VOA常速英语2017--美国指责朝鲜为亚太地区和平稳定的毒瘤

The most urgent and dangerous threat to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific is North Korea, said U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Jim Mattis. Speaking in Singapore, he noted² the North Korean regime has increased the pace and the scope of its nuclear program in recent months.

美国国防部部长詹姆斯 马蒂斯(Jim Mattis)表示，亚太地区和平与安全的最大、最紧迫的威胁就是朝鲜。在新加坡发表讲话时，詹姆斯表示，最近几个月以来，朝鲜政府加快了核项目的步伐，扩展了核项目的范围。

North Korea's nuclear program is a threat to all. Coupled with reckless proclamations, the current North Korean program signals a clear intent to acquire nuclear armed ballistic missiles, said Secretary Mattis, including those of intercontinental range that pose direct and immediate³ threats to our regional allies, our partners and all the world.

朝鲜的核项目是对全世界的威胁。朝鲜就现行的核项目发布了言辞鲁莽的声明，明确表示其想拥有核武装弹道导弹的意图，詹姆斯如是说道。这弹道导弹包括洲际射程的弹道导弹，对我们亚太地区的盟友、其他合作伙伴乃至全世界都构成了直接的威胁。

There is a strong international consensus⁴ that the current situation cannot continue. The U.S. is encouraged by China's renewed commitment to work with the international community toward denuclearization. Ultimately, said Secretary Mattis, we believe China will come to recognize North Korea as a strategic liability, not an asset.

国际上已经达成了强烈的共识，即不能任凭现状继续下去了。美国也因中国就无核化与国际社会展开新的合作而受到鼓舞。詹姆斯表示，最后，我们认为，中方会明白，朝鲜只是战略包袱，而非财富。

As China's President Xi said in April, Only if all sides live up to their responsibilities and come together from different directions can the nuclear issues on the peninsula be resolved as quickly as possible."

正如中国国家主席习近平曾于四月说过的那样，只有各方都履行自己的义务，并抛开不同的出发点一起努力，才能尽快解决半岛核问题。

I agree with the president's words on this point, and those words must be followed by actions by all of us, said Secretary Mattis.

詹姆斯表示，在这一点上，我同意习主席的看法，习主席的话需要各方用行动来执行。

The United States is coordinating⁵ at the United Nations and with its allies and partners to apply new pressure on North Korea to choose to abandon the its dangerous path. As Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said before the United Nations in April, the goal is get North Korea to finally and permanently⁶ abandon its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs.

美国正在联合国内部与美国各盟友之间进行协调，以便向朝鲜施加新的压力，让朝鲜主动放弃核试验的歧途。正如美国国务卿蒂勒森曾于四月在联合国发表讲话时所提出的那样，我们最终的目标是让朝鲜永久的放弃核项目和弹道导弹项目。

The United States will maintain its close cooperation with the Republic of Korea and Japan. Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan, to include the employment of our most advanced capabilities⁷, is ironclad, said Secretary Mattis.

美国将会与韩国和日本保持紧密合作。詹姆斯表示，我们承诺维护韩国和日本的安全，承诺部署我们最为先进的军力，我们的承诺固若金汤。

Moreover, the U.S. will take further steps to protect the U.S. homeland, as demonstrated by the recent successful ballistic missile defense test.

此外，美国还将采取其他措施来保护美国国土安全，最近弹道导弹防御试验的成功就是一个例证。

As Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has made clear, the era of strategic patience is over.

国务卿蒂勒森已明确表示过，战略容忍的时代已经过去了。

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 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

5 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

6 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

7 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