AS IT IS 2016-05-18 North Korea Ex-Nuclear Envoy Named Foreign Minister
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2016年VOA慢速英语(五)月
AS IT IS 2016-05-18 North Korea Ex-Nuclear Envoy 1 Named Foreign Minister
North Korea has named Ri Yong Ho its new foreign minister, according to a diplomatic letter sent to Britain.
North Korea’s embassy in London informed the British government about the appointment.
The diplomatic letter did not say what would happen to the current foreign minister, Ri Su Yong. But South Korea’s spy agency said it believes he was named vice 3 chairman for international affairs of the ruling Workers’ Party.
Ri Yong Ho is a career diplomat 2. The former vice foreign minister served as North Korea’s top negotiator in past nuclear disarmament talks with United States and South Korean representatives. He once served as ambassador to Britain.
Some analysts 4 say Ri’s appointment may be an attempt by the isolated 5 nation to re-start diplomacy 6 with other countries.
International tensions increased this year when North Korea carried out a nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket a month later.
The United Nations Security Council ordered strict sanctions on North Korea for carrying out those tests. The U.N. has also condemned 7 the country’s human rights record.
Observers say the North Korean government may ask Ri to plead his country’s case to the U.N.
Lee Ji-sue is a North Korean expert at Myongji University in South Korea. He says no major policy changes are expected under the new foreign minister.
Lee noted 8 that the former foreign minister took orders from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and his predecessor 9 and father, Kim Jong Il. “Ri Yong Ho won’t have much say in foreign policies,” Lee said.
Words in This Story
disarmament – n. remove or reduce military forces or weapons
isolated – adj. far away from other places or people
strict – adj. strong or exact match to rules
sanction – n. an official order that restricts trade or contacts with a country
predecessor – n. the person who held a job or office before the current holder
- Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
- The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。
- The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
- He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。
- He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
- They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。
- 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。
- 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。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
- The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。