英闻天下——497 China Reiterates Restraint on Korean Peninsula
英语课
The Chinese government is issuing a new call for calm and restraint on the Korean peninsula.
It comes as South Korea's foreign ministry 1 characterizes the prospect 2 of a North Korean missile launch right now as "high".
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei:
"China has always believed that the Korean peninsula should remain peaceful and stable and be denuclearized and should use dialogue and consultation 3 to resolve problems. At present all sides should remain calm and exercise restraint and not take any moves which provoke or irritate each other."
North Korean officials have not made any announcement of a planned launch.
However, they have told foreign diplomats 4 in Pyongyang they will not be able to guarantee their safety as of today.
North Korea has also warned foreigners in the South to get out or find cover, warning a nuclear war is imminent 5.
South Korea says the North has moved one or more of its medium-range missiles in a readiness position.
The missiles reportedly have the ability to hit US military bases in Guam.
Despite the moves, the South Korean side is calling for calm.
South Korean Unification Ministry spokesperson Kim Hyung-Seok:
"Various moves by North Korea are kind of strong psychological warfare 6 to build up the sense of instability. So we do not have to be too much worried or to pay too much attention to those moves."
Meanwhile, South Korean lawmakers are calling on North Korea to resume operations at their joint 7 Kaesong joint industrial park.
The South Korean government also says it has proof the North Korean government is behind the March 20th cyber attack that paralyzed computers at South Korean banks and broadcast outlets 8.
All this comes as Pyongyang prepares to mark the April 15th birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung on Monday, which many observers are suggesting may mark an opportunity for North Korea to make some type of move.
1 ministry
n.(政府的)部；牧师
- 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。
2 prospect
n.前景，前途；景色，视野
- This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
- The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
3 consultation
n.咨询；商量；商议；会议
- The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
- The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。
4 diplomats
n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人
- These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
- The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 imminent
adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的
- The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
- The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。
6 warfare
n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突
- He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
- Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。