VOA慢速英语2016 朝鲜连续测试远程导弹

AS IT IS 2016-08-04 North Korea Continues to Test Long-Range Missiles 朝鲜连续测试远程导弹

South Korean and U.S. military officials say North Korea carried out a ballistic missile test early Wednesday.

韩国和美国军方官员表示朝鲜本周三进行了弹道导弹测试。

U.S. officials say two missiles were launched. One was successful. The other missile reportedly exploded immediately after launch.

美国官员表示发射的两枚导弹。其中一枚是成功的。另外一枚导弹在发射后迅速爆炸了。

The test is the fourth such missile launch in recent weeks, although North Korea faces strong international restrictions 1 linked to the activity.

近几周以来，这是第四次导弹测试，尽管朝鲜面临着严苛的国际限制。

The United Nations, South Korea and the U.S. have placed economic and trade sanctions on North Korea because of its nuclear and missile programs.

因为朝鲜核弹和导弹计划，联合国，韩国和美国已经对朝鲜实施了经济贸易制裁。

In addition, the U.S. has placed sanctions on North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong-un, for human rights abuses.

另外，美国已经制裁了朝鲜官员，裁定领导人金正恩滥用人权。

The launch Wednesday took place from the country’s western Hwanghae province. One missile traveled about 1,000 kilometers to the east before landing close to or in Japanese waters.

本次导弹发射发生在朝鲜西部的黄海道。其中一枚导弹发射至1000千米外东部邻近日本的海域。

Japan's Prime Minister called the launch a “grave threat” to his country’s security. Japan’s defense 2 ministry 3 said the missile fell into the sea inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.

日本首相称本次导弹发射对日本的安全问题是“严肃的威胁”。日本国防部表示：朝鲜的导弹降落在日本独有的经济地带海域。

The United States condemned 4 the launch as a possible threat to U.S. interests in the area Wednesday. State Department spokeswoman Anna Richey-Allen said, “We remain prepared to work with our allies and partners around the world to respond to further DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) provocations 6, as well as to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation 5.”

美国谴责朝鲜的导弹发射是及其可能威胁到美国在该海域的利益。国务院发言人安娜.里奇-艾伦表示：“我们仍然准备和我们的同盟国以及全球的合作伙伴一起对于朝鲜的挑衅作出回应，也会保护我们自己和同盟国远离任何袭击和挑衅”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said he was “deeply troubled” by the test. A UN spokesman urged North Korea “to reverse its course and return to the process of sincere dialogue.”

联合国秘书长本潘基文表示：他对于本次朝鲜的导弹测试表示十分烦恼。联合国发言人要求朝鲜“扭转该局面并进行友好谈话”

The launch comes after South Korea and the United States announced the deployment 7 of a U.S.-made missile defense system known as THAAD.

本次朝鲜的导弹发射是在韩国和美国共同发表THAAD(战区高空区域防御系统）合作声明后。

North Korea is said to be seeking to develop a warhead small enough to be placed on a ballistic missile. South Korean defense officials say North Korea does not have the technical ability to do this yet.

据说朝鲜正在寻找和开发一种足够小的弹头能够放置在弹道导弹上面。韩国国防部官员表示朝鲜没有技术能力做到如此。

The latest missile tests also come as the U.S. and South Korea prepare to hold additional military exercises in the area this month.

最近的导弹测试也是紧随着本月美国和韩国准备举行附加的军事演习之后。

North Korea denounced the training as provocative 8 and preparation for an invasion.

朝鲜否认本次训练是挑衅和准备侵略。

Words in This Story

ballistic missile – adj. a kind of missile able to travel long distances before returning to earth

sanctions – n. actions, usually economic or trade penalties, placed on a country to cause it to follow international law

grave – adj. very serious

exclusive – adj. available to only one person or group

provocations – n. acts meant to cause tension

sincere – adj. honest, to show true feelings

dialogue – n. discussion, talk between two or more people