VOA标准英语2013--US, S. Korea Ready to Counter N. Korean Aggression

 

US, S. Korea Ready to Counter N. Korean Aggression¹

With North Korean troops training for what Pyongyang calls a "state of war" with South Korea, Secretary Kerry says Washington and its allies will not be caught off guard.

"The United States will do what is necessary to defend ourselves and defend our allies Korea and Japan. We are fully² prepared and capable of doing so. And I think the DPRK understands that," said Kerry.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se says Seoul and Washington are united against these threats. "Both Secretary Kerry and I agree that North Korea should abandon its nuclear ambitions and bellicose³ rhetoric," stated Yun Byung-se.

North Korea says it will restart a plutonium reactor⁴ and uranium enrichment plant that was disabled as part of a 2007 deal with China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States. Leader Kim Jong Un says atomic power is central to his country's survival.

"Our nuclear strength is a reliable war deterrent," Kim Jong Un said. "And a guarantee to protect our sovereignty.'' He says that is a foundation for economic growth. "It is on the basis of a strong nuclear strength that peace and prosperity can exist, and so can the happiness of people's lives,'' he said.

Kerry says restarting the Yongbyon reactor "would be a very serious step." "That in itself would be a breach⁵ of international standard requirements. It would be a provocative⁶ act and completely contrary to the road that we have traveled all of these years," Kerry stated.

China is crucial to staying on that road to a negotiated settlement, and Beijing appears to share Washington's concern.

"We call on all sides to be calm and exercise restraint and return as soon as possible to the path of talks and consultations⁷ to appropriately resolve the issue," said Hong Lei.

An issue key to Kerry's upcoming trip to the region.

"The secretary will be discussing the DPRK’s provocations⁸ on all of his stops in Northeast Asia next - on his trip next week. This will be very much front and center," Nuland explained. "And particularly in Beijing."

North Korean aggression may be pushing China closer to U.S. calls for tougher action against Pyongyang, says American University professor Pek Koon Heng. "I think the Chinese may be more amenable⁹ to the U.S. line on North Korea," he noted¹⁰. "And may be putting more pressure on the North Koreans."

North Korean leaders say nuclear weapons are "the nation's life," and are not to be traded even for "billions of dollars" in aid. 

1 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 bellicose   

adj.好战的；好争吵的

参考例句：

• He expressed alarm about the government's increasingly bellicose statements.他对政府越来越具挑衅性的声明表示担忧。
• Some irresponsible politicians made a bellicose remarks.一些不负责任的政客说出一些好战的话语。

4 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

5 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

6 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

7 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 provocations   

n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 )；激怒；刺激；愤怒的原因

参考例句：

• We cannot ignore such provocations. 对于这种挑衅，我们不能置之不理。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They must immediately cease all their provocations. 他们必须停止一切挑衅。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 amenable   

adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的

参考例句：

• His scientific discoveries are amenable to the laws of physics.他在科学上的发现经得起物理定律的检验。
• He is amenable to counsel.他这人听劝。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。