VOA常速英语2008年-S. Korea Plans to Support UN Resolution on N. K

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
26 March 2008

Officials in the government of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak say they will back a United Nations resolution critical of human rights abuses in North Korea. The move is a significant departure from the previous South Korean administration, which abstained¹ from several similar resolutions, citing the sensitivity of the North-South relationship. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin reports.

South Korean Foreign Ministry² officials confirmed Wednesday Seoul will support the measure, expected to come to a vote in the United Nations Human Rights Council, later this week.

The resolution is expected to anger North Korea by criticizing perceived widespread human rights abuses and calling on Pyongyang to improve the situation as soon as possible. As with several similar measures in previous years, it is based on the reporting of U.N.-appointed special researcher Vitit Muntabhorn, a Thai legal scholar.

Vitit's latest report, delivered last month, accuses North Korea of imprisoning³ entire North Korean families under "appalling⁴" conditions. It also says the North makes "extensive use of torture and public executions."

Kang Suk-hee, secretary for human rights at the South Korean Foreign Ministry, says Seoul approves of Vitit's work.

He says one of the reasons South Korea favors the measure is because it will reappoint Vitit for another one-year term.

North Korea has always denied having any human rights problems, whatsoever⁵. The North's foreign ministry has denounced Vitit as "a mouthpiece for hostile forces" who seek to disrupt North Korea's government, "using human rights as an excuse."

Recently-inaugurated South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has adopted a far more robust⁶ public stance on North Korean human rights than his predecessor⁷, Roh Moo-hyun. Mr. Roh's government avoided public criticism of North Korea at all costs, seeking instead to change the North through peaceful engagement.

Mr. Roh's administration abstained from all but one of the previous U.N. human rights resolutions on North Korea. Seoul backed a 2006 version of the measure, voted on just weeks after North Korea tested a nuclear weapon.

Human rights groups criticized that move, saying it politicized South Korea's participation⁸ in the vote. Kay Seok, a Seoul-based representative of Human Rights Watch, says South Korea is finally casting its vote the way it should, on the merits of the resolution, itself.

"We've been saying, all along, that South Korea should vote for the human rights resolution against North Korea because it is the right thing to do. It's about the universal value of human rights," said Seok.

The North Korea human rights measure is expected to pass the council this week. It would then be submitted to the broader U.N. General Assembly.

1 abstained   

v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票）

参考例句：

• Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 imprisoning   

v.下狱，监禁( imprison的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Mr Afwerki may disgust his compatriots by torturing and imprisoning his critics. Afwerki总统拷打和监禁他的反对者已经使的国人生厌。 来自互联网
• Proud and intelligent, it takes great pleasure and imprisoning enemies through psionic exploitation. 它骄傲并狡猾，非常喜欢囚禁敌人并剥夺他们的智力。 来自互联网

4 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。

5 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

6 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

7 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

8 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。