VOA标准英语2010年-US Missionary Returns After 43 Days in

American missionary¹ Robert Park is seen inside a vehicle after arriving at the Beijing Capital Airport, 6 Feb 2010. His arrival in Beijing came a day after North Korea announced it would free Robert Park. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The family of an American activist² has welcomed him home in Los Angeles, 43 days after he was detained in North Korea.

Broadcast images from Beijing showed Robert Park, 28, transiting³ through the city's airport, looking thin and exhausted⁴ as he walked silently through a crowd of reporters.

Hours later, Park was greeted by family members at a private location at the Los Angeles international airport.  His older brother, Paul Park, was there.

"He's doing well, he's in good condition and we're really excited to have him home," said Paul Park.

Fellow human rights activists⁵ say Robert Park deliberately⁶ crossed into North Korea on Christmas Day, December 25. They say he wanted to spread a Christian⁷ message and urge the North's leaders to close down political prison camps.

His condition and whereabouts remained largely a mystery for the 43 days that followed.  On Friday, North Korea announced plans to release him, and published an interview quoting Park as regretting his actions and showing a change of heart about life in North Korea.  The report quoted Park as saying he now believes North Koreans enjoy "complete religious freedom."

His brother Paul says the family has not yet had time to ask him about his stay in the North, or about the comments he supposedly made.  He says the emotion of the homecoming has taken precedence.

"He's been crying, he's very excited," he added.  "There was nothing more touching⁸ than watching a mother and son being able to embrace, particularly since they haven't seen each other in a while, and given that last night was the first time that we heard his voice in 43 days."

A close friend of Park's here in Seoul says he believes that if Park did say the things North Korea quoted in the report, it would have to have been under duress⁹. 

North Korea is considered to have one of the worst human rights records in the world, and severely¹⁰ restricts access to outside information. Defectors have said religion is tightly controlled.

His friends in the South Korean capital say they will press forward with plans to hold a large rally later this month.  Originally, the rally was intended to call for Park's release.  Now, they say, the event will celebrate it.

 

1 missionary   

adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士

参考例句：

• She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
• I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 transiting   

通过（transit的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• The effect of the transiting mechanic required reserve system vehicle is low. 准备金制度的传导机制的作用是很低的。
• I was busy transiting to the telescope. 我正忙着旋转望远镜。

4 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

7 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

8 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

9 duress   

n.胁迫

参考例句：

• He claimed that he signed the confession under duress.他说他是被迫在认罪书上签字的。
• These unequal treaties were made under duress.这些不平等条约是在强迫下签订的。

10 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。