VOA慢速英语2014 金正恩在哪里?

 

Where Is Kim Jong Un? 金正恩在哪里?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un failed to appear at a holiday celebration Friday in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. More than a month has passed since a new photograph of him appeared or he was reported seen in public. Some observers wonder if the North Korean leader is in poor health, or if there is a struggle for power in the country. The longer Mr. Kim remains¹ out of sight, they say, the more questions there are about his rule.

Friday marked the 69th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Workers’ Party. The leader of North Korea usually visits the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on October 10th. On Friday, North Korean state media did not say whether Kim Jong Un was there. Mr. Kim has visited the palace the past two years. It is where the remains of his father and grandfather are kept. North Korea’s state-controlled media reported on the earlier visits in great detail.

Kim Jong Un is thought to be 31 years old. He has not been seen in public since he attended a musical performance on September 3rd.

Little is known about North Korea’s secretive leadership. Earlier this year, state television broadcast video images of Kim Jong Un having trouble walking. This was a rare public sign of physical problems for a leader described by his government as strong and infallible.

Some people who saw the video said Mr. Kim could be suffering from gout, diabetes² or high blood pressure. Earlier this week, VOA reported that some observers think doctors may have operated on his leg. Other reports claim that he has been ousted⁴ from power and his sister is now leading the country.

Recently, a group of high-level North Korean officials attended the closing of the Asian Games in South Korea. Among them was Hwang Pyong So. He is said to be the second-most-powerful man in North Korea. This led some observers to think that there may have been a change in leadership. But South Korea’s Unification Ministry⁵ says it believes that Kim Jong Un is still in control of the North. Ministry spokesman⁶ Lim Byeong-cheol reported on recent talks between North and South Korean officials.

Lim Byeong-cheol says the North Korean officials were carrying a message from Kim Jong Un to South Korea’s President, Park Geun-hye. He says based on this message -- and information from the Korean People’s Army General Political Bureau -- it appears Kim Jong Un has not been ousted.

Kang Chul-hwan is an expert at the North Korea Strategy Center in Seoul. He says this is not the first time a North Korean leader has disappeared from public view after an operation.

Kang Chul-hwan says Kim Il Sung was not seen for some time after he had surgery to remove a cancerous growth. And he says Kim Jong Il disappeared for a time after he was injured while riding a horse.

Kang Chul-hwan is worried that a change in the country’s leadership could affect security on the Korean peninsula.

He says the North must have stable leadership if it wants to improve relations between the two countries.

South Korean officials say they are not worried about instability in the North Korean leadership. But concerns may increase the longer Kim Jong Un is not seen.

Words in this Story 

celebration - n. a party or other special event for an important occasion or holiday

struggle – v. to try very hard to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult or that causes problems

infallible – adj. never being wrong or making mistakes

gout – n. a disease that causes painful swelling⁷ of the joints⁸ especially in the toes

diabetes – n. a serious disease in which the body cannot properly control the amount of sugar in the blood because it does not have enough insulin

oust³ – v. to cause or force (someone or something) to leave a position of power or a competition

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

3 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

4 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

5 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。

6 spokesman   

n.发言人，代言人

参考例句：

• The government spokesman gave a quick briefing to the reporters.政府发言人向记者们作了情况简介。
• They drew lots to decide who should be their spokesman.他们抽签决定谁是他们的发言人。

7 swelling   

n.肿胀

参考例句：

• Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
• There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

8 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。