VOA慢速英语2015 北韩取消潘基文的访问行程

North Korea Cancels Ban Ki-moon Visit 北韩取消潘基文的访问行程

The North Korean government has canceled a planned United Nations visit to the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The cancellation¹ came just a day before UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was to visit the industrial center.

The complex lies just north of the South Korean border. It is one of the few remaining examples of South Korea’s Sunshine Policy of engagement with North Korea. Under the program, the South has provided aid and support programs to its northern neighbor.

Mr. Ban said he was surprised by the sudden cancellation.

"Early this morning, the authorities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea informed us, through their diplomatic channel, that they were reversing their decision for me to visit the Kaesong Industrial Complex. No explanation was given for this last-minute change.”

The UN official had said he wanted to help ease relations and improve security on the Korean peninsula. He said his visit to Kaesong would show the benefits of cooperation between the two countries.

More than 53,000 North Koreans work at 120 South Korean factories in the complex.

South Korean Unification Ministry² official Lim Byung-chul also voiced regret and reached out to North Korea.?

He says his government once again urges North Korea not to move towards isolation³, but toward peace on the Korean peninsula.

Also on Wednesday, North Korea said it has the ability to miniaturize -- or make smaller -- nuclear weapons. The announcement was made on North Korea’s state news agency. If confirmed, this ability would give North Korea the ability to place a nuclear weapon on a long or short-range missile.  

Chinese nuclear experts recently warned that North Korea has 20 nuclear warheads. North Korea has held underwater missile tests. The technology could soon give it the ability to strike anywhere in the world.

Observers say North Korea’s sudden cancellation does not come as a complete surprise. They say the government has ignored UN restrictions⁴ to its nuclear program and against a UN resolution. The measure asks the International Criminal Court to investigate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other officials for crimes against humanity.

Phil Robertson works for Human Rights Watch. He says the cancellation of Ban Ki-moon’s visit resulted from U.N. efforts to hold North Korea accountable.

“So what it is doing is playing a game of shoot the messenger with the U.N., trying to punish or shut out the U.N. whenever it can.  And this latest action to bar Ban Ki-moon from the Kaesong industrial complex is yet another example of that.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke⁵ about the North Korean government during his recent visit to Seoul. He said the North has rejected Chinese and Russian efforts to restart international talks about its nuclear program in exchange for economic assistance.

Words in the News

peninsula – n. a piece of land that is almost entirely⁶ surrounded by water and is attached to a larger land area

benefits – n. assistance or payment

isolation – n. being in a place or situation that is separate from others; the condition of being isolated⁷

warhead – n. the part of a missile that contains explosives; weapon

accountable – adj. responsible; required to explain actions or decisions to someone

internal – adj. coming from inside

reconciliation⁸ – n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after a disagreement

1 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 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。

8 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。