2006年VOA标准英语-International Community Expresses Concern About

By Stephanie Ho
Washington
05 July 2006

The United States and the international community are expressing concern about the North Korean missile launches. Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council is holding emergency meetings to determine how to respond.

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Picture from file video of unidentified North Korean missile launch
  
World condemnation² of North Korea's missile launches was swift. The United States called it a provocation³. Japan, which is within missile range, put its military on high alert.

NATO said the tests threaten security in East Asia, while Russia said they undermine international trust in the impoverished⁴ nation.

China, a country seen as one of North Korea's closest allies, expressed its concern, but urged all parties involved not to aggravate⁵ tensions in the region.

President Bush accused Pyongyang of consciously going against the wishes of the international community.

"Yesterday, as you know, they fired off a series of rockets. The world had, particularly those of us in the six party talks, had asked for that not to happen, as a matter of good faith. The government made a different decision. It's their choice to make. What these firing of the rockets has done is they've isolated⁶ themselves further. And that's sad for the people of North Korea," he said.

Condoleezza Rice   
  
Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said North Korea's missile tests have united the rest of the world against it.

"We have had expressions from countries all over the world, of concern about this provocation that the North Koreans have engaged in, concern I think that is being expressed now in the (U.N.) Security Council," she said.

In New York, the U.N. Security Council is holding emergency meetings to determine its response.

 
Japan's UN Ambassador Kenzo Oshima (left) with John Bolton
  
Japan's ambassador to the United Nations, Kenzo Oshima, told reporters his government already has taken steps to sanction North Korea.

"As far as Japan is concerned, on a bilateral⁷ basis, the government has announced a series of measures against North Korea, such as a ban on the entry of North Korean ships into Japanese ports, and a ban on travel of officials of North Korea to Japan," he said.

Oshima said he believes any Security Council response must strongly condemn¹ the North Korean missile launches and express what he described as the international community's "deep concern."

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said he had no details to discuss yet, but added that Security Council members are united in wanting to send a strong message to North Korea.

"As you know, I never predict the Security Council action. But by the tenor⁸ of the statements of all of the Council members, I think there is support for sending a clear signal to Pyongyang, and we will proceed to see if we cannot get that done in the next few days," he said.

The top U.S. official for Asia, Christopher Hill, urged Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks, which are aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. In an interview with CNN, he rejected criticism that the six-party talks have not been successful and said the United States will "stick with what it knows is the right approach." Hill goes to the region Thursday.

The six-party talks include the United States, North Korea, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. The diplomatic process began in 2003, but has been stalled since September.

1 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

2 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

3 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。

4 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 aggravate   

vt.加重(剧)，使恶化；激怒，使恼火

参考例句：

• Threats will only aggravate her.恐吓只能激怒她。
• He would only aggravate the injury by rubbing it.他揉擦伤口只会使伤势加重。

6 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

7 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

8 tenor   

n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意

参考例句：

• The tenor of his speech was that war would come.他讲话的大意是战争将要发生。
• The four parts in singing are soprano,alto,tenor and bass.唱歌的四个声部是女高音、女低音、男高音和男低音。