Options on North Korea Nukes

The Obama administration says it will consider putting North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and is pressing for a U.N. resolution authorizing¹ the boarding of North Korean ships to search for nuclear materials.
　
Sec. of State Hillary Clinton (File)

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says recent activity by North Korea, including nuclear tests and missile launches, is forcing the United States to consider placing Pyongyang back on a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"Obviously they were taken off of the list for a purpose, and that purpose is being thwarted² by their actions," said Clinton.

Clinton was speaking on ABC's This Week program. Last year, the United States removed North Korea from the terror sponsor list after Pyongyang agreed to dismantle³ its nuclear program and allow international inspections⁴ of its nuclear facilities. Far from living up to its pledge, North Korea has pressed ahead with its nuclear program.

Clinton says a decision on North Korea has yet to be reached.

"We are going to look at it. There is a process for it," said Clinton.

Whether or not North Korea is re-added to the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, Clinton says the Obama administration is working with the United Nations to prevent Pyongyang from exporting nuclear materials.

"We are working very hard to create a mechanism⁵ where we can interdict⁶ North Korean shipments," she said. "We think we are going to come out of this with a very strong resolution with teeth that will have consequences for the North Korean regime. If we do not take significant and effective action against the North Koreans now, we will spark an arms race in Northeast Asia. I do not think anybody wants to see that."

Clinton added that strengthening sanctions against Pyongyang has the "full support" of both Russia and China.

On other matters, the secretary denied any suggestion the United States is attempting to dictate⁷ terms for peace in the Middle East. Clinton said President Obama is attempting to address issues and obstacles impeding⁸ a lasting⁹ agreement, but that Israelis and Palestinians will ultimately decide how the process moves forward.

Asked what would happen if Israel suffered a nuclear attack from Iran, Secretary of State Clinton said there would be retaliation¹⁰. She did not specify¹¹ from whom or what form the retaliation would take.

1 authorizing   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Letters of Marque: Take letters from a warning friendly power authorizing privateering. 私掠许可证：从某一个国家获得合法抢劫的证书。
• Formal phavee completion does not include authorizing the subsequent phavee. 阶段的正式完成不包括核准随后的阶段。

2 thwarted   

阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
• Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。

3 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

4 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

6 interdict   

v.限制；禁止；n.正式禁止；禁令

参考例句：

• Troops could be ferried in to interdict drug shipments.可以把军队渡运过来阻截毒品的装运。
• Interdict could also be sought for the protection of public interests.禁令也可以用于保护公共利益。

7 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

8 impeding   

a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的

参考例句：

• Fallen rock is impeding the progress of rescue workers. 坠落的石头阻滞了救援人员的救援进程。
• Is there sufficient room for the kiosk and kiosk traffic without impeding other user traffic? 该环境下是否有足够的空间来摆放信息亭？信息亭是否会妨碍交通或者行走？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

9 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

10 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。