VOA慢速英语2016 朝鲜第五次进行核试验 恐面临国际制裁

North Korea Faces Condemnation 1 Over Fifth Nuclear Test 朝鲜第五次进行核试验 恐面临国际制裁

The United States and its allies are reacting to North Korea's latest nuclear test.

The test, carried out on September 9th, was the country's second nuclear test this year.

Some reports say the North Korean government may already be planning more testing.

Last Friday, North Korea said it exploded a nuclear device underground. It was the country's fifth nuclear test since 2006. Measurements showed the explosion was stronger than North Korea's four earlier nuclear tests.

A South Korean Defense 2 Ministry 3 official said, "With regards to (the) possibility of North Korea's additional nuclear test, South Korea and U.S. intelligence assess that it is always ready to conduct an additional nuclear test."

South Korean leader seeks unity 4

South Korea's president, Park Geun-hye, held an emergency meeting with political leaders on Monday. She met with representatives of her Saenuri Party and the two main opposition 5 parties, the Minjoo Party and the People's Party.

Park urged unity in reacting to North Korea's actions.

South Korea is working with the U.S., Japan and other countries to press for increased sanctions on North Korea in the United Nations Security Council. The council has already approved a number of measures aimed at punishing the North for its nuclear activities.

New proposals could expand the list of products barred for export to the country. They could also expand restrictions 6 on North Korean individuals and organizations tied to the North's military or weapons programs.

Sung Kim is the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy. He said the U.S. government is working with America's allies to form a response. He said they are considering unilateral, bilateral 7 and trilateral measures against North Korea. Kim met with Japanese officials on Sunday.

The U.S. government also has called on China to do more to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear and its missile programs.

China's support considered very important

Existing sanctions by the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. and South Korea have hurt North Korea economically. Those measures target trade, shipping 8 and finance.

China's cooperation on sanctions is considered important because most North Korean trade flows to or through China.

Chinese officials have called on North Korea not to take steps they consider provocative 9. However, China's reaction has been limited.

Daniel Pinkston is a Northeast Asia expert with Troy University in Seoul. He says China is unwilling 10 to impose measures that could cause the collapse 11 of the North Korean government.

Pinkston said, "I think they will keep the lifeline in place for North Korea."

On Monday, China's foreign ministry said sanctions alone cannot solve the nuclear issue. It also said unilateral action will not be productive.

North Korea has intensified 12 its nuclear and missile testing. In addition to its nuclear tests, the country has launched more than 20 medium- or long-range missiles.

Yet, North Korea faces problems feeding its population. And the U.N. agency for humanitarian 13 affairs reported Monday that flooding in the northern part of the country has killed more than 130 people. More than 100,000 have fled their homes, the agency said.

Late last week, President Barack Obama condemned 14 the latest North Korean nuclear test. He called it "a grave threat to regional security and to international peace and stability."

美国及其盟国对朝鲜近日进行核试验一事采取了行动。

9月9日进行的这次核实验是朝鲜今年的第二次核试验。

报道称，朝鲜政府准备进行更多的核实验。

上周五，朝鲜称已成功引爆了地下一处核装置。这是朝鲜2006年以来第五次进行核试验。测量结果表明，此次爆炸的威力比前四次核试验爆炸的威力更强。

韩国国防部一名官员称，“关于朝鲜将进行更多核试验的猜测，韩国和美国情报部一致认为：朝鲜随时会进行核试验。”

韩国领导人寻求党内团结一致

周一，韩国总统朴槿惠（Park Geun-hye）紧急组织政治领导人会议。她会见了其所在党——新世界党和两个主要反对党——民族党和人民党的代表。

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韩国总统呼吁各党团结一致应对朝鲜的威胁。

韩国联合美国、日本等其他国家向联合国安理会施压，要求其加强对朝鲜的制裁。联合国安理会已通过了惩罚朝鲜进行核活动的制裁措施。

新的制裁方案可能会增加禁止出口到朝鲜的产品种类。安理会还可能会扩大朝鲜个人或组织的军备武器的限制范围。

金成（Sung Kim）是美国朝鲜政策的特别代表。他表示，美国政府正寻求与美国盟友的合作，形成一致立场。他们准备对朝鲜施行单边、双边和三边的制裁。周日，金日会见了日本代表。

美国政府还呼吁中国采取更多措施逼迫朝鲜放弃核武器和导弹计划。

中国的立场是非常重要的

由联合国安理会、美国和韩国发起的现有经济制裁使朝鲜遭受巨大损失。这些制裁涉及贸易、航运和金融领域。

朝鲜大部分贸易都流向中国或需要途径中国，因此中国在国际制裁上的合作十分重要。

中国政府呼吁朝鲜不要做出任何挑衅行为。然而，中国的作用毕竟有限。

丹尼尔·平克斯顿（Daniel Pinkston）是首尔特洛伊大学的东北亚局势专家。他称，中国不愿施加措施导致朝鲜政府崩溃。

平克斯顿还说：“我想中国会维持朝鲜这条生命线的。”

周一，中国外交部表示，仅靠制裁无法真正解决半岛的核威胁问题。外交部还指出，单边行动难以取得成效。

朝鲜在核武器和导弹试验方面变本加厉。除了核试验，朝鲜还发射了20多枚的中期导弹或远程导弹。

然而，朝鲜民众面临着食物短缺问题。周一，联合国人道主义事务机构表示，朝鲜北部的洪水灾害已致130多人死亡。超10万人背井离乡。

上周末，美国总统奥巴马严厉谴责朝鲜的第五次核试验。他称“这对地区安全、国际和平与稳定构成严重威胁。”