VOA标准英语2009年-President Obama Condemns North Korean Nucl

U.S. President Barack Obama has condemned² North Korea's latest nuclear test, saying the international community must stand up to Pyongyang. Mr. Obama says North Korea's actions endanger its neighbors, and are a blatant³ violation⁴ of international law.
　
President Barack Obama makes a statement about N. Korea in the White House, 25 May 2009

President Obama appeared before television cameras at the White House to deliver a blunt message to North Korea's leaders.

"North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs pose a grave threat to the peace and security of the world, and I strongly condemn¹ their reckless action," he said.

Speaking just hours before the U.N. Security Council was due to meet in emergency session on North Korea, the president stressed the need for international solidarity⁵.

"North Korea's actions endanger the people of Northeast Asia. They are a blatant violation of international law. And they contradict North Korea's own prior commitments. Now, the United States and the international community must take action in response," the president said.

Mr. Obama said Pyongyang is deepening its isolation⁶, and inviting⁷ increased international pressure. He made specific mention of the response from Moscow and Beijing to North Korea's announcement of an underground nuclear test, and the reported test firing of three short range ground-to-air missiles.

"Russia and China as well as our traditional allies of South Korea and Japan have all come to the same conclusion: North Korea will not find security and respect through threats and illegal weapons," Mr. Obama said.

Earlier, in a series of interviews on national television, America's top military officer underscored the seriousness of the situation.

Joint⁸ Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen said it may take several days to verify the tests occurred. But he told CBS's Early Show that he sees a growing belligerence⁹ on the part of North Korea, and a stepped up defiance¹⁰ of international law.

"All of those things point to a country that I think continues to destabilize that region and actually in the long term, should they continue on to develop a nuclear weapons program, pose a significant threat to the United States," he said.

During an appearance on NBC's Today program, Mullen was asked if the United States has the ability to respond to a growing number of threats abroad, including North Korea.

"I am very confident that we can deal with a threat posed by North Korea. And it is not just the United States because there are many countries, and certainly those in the region, who are equally concerned," Mullen said.

Mullen originally scheduled the interviews to mark America's Memorial Day holiday, when the nation honors its war dead.

1 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

2 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

3 blatant   

adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的

参考例句：

• I cannot believe that so blatant a comedy can hoodwink anybody.我无法相信这么显眼的一出喜剧能够欺骗谁。
• His treatment of his secretary was a blatant example of managerial arrogance.他管理的傲慢作风在他对待秘书的态度上表露无遗。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

7 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 belligerence   

n.交战，好战性，斗争性

参考例句：

• He could be accused of passion,but never belligerence.可以说他很冲动，但不能说他爱挑事。
• He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.他故态复萌，几乎又像一年前那样咄咄逼人了。

10 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。