2006年VOA标准英语-Security Council Unanimously Urges N. Korea to

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
06 October 2006
 
Security Council has threatened North Korea with unspecified consequences, if it goes ahead with planned nuclear weapons tests.

The statement adopted Friday warns North Korea that testing a nuclear device would bring universal condemnation¹. 
 

Kenzo Oshima speaks to reporters after Security Council meeting regarding North Korea, Oct. 6, 2006  
  
The message, read by the Security Council president, Japanese U.N. Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, threatens further action against the DPRK, as North Korea is referred to at the U.N.

"The Security Council stresses that a nuclear test, if carried out by the DPRK, would represent a clear threat to international peace and security, and that, should the DPRK ignore calls of the international community, the Security Council will act consistent with its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations," he said.

The statement gives no indication of what that action might be.

With intelligence reports indicating that a North Korean nuclear test may be imminent², the United States had pushed for tough language in the statement. 
 

John Bolton  
  
Washington's U.N. ambassador, John Bolton, had offered amendments³ that would have threatened an arms embargo⁴ and other sanctions, unless Pyongyang withdrew its nuclear test threat.

That language was rejected during three days of Security Council negotiations⁵. Bolton explained to reporters Friday why he takes North Korea's threat so seriously.

"Because there would be another nuclear power," he said. "This would be proof positive of North Korea having a nuclear weapon. This would be an example of nuclear proliferation that we're very much concerned about. And it's one of the reasons we feel so strongly that North Korea should not test."

The Security Council statement urges North Korea to return to stalled six-party talks on its nuclear program. Parties to the talks include Russia, China, Japan, the United States and both North and South Korea.

North Korea walked out of the talks last year.

U.N. diplomats⁶ Friday said they were aware of intelligence reports suggesting Pyongyang might stage a nuclear test in the next few days. They note that North Korea has, in the past, timed its actions to coincide with significant dates.

Monday is a holiday in both North Korea and the United States. It is also a time when Japan's new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, is making his first official visits to Beijing and Seoul, and Pyongyang's nuclear threat is expected to dominate discussions in both capitals.

1 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

2 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

3 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

4 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

5 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。

6 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》