Roh Plays Down NK Nuclear Threat

Roh Plays Down NK Nuclear Threat

By Ryu Jin, Korea Times Correspondent

HELSINKI, Finland _ President Roh Moo-hyun cautioned Thursday against reckless speculation about a possible North Korean nuclear test, warning that it would only hurt inter-Korean relations.

At a joint press conference with Finnish President Tarja Halonen, Roh also stressed that North Korea’s missile launches on July 4, which prompted the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations Security Council, seemed to be motivated by political reasons rather than being a real military threat.

Asked about the possibility of North Korea taking more steps to further escalate tension in the region, Roh said South Korea has no evidence whether or when North Korea would conduct a nuclear test.

``Let me talk about the missile tests first,’’ he said, while avoiding a direct comment on the possibility of a nuclear test by Pyongyang. ``The Taepodong II missile is too small to reach the United States, but too big to be directed at South Korea.’’

In what could also be regarded as a diplomatic comment toward North Korea, he partly blamed reports for complicating and exaggerating the North Korean missile and nuclear threats by portraying them more as a show of force than a political move.

``I think media speculation is one of the reasons that makes the issue more difficult,’’ he told reporters through his interpreter. ``It will only make many people worried and could also harm inter-Korean ties. So, it’s very difficult for me to comment on that.’’

During the press conference, Roh also talked about discord in Northeast Asia over history, which he cited as the biggest obstacle to regional cooperation and dialogue framework, and ultimately integration like the E.U. in Europe.

Seoul has had sour relations with Tokyo in recent years as Japanese leaders made repeated visits to a controversial war shrine, distorted its history in World War ll and laid claim to South Korea’s Dokdo Islets in the East Sea.

South Korea has also found itself at odds with China recently as Beijing attempted to make the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, part of Korea’s historical roots, as part of its own history.

During his stay, Roh will to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Sept. 10-11. After the meeting, he will fly to the United States for talks with President George W. Bush.

Before coming here, Roh visited Greece and Romania.

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Roh Plays Down NK Nuclear Threat

노 대통령; 북핵 위협 대단한 것 아니다

* play down 대단치 않게 생각하다, 선전하지 않다, 경시하다 opp. play up

By Ryu Jin

Korea Times Correspondent 류진 코리아 타임스 특파원

* correspondent 응답자, 통신원, 특파원

HELSINKI, Finland _ President Roh Moo-hyun cautioned Thursday against reckless speculation about a possible North Korean nuclear test, warning that it would only hurt inter-Korean relations.

핀란드, 헬싱키 - 노무현 대통령은 ...경계하였다/ 목요일/ ...지나친 추측을/ 북한의 핵실험 가능성에 대한,/ 핵실험이 남북한 관계만 해칠 것이라고 하면서.//

* caution 주의하다, 경계하다

* reckless speculation 무모한 추측

* inter-Korean relation 남북한 관계

* warning that it would only hurt inter-Korean relations

<= and he warned that it would only hurt ~ .

At a joint press conference with Finnish President Tarja Halonen, Roh also stressed that North Korea’s missile launches on July 4, which prompted the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations Security Council, seemed to be motivated by political reasons rather than being a real military threat.

...합동기자회견에서/ 타르야 할로넨 핀란드 대통령과의,/ 노 대통령은 또한 강조하였다/ ...7월 4일 북한의 미사일 발사는,/ 즉각 유엔의 안보리 결의를 초래한,/ 정치적인 이유에 의한 것 같다/ 실제 군사적인 위협 보다는.//

* a joint press conference 합동 기자회견

* prompt 즉각적인; 유발하다

* resolution 결의 cf. new year resolution 새해다짐

* the United Nations Security Council 유엔 안전보장이사회

* motivate 동기를 주다, 자극하다(=incite)

* A rather than B,  B라기 보다는 A

* military threat 군사적인 위협

  

Asked about the possibility of North Korea taking more steps to further escalate tension in the region, Roh said South Korea has no evidence whether or when North Korea would conduct a nuclear test.

... 가능성에 대해 질문을 받고/ 북한이 ...추가적인 조치를 취할/ 지역의 긴장을 확산시키기 위하여,/ 노 대통령은 ...말했다/ 한국은 ...아무런 증거도 가지고 있지 않다고/ 북한이 핵실험을 할 것인지 여부와 시기에 관한.//

* Asked about the possibility of~ <=When Roh was asked about the possibility of ~

* take more steps 추가 조치를 취하다

* escalate 단계적으로 확산하다

``Let me talk about the missile tests first,’’ he said, while avoiding a direct comment on the possibility of a nuclear test by Pyongyang. ``The Taepodong II missile is too small to reach the United States, but too big to be directed at South Korea.’’

“먼저 미사일 실험에 관하여 이야기 해 보겠습니다,” 그는 말했다,/ ...직접적인 논평을 피하면서/ 북한의 핵실험 가능성에 대한.// “대포동2호 미사일은 미국까지 가기에는 너무 작고,/

한국으로 쏘기에는 너무 큽니다.”

In what could also be regarded as a diplomatic comment toward North Korea, he partly blamed reports for complicating and exaggerating the North Korean missile and nuclear threats by portraying them more as a show of force than a political move.

또한 북한에 대한 외교적인 논평으로 여겨질 수 있는 말에서도,/ 노 대통령은 일부 비난하였다/ 언론의 보도가 ... 복잡하게 과장하였다고/ 북한의 미사일과 핵 위협을/ 정치적인 의도라기보다는 무력시위로 묘사하여.//

* blame A for B,  B에 대하여 A를 비난하다

* complicate 복잡하게 하다, 까다롭게 하다

* exaggerate 과장하다

* a show of force 무력시위

South Korea has also found itself at odds with China recently as Beijing attempted to make the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, part of Korea’s historical roots, as part of its own history.

한국은 최근 중국과의 관계도 불편해졌다/ 중국정부가 ...시도함에 따라/ 한국역사의 뿌리인 옛 고구려를 중국역사의 일부로 만들려고.//

* at odds with ...와 싸우다, 사이가 좋지 않다

* ancient 고대의