VOA慢速英语2015 韩国担心朝鲜潜艇导弹发射

AS IT IS 2015-05-14 South Korea Concerned Over North’s Submarine Missile Launch 韩国担心朝鲜潜艇导弹发射

South Korean officials stated their concerns about North Korea’s first missile test launch from a submarine. The test does not immediately change the military situation on the Korean peninsula. However, it shows that North Korea is working on a missile system that is difficult to detect and could threaten countries around the world.

North Korea test-fires underwater missile

A spokesman for the South Korean Defense¹ Ministry², Kim Min-seok, confirmed that North Korea did test-fire an underwater ballistic missile on May 8. He calls the test a serious concern. Mr. Kim also urged North Korea to stop developing the weapon immediately.

However, Mr. Kim also says the test shows North Korea is years away from deploying³ this new capability⁴. He says the ministry believes North Korea’s test-fire shows the country is in the early stages of developing a submarine launched ballistic missile program. Mr. Kim says advanced countries take four to five years after an underwater test to complete the system.

What could North Korea’s new abilities mean?

However, the fact that North Korea is on a path to develop a submarine-based missile system means it could develop the ability to strike anywhere in the world. Targets could include the mainland of the United States.

The North’s new ability could also hurt the effectiveness of South Korea’s current Kill Chain missile system. This system is designed to target and destroy North Korean missile launch sites.

The increased North Korean threat could start a new arms race on the Korean peninsula. Some could also use the threat to justify⁵ deploying the United States anti-ballistic missile system called THAAD. South Korea has not wanted to accept the THAAD missile system because China opposes the move.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry spokesman says his country is sure it can, in his words, “strongly respond” to a missile attack from a North Korean submarine.

Some experts question the effectiveness of the launch

Bruce Bennett studies defense issues for the RAND Corporation, a research group. He said what North Korea got as a result of the test launch remains⁶ unclear.

“I haven’t seen any description of what exactly happened to the missile after it left the water,” Mr. Bennett said.

He also wondered if North Korea has a submarine equipped to fire a missile beyond the Korean peninsula.

But he noted⁷ that the launch represents a threat to South Korea and Japan.

A nuclear weapon would raise the threat level

Defense expert Shin In-kyun is with the Korea Defense Network. He says South Korea needs to prevent missile attacks if the North moves to arm a ballistic missile with a nuclear weapon.

North Korea has not shown it can make a small nuclear warhead. However, U.S. military authorities recently said they believe North Korea has the ability to fit a nuclear weapon on a long distance missile.

Shin In-kyun says the U.S., South Korea and other allies need to develop the ability to contain this threat at its source.

He says the allies need to be able to launch a preemptive attack by deploying U.S. nuclear submarines. He says they could hide near North Korea’s submarine port on Mayong Island and strike the North’s submarine if there is an attack.

Political message

The submarine missile test took place days after U.S. and South Korean diplomats⁸ met to discuss the possibility of opening “exploratory talks” with the North. The two countries may be considering a compromise to meet North Korea’s demand for unconditional⁹ talks by using the work “exploratory” rather than “formal negotiations¹⁰.” The compromise would temporarily suspend the U.S. demand that North Korea first take clear steps to halt its nuclear program.

Shin In-kyun says, by carrying out the missile test, North Korea is sending a message that it is not ready to offer any compromises on its own. North Korea wants the right to test-fire missiles in addition to restarting six-party talks without preconditions.

Leaders answer the test launch

The U.S. State Department has called on North Korea to avoid raising tensions in the area. It says launches using ballistic missile technology are a “clear violation” of U.N. Security Council resolutions. North Korea is under U.N. sanctions, which ban the country from developing or using ballistic missile technology.

North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA, reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calls the launch “an eye-opening success.”

Words in This Story

detect – v. to discover or notice the presence of something or someone; to find

ballistic missile – n. a weapon that is able to travel a long distance and then strike a target; a long-range missile

advanced – adj. beyond the basic level; far along in the course of progress

exploratory – adj. done or created to find something or to learn more about something

preconditions – n. something that must exist or happen before something else can exist or happen

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

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 deploying   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的现在分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Provides support for developing and deploying distributed, component-based applications. 为开发和部署基于组件的分布式应用程序提供支持。
• Advertisement, publishing, repair, and install-on-demand are all available when deploying your application. 在部署应用程序时提供公布、发布、修复和即需即装功能。

4 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

5 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 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。

8 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》

9 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。