2006年VOA标准英语-Rumsfeld: Proliferation Main Concern with North

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
11 October 2006

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says his main concern following North Korea's claim that it tested a nuclear explosive is that it could provide nuclear technology to other countries, and to terrorist groups.

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With a map of Korean Peninsula behind him, Donald Rumsfeld gestures during press briefing at Pentagon, Oct. 11, 2006

Secretary Rumsfeld says North Korea's claim has raised concern around the world, and that his particular concern about the nuclear programs there and in Iran is the potential for proliferation.

"Their programs point to increasing risks of lethal² weapons possibly ending up in the hands of non-state entities³, folks that, unlike a nation, tend not to be deterred⁴ the way a nation-state would because they don't have to worry about protecting real estate, population and leadership," he said.

Secretary Rumsfeld says North Korea and Iran have already shown their willingness to sell weapons both to other countries and to terrorist groups. He also expressed concern that North Korea's test could inspire moves by other countries in Asia to develop their own nuclear weapons capabilities⁵.

The secretary did not discuss any possible military responses to North Korea's apparent new capability⁶, nor did he confirm whether the explosion on Monday was nuclear or not. But he said this is an issue that no one country can deal with, and that the international community needs to come together on a joint⁷ response.

"It will take a relatively⁸ common threat assessment⁹, assessment of the world's circumstance, on the part of other countries," Rumsfeld said. "It will take a willingness on the part of other countries to forego commercial opportunities in exchange for security interests. And it will require all the international community of free nations to decide that action during this period, when the threat is not immediate¹⁰, is the time to do it, rather than when the threat becomes more immediate, in whatever number of years that may be."

Secretary Rumsfeld says he believes it is possible for diplomacy¹¹ to work with North Korea, without the direct threat of the use of force. But he says 'time will tell' whether sanctions will be effective, and whether the international community will be willing to do what is necessary to convince North Korea's leaders to give up their nuclear weapons program.

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 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

3 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

4 deterred   

v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I told him I wasn't interested, but he wasn't deterred. 我已告诉他我不感兴趣，可他却不罢休。
• Jeremy was not deterred by this criticism. 杰里米没有因这一批评而却步。 来自辞典例句

5 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

6 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。

7 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。

8 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

9 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

10 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

11 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。