韩国联合通讯社:朝鲜准备试射远程导弹
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2015年VOA慢速英语(七)月
AS IT IS 2015-07-23 Yonhap: North Korea Prepares to Test Long-Range Missiles 韩国联合通讯社:朝鲜准备试射远程导弹
The Yonhap news agency says North Korea has set up a launch pad equipped to fire long-range ballistic missiles larger than those used in earlier tests. Yonhap said the launch pad is close to North Korea’s border with China. The structure was said to be 50-meters tall. But it reportedly has been extended to a height of 67-meters.
The launch pad is now said to have the ability to launch a rocket double the size of the 30-meter tall Unha-3 rocket. North Korea used an Unha-3 rocket to send a satellite into space in December 2012. However, United States officials said the satellite went out of control while in Earth orbit.
Observers said the launch pad appeared to be a step toward development of an intercontinental-range missile -- one designed to hit a distant target.
Yonhap said a government official in Seoul provided the information used in its report. The South Korean news agency said the launch pad could be used to fire a long-range missile sometime around October 10th. That is the day when North Korea will mark the 70th anniversary of its Communist Party.
Earlier this week, North Korea said it has no interest in negotiations 1 that would result in the government giving up its nuclear program.
A foreign ministry 2 statement said it was “illogical” to compare Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers to the situation in North Korea. The statement went on to say North Korea is “always subjected to provocative 3 U.S. military hostilities 4, including massive joint 5 military exercises and a grave nuclear threat.”
The Iranian nuclear agreement will limit the country’s nuclear activities in exchange for an end to economic restrictions 6 on Iran. After the agreement was announced, U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman called on North Korea to learn from the deal.
“The one thing I will say, and I would say to the North Koreans is that this agreement demonstrates that one can come out of isolation 7, … and do so in a peaceful way,” she said. “It perhaps might give North Korea second thoughts about the very dangerous path that is currently pursuing.”
North Korea said on Tuesday that it has no interest in any communications to discuss suspending or disarming 8 its nuclear program. The North instead said that it is a “nuclear weapons state.”
Words in This Story
pad – n. an area use for rocket launches or helicopter take-offs
long-range – adj. able to travel great distances
ballistic missile - n. a weapon capable of travelling through the sky over a distance to hit targets
intercontinental - adj. having the ability to travel between continents
illogical – adj. lacking clear, sound reasoning
provocative - adj. causing anger or another strong reaction
isolation – n. the act of being separated from others
pursuing – v. seeking; working to possess
- 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。
- 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。
- She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
- His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。
- Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
- All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。
- 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。
- I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
- a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
- The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
- He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。