AS IT IS 2016-03-08 N. Korea Threatens Nuclear Strike, US, S. Korea Begin Drills

AS IT IS 2016-03-08 N. Korea Threatens Nuclear Strike, US, S. Korea Begin Drills

North Korea has threatened a preemptive nuclear strike as the U.S. and South Korean forces began their largest joint¹ military exercises ever.

The yearly military drills often increase tensions between North and South Korea. This year, tensions are especially high after the U.N. Security Council approved new sanctions on North Korea. The sanctions are in response to the North’s recent nuclear and long-range rocket tests. 

Key Resolve and Foal Eagle drills much larger this year

The joint military exercises are known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle. The drills involve 17,000 American troops. That is four times the number that took part last year. Three hundred thousand South Korean troops joined the drills. Many U.S. aircraft and naval² ships are also involved. These include the nuclear-powered submarine, the USS North Carolina, and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis. 

North Korea’s National Defense³ Commission denounced the military exercises in a statement. It said North Korea was prepared for a "sacred war of justice for reunification.”

In the statement, the commission said the military exercises were aimed at harming “the sovereignty” of the North.

South Korean Defense Ministry⁴ spokesman Moon Sang-kyun called the North Korean threat “unacceptable.”

The U.S. and South Korea said the joint drills are defensive⁵ in nature. This year, the two allies reportedly will practice carrying out preemptive military strikes against North Korean targets.

Communication lines not in place

North Korea’s recent tests have resulted in an increase in the potential for inter-Korean conflict.

In response, the South Korean government in Seoul closed the Kaesong Industrial Complex that it jointly⁶ operated with the North.  

North Korea then deported⁷ all South Koreans who were working at the Kaesong center. It also cut an emergency communication hotline put in place to avoid dangerous military situations.

Daniel Pinkston of Troy University in Seoul said the situation is risky⁸. “If North Korea wants to take some kind of belligerent⁹ military action against the South and in some limited way, I think they are running a very high risk of facing some retaliation¹⁰,” he said.

Philippines seizes vessel¹¹

Also, the Philippines has become the first country to enforce the new UN sanctions on North Korea.

The Philippine Coast Guard on Friday detained and searched the Jin Teng, a ship with a crew of 21 North Korean citizens. The search revealed no illicit¹² cargo¹³, only minor¹⁴ safety violations¹⁵.

However, the Jin Teng has been sanctioned by the U.N. as one of 31 ships owned by Ocean Maritime¹⁶ Management Company. The company is based in North Korea’s capital Pyonyang. It has been targeted for suspected involvement in trading arms in the past.

Words in This Story

Preemptive –adj. done to prevent an unwanted act by another group, country, or force

Drill –n. an exercise done to practice military skills or activities

Vessel –n. a ship or large boat

Sovereignty –n. a country’s independent authority and the right to govern itself

Potential –n. capable of becoming real

Retaliation –n. to take action against someone, group or country to answer to some kind of attack

1 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。

2 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

3 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。

4 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。

5 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

6 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

7 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

9 belligerent   

adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者

参考例句：

• He had a belligerent aspect.他有种好斗的神色。
• Our government has forbidden exporting the petroleum to the belligerent countries.我们政府已经禁止向交战国输出石油。

10 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

12 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

13 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

14 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

15 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

16 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。