VOA标准英语2015--网络攻击后美国对朝鲜采取强硬态度

 

US Holds Hard Line on North Korea After Cyberattacks 网络攻击后美国对朝鲜采取强硬态度

SEOUL—

Relations between Washington and Pyongyang have grown more contentious¹ in the wake of the alleged² North Korea cyberattack on the Sony Pictures movie studio. The U.S. was quick to reject a North Korean proposal to reduce regional tensions and is instead focused on pressuring and isolating³ the regime.

North Korea is already under U.N. sanctions for conducting banned nuclear tests in the past, which is why Washington said it was inappropriate and an implied threat when North Korea offered to halt further nuclear tests if the U.S. agreed to suspend joint⁴ military drills with South Korea.

North Korean Deputy U.N. Ambassador An Myong Hun said by rejecting this proposal the U.S. is reaffirming its hostile intent.

“By refusing to accept our proposal of the government of the DPRK, the United States has shown once again that [it] will continue to increase [its] attack military capabilities⁵ in South Korea while requesting us not to have our own national defense⁶ capabilities,” said Hun.

Since the Korean War ended with a ceasefire and not a formal treaty in 1953, the two sides technically⁷ remain at war. The U.S maintains a large military presence in South Korea and the two regularly conduct joint military exercises.

Relations between the two countries have grown more tense following what the U.S. says was a North Korean orchestrated cyberattack on Sony Pictures in December over the movie “The Interview,” which comically depicts⁸ the assassination⁹ of Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang has denied playing any role in the attack.

Testifying before Congress, Assistant Treasury¹⁰ Secretary Daniel Glaser said new sanctions now being imposed against North Korea will allow the U.S. to financially squeeze specific agencies and officials involved in cyber terrorism.

“Then, once so targeted, we could apply sanctions with respect to any individual or entity¹¹ who's providing them in turn material support or any individual or entity that they in turn control,” said Glaser.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sung Kim said the U.S. is working more closely with North Korea’s key ally in the region, one that is growing more concerned over Pyongyang’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and its dismal¹² human rights record.

“I think what we have seen in our cooperation with China is that China is working with us more effectively and trying to stifle¹³ North Korea's dangerous activities,” said Kim.

South Korea has offered to meet with North Korean officials without any pre-conditions. but Washington continues to hold a hard line position, demanding that Pyongyang curb¹⁴ its nuclear program to comply with past international agreements before starting new negotiations¹⁵.

1 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 isolating   

adj.孤立的，绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 )；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：

• Colour filters are not very effective in isolating narrow spectral bands. 一些滤色片不能很有效地分离狭窄的光谱带。 来自辞典例句
• This became known as the streak method for isolating bacteria. 这个方法以后就称为分离细菌的划线法。 来自辞典例句

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

6 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。

7 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

8 depicts   

描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述

参考例句：

• The book vividly depicts French society of the 1930s. 这本书生动地描绘了20 世纪30 年代的法国社会。
• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。

9 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

10 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

11 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

12 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

13 stifle   

vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止

参考例句：

• She tried hard to stifle her laughter.她强忍住笑。
• It was an uninteresting conversation and I had to stifle a yawn.那是一次枯燥无味的交谈，我不得不强忍住自己的呵欠。

14 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

15 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。