朝鲜远程导弹开发取得进展

North Korea's Missile Tests Show Progress 朝鲜远程导弹开发取得进展

North Korea appears to have successfully launched a mid-range missile after several recent failures.

U.S. and South Korean officials said North Korea conducted two tests of its Musudan missile Wednesday.

The first missile failed shortly after launch and crashed into the Sea of Japan, also known as East Sea in Korea. But the second was able to fly about 400 kilometers before falling into the sea.

U.S. military officials said the missile did not reach the 3,000-kilometer distance it was designed for. It apparently¹ also did not demonstrate the technical ability to accurately² hit a target.

But analysts³ believe the latest test did show that North Korea continues to learn from each failure. Since the second missile did not crash very quickly, it showed clear progress, they said.

North Korea is believed to have up to 30 Musudan missiles, which were first deployed⁴ around 2007. The first known Musudan test happened in April this year.

Jeffrey Lewis is the director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California.

“This is a very important milestone⁵ because the previous launches had blown up either very shortly after launch or possibly even right at launch. So this is a real sign of progress.”

International tensions increased this year when North Korea carried out a nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket one month later.

The United Nations Security Council ordered strict sanctions on North Korea for carrying out those tests. The U.N. has also condemned⁶ the country’s human rights record.

North Korea’s missile tests in recent months show the sanctions have not had much effect, according to Lewis. Pyongyang is still able to get materials and technology for making the weapons, he said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared his country a nuclear state and responded to sanctions by conducting more missile tests.

Reactions to missile test

Japan said it would issue a strong protest to North Korea for the latest violation⁷ of U.N. sanctions. Japan's Self Defense⁸ Forces have been on high alert in case North Korean missiles enter its airspace. Anti-missile launchers are stationed around Japan.

South Korea called the missile test a clear provocation⁹ “against us.” A South Korean spokesman, Jeong Joon-hee, urged North Korea to “put more effort into peace on the Korean peninsula and their people's livelihood¹⁰.”

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby condemned the launch. He said the United States planned to raise its concerns at the U.N. and try to get international support to hold North Korea “accountable for these provocative¹¹ actions.”

Words in This Story

accurately – adj. correct, exact

milestone – n. action or event marking significant change

long-range – adj. long-distance

respond – v. to do something as a reaction to something that has happened or been done?

conduct – v. to plan and do (something, such as an activity)?

issue – v. to give (something) to someone in an official way?

provocation – n. act or statement making someone annoyed or angry

peninsula – n. a piece of land that is almost entirely¹² surrounded by water and is attached to a larger land area?

livelihood – n. earning money in order to live

accountable – adj. required to be responsible for something

1 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。

2 accurately   

adv.准确地，精确地

参考例句：

• It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
• Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

5 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

8 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。

9 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

10 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

11 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

12 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。