美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-04-14

 As we start this Wednesday edition of CNN Stedent News, we’re taking you to the Korean peninsula. An American admiral says the tension between North and South Korea, and between North Korea and the U.S. is higher than it’s been in the past 60 years. Here’s some of the latest in this story. 

 

South Korean officials say North Korea could be getting ready to test-fire a missile. They think it could happen as early as today. The North gave a warning yesterday to foreigners in South Korea. It told them to find shelter, or leave the country in case an armed conflict started. American commanders say the U.S. is ready to help defend its friends in the region, like South Korea. 

 

Another one of those U.S. allies, Japan, says it’s putting missile defense¹ systems around Tokyo. That would help it protect against a possible North Korean missile test. 

 

North Korea’s economy is in bad shape. Its manufacturing industry started crumbling² decades ago. The nation isolates³ itself from most of the rest of the world, so it doesn’t have many trading partners. Officials estimate that North Koreans face regular food shortages. Twenty-five percent of the country’s people don’t have enough to eat, and a military conflict can be expensive. So, how does North Korea take in money? Chris Lawrence looks at some ways.

 

When it comes to selling technology, the launch-pad is Kim Jong-un’s show room. And the missile test doubles as a marketing⁴ tool.

 

It’s telling other countries, look what you could have also for a price.

 

Libya and Iran have been willing clients, but former U.S. intelligence official Joe DeTrani says sanctions have cut into sales. Kim is profiting off illegal weapons, but brings in 20 to 100 million dollars less than his father.

 

How important is money to Kim Jong-un?

 

Money is key. He’s got to keep the elites⁵ happy.

 

North Korea has its own version of the one percent. Kim needs that money stream to keep them on his side. Fortunately for Kim, North Korea has legal goods and a willing trade partner right next door.

 

Who is Kim’s link to China?

 

It has to be Jang Sung-Taek.

 

And Jang is part of the family. Kim elevated his uncle to number two. Jang Sung-Taek oversees⁶ some of the state-run trading companies, which mine reserves like coal and iron ore. Jang uses his connections to sell those minerals to China, and the profits come back to Kim. 

 

This is the man who can cut the deal with China. He has a lot of credibility with the Chinese.

 

Thanks, in part, to Kim’s uncle, trade with China is booming. From one billion a few years ago to five billion now. 

 

We’ve accounted for the weapons and the minerals, how else is he getting money?

 

He’s getting money through illicit⁷ transactions. 

 

U.S. officials say North Korea is exporting illegal drugs like meth, producing knockoffs of popular cigarettes and pharmaceutical⁸ drugs, even counterfeiting⁹ good old Ben Franklin. 

 

A U.S. official tells us that the illicit stuff is still pretty small scale, but the North does get a bit more from tourism and foreign investment from South Korea and China. But, in a country where residents don’t pay taxes and the country’s not connected to the international trading market, the official says basically it’s minerals and weapons that are the cash cows keeping Kim in power. Chris Lawrence, CNN, Washington.

1 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。

2 crumbling   

adj.摇摇欲坠的

参考例句：

• an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
• The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。

3 isolates   

v.使隔离( isolate的第三人称单数 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析

参考例句：

• The transformer isolates the transistors with regard to d-c bias voltage. 变压器可在两个晶体管之间隔离直流偏压。 来自辞典例句
• In regions with certain isolates of TRV, spraining is more prominent. 在具有TRV某些分离物的地区，坏死是比较显著的。 来自辞典例句

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

6 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

7 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

8 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

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