美国国家公共电台 NPR--North Korea confirms it simulated use of nukes to destroy enemies

North Korea confirms it simulated use of nukes to destroy enemies

Transcript¹

State media in North Korea is reporting that its recent missile launches were a "simulation" of a nuclear attack on South Korea.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Russia is not the only country making threats of nuclear strikes.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

North Korea is telling a story about its recent missile tests. It has conducted seven rounds of tests in the past couple of weeks. And the government now says those launches all simulated attacks on South Korea using tactical nuclear weapons. North Korea also restated its position that it's not interested in dialogue with the United States or South Korea.

FADEL: NPR's Anthony Kuhn is in Seoul and joins us now. Hi, Anthony.

ANTHONY KUHN, BYLINE²: Hi, Leila.

FADEL: So tell us more about what North Korea had to say about its recent tests.

KUHN: North Korea state media reported Monday that all seven of these recent tests involve nuclear-capable, short-range, intermediate-range and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. And the test simulated wartime attacks on South Korean ports, airports and command facilities. And leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw³ some of the launches. What state media reported about the intentions were that the drills were supposed to show the effectiveness and readiness of the North's tactical nuclear forces and also send a warning to the U.S. and South Korea at a time when the U.S. has been ramping⁴ up its own military exercises with South Korea and Japan.

FADEL: And when did North Korea get tactical nuclear weapons? And what does it change?

KUHN: Experts believe that North Korea probably decided⁵ to get tactical nukes in 2019 after a failed summit in Hanoi between then-President Trump⁶ and Kim Jong un, and that Kim publicly announced his intention to get these weapons in January of 2021. Now, Lee Ho-ryung, who's a researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense⁷ Analysis, argues that these weapons are not new. What North Korea is trying to do is deploy⁸ them in new ways so that they can avoid being detected or intercepted⁹ by the U.S. and South Korea. Here's what she said.

LEE HO-RYUNG: (Non-English language spoken).

KUHN: She says, I think the variety of launches betray North Korean military units' fear of Kim Jong Un, who's demanding that the military come up with solutions and tactics. She adds that these tests are a result of that fear and, in a way, betray their vulnerabilities. So basically, she's skeptical¹⁰ that the North's tactical nuclear forces are as effective as Pyongyang claims.

FADEL: But do North Korea's tactical nukes make nuclear war more likely?

KUHN: Arguably, yes. North Korea recently updated its nuclear doctrine¹¹ and wrote that doctrine into law. And Lee argues that these tests were meant to show that the military can enforce that law. The law says that North Korea can use its nukes preemptively. That is, it can launch them not because it's been attacked, but simply because it's losing in a conventional war. And previously¹², Kim Jong Un has been the only one with the authority to launch nukes. But now Kim apparently¹³ intends to delegate authority to use tactical nukes to frontline military commanders so that they can win on the battlefield. And even if Kim is killed in a decapitation strike, North Korea can still retaliate¹⁴.

FADEL: At this point, is North Korea's nuclear arsenal¹⁵ complete?

KUHN: No. Experts have been saying for some time that North Korea's plan was first to develop tactical nukes, then progressed to upgrading intercontinental ballistic missiles, ICBMs and nuclear tests. In other words, they want to show first that they can hit U.S. military bases in South Korea, Japan and Guam, and then show that they can hit the U.S. mainland. Seoul and Washington have been watching for signs of these tests. And a logical time to do them would probably be after China's Communist Party Congress in late October.

FADEL: NPR's Anthony Kuhn joining us from Seoul. Thank you.

KUHN: Thank you, Leila.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 oversaw   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He will go down as the president who oversaw two historic transitions. 他将作为见证了巴西两次历史性转变的总统，安然引退。 来自互联网
• Dixon oversaw the project as creative director of Design Research Studio. 狄克逊监督项目的创意总监设计研究工作室。 来自互联网

4 ramping   

土堤斜坡( ramp的现在分词 )； 斜道； 斜路； （装车或上下飞机的）活动梯

参考例句：

• The children love ramping about in the garden. 孩子们喜欢在花园里追逐嬉戏，闹着玩。
• Have you ever seen a lion ramping around? 你看到过狮子暴跳吗？

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

7 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。

8 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

9 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

10 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

11 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

12 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

13 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

14 retaliate   

v.报复，反击

参考例句：

• He sought every opportunity to retaliate against his enemy.他找机会向他的敌人反击。
• It is strictly forbidden to retaliate against the quality inspectors.严禁对质量检验人员进行打击报复。

15 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。