Japan, South Korea and U.S. Strengthen Security Ties

Diplomats² from the United States, Japan and South Korea confirmed their commitment to working together against possible threats from North Korea.

The officials represent their countries on nuclear weapons issues. They met Wednesday in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, agreeing to strengthen their security ties.

"North Korea is continuing and even accelerating its nuclear and missile capabilities³," said Japanese diplomat¹ Takehiro Funakoshi before Wednesday's discussions. He noted⁴ a possible threat of more nuclear tests by North Korea.

The country has performed an unusually high number of missile launches this year. And the United States has warned that North Korea could sell weapons to Russia.

Wednesday's meeting followed similar talks over the past two months.

One took place between security advisers⁵ in Hawaii last week. At the same time, there were signs North Korea might be performing its first nuclear test since 2017.

Funakoshi said North Korea was welcome to join talks and negotiations⁷ with Japan, South Korea, and the United States. American Representative Sung Kim and South Korean Representative Kim Gunn also expressed support for talks that include North Korea.

Sung Kim said the U.S., Japan and South Korea are prepared for any actions North Korea might carry out. And he said the U.S. goal has not changed: It seeks denuclearization of Korea.

Japan's Foreign Ministry⁸ later said in a statement that the three representatives had shared deep concerns about North Korea's recent activities.

In August, North Korea fired two missiles from its west coast after South Korea and the United States began their largest field military training in years. North Korea has said it considers the training preparation for war.

Kim Sung-han is South Korea's national security adviser⁶. Speaking after the meeting, he said that the representatives agreed there would be what he called a "soft" answer if North Korea performed a nuclear test. He did not give details, but the South Korean government in the past has proposed increasing sanctions.

Words in This Story

provocation⁹ – n. an action or occurrence that causes someone to become angry or to begin to do something

accelerate – v. to cause (something) to happen sooner or more quickly

capabilities – n. the ability to do something

loom¹⁰ – v. to appear in a large, strange, or frightening form often in a sudden way

sanctions – n. an action taken to force a country to obey international laws by limiting trade or aid to the country

literally¹¹ – adv. used to stress a statement or description that is true and accurate though it may be surprising

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 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》

3 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 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。

5 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

6 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

7 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。

8 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。

9 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

10 loom   

n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近

参考例句：

• The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
• The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。

11 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。