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JUDY WOODRUFF: Now to North Korea.
The execution of one of the isolated1 country's highest-ranking officials is raising questions about its stability. NewsHour correspondent Kwame Holman begins our report.
KWAME HOLMAN: Until very recently, Jang Song Thaek was considered the second-most powerful figure in theDemocratic People's Republic of Korea. But on state TV today, his remarkable2 demise3 was made official.
NEWS ANCHOR (through interpreter): The special military tribunal of the Ministry4 of State Security ofNorth Korea condemned5 Jang Song Thaek as a wicked political careerist, trickster and traitor6, in the name of the revolution, and the people ruled that he would be sentenced to death. The decision was immediately executed.
KWAME HOLMAN: Married to the aunt of leader Kim Jong-un, Jang ascended7 the country's ranks rapidly following the stroke of Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, in 2008. And he rose further still following Kim's death in 2011.
Though not a career military man, he was made a four-star general and was fond of appearing in his white military uniform at state events. He played a key role in shaping economic policy and was considered the architect of the country's joint8 ventures with neighboring China.
However, in Beijing today, a spokesman was tight-lipped regarding the news of his death.
HONG LEI, Chinese Foreign Ministry (through interpreter): This is North Korea's own internal affair. As a neighboring country, we hope for North Korea to maintain stability, economic development, and a happy livelihood9 for its people.
KWAME HOLMAN: As with word of his execution, Jang's removal from office was broadcast on state TV earlier this week, as the 67-year-old was taken from a Central Committee meeting by uniformed guards. He was accused of a litany of crimes, from gambling10 away $6.3 million, to womanizing, to attempting to overthrow11 theleadership, to not showing proper enthusiasm for his nephew's achievements.
RYOO KIHL-JAE, South Korean Unification Minister (through interpreter): Generally, in the past, we have seen that efforts to crack down on internal insecurities then lead to external provocations13. We are paying close attention to such a possibility this time as well.
KWAME HOLMAN: Next week, the country marks the two-year anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death.
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1 isolated | |
adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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2 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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3 demise | |
n.死亡;v.让渡,遗赠,转让 | |
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4 ministry | |
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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5 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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6 traitor | |
n.叛徒,卖国贼 | |
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7 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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9 livelihood | |
n.生计,谋生之道 | |
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10 gambling | |
n.赌博;投机 | |
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11 overthrow | |
v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆 | |
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12 purge | |
n.整肃,清除,泻药,净化;vt.净化,清除,摆脱;vi.清除,通便,腹泻,变得清洁 | |
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13 provocations | |
n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 );激怒;刺激;愤怒的原因 | |
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