万花筒 2008-09-13&09-14 金正日中风了？

A US intelligence official says North Korean leader Kim Jong Il may have suffered a stroke and may in fact be gravely ill. And this is sparking all of this speculation¹ because he failed to show up at a celebration marking his country's 60th anniversary. NBC's Ian Williams joins us on the phone with the latest details. So Ian, Kim Jong Il has not been seen in public in the scene for nearly a month.

 

That's right, Tamron. It was quite a party today, a million of people on the streets of Pyongyang, a huge military parade, one of those massive choreographed² events that North Koreans do so well. But not there Kim Jong Il, the dear leader. And that's what stoked this speculation which has come from USA and South Korean intelligence sources that he may have suffered a stroke and indeed he hasn't been seen in public for a month. But I would suggest a little bit of caution. It's not unusual for him to be out of the public limelight, he, this is a reclusive man. He is not often, seen in public. Also talking here about a very close secretive society, there's not a great deal of information that comes out of North Korea. So speculation is always rife³. Now the US and South Korean intelligence have killed him off several times over recent years. But we have to remember, he didn't even turn up for his 60th birthday party, which was another one of these huge events a few years ago. Now, the Japanese have even carried reports, claiming he died in 2003 and that a lot of those recent appearances have been by body doubles. Now what we can say is that the 66-year-old dear leader doesn't appear to be in the best of health. And South Korean diplomats⁴, who have supported the US accounts, have cited Chinese officials and China is close to North Korea, and is perhaps better informed than most, Tamron.

 

Alright, Ian, thank you very much for the latest we will continue to follow this breaking news story on the health of Kim Jong Il and try to get you more details. Thank you Ian.

 

1 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

2 choreographed   

v.设计舞蹈动作( choreograph的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• There was some carefully choreographed flag-waving as the President drove by. 总统的车经过时，人们按精心编排的动作挥舞着旗帜。
• Achim had choreographed the dance in Act II himself. 阿希姆自己设计了第2幕的舞蹈动作。 来自辞典例句

3 rife   

adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• Disease is rife in the area.疾病在这一区很流行。
• Corruption was rife before the election.选举之前腐败盛行。

4 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》