North Korea tested long-range missile
North Korea has tested a long-range missile that might have reached as far as Alaska experts believe. The launch was in defiance of a ban by the UN Security Council (UNSC). The US and South Korea have held a ballistic missile drill as an answer and declared that the armistice could be abandoned at any time. The allies wanted to demonstrate their strength through actions as well.
Furthermore, the US has asked for an urgent meeting of the UNSC and a meeting with the 15 members took place on Wednesday earlier this week. Washington said they will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea and called its actions a new escalation of the threat. Kim Kong-un declared North Korea to be a proud nuclear country.
A long-range missile is usually designed to carry a nuclear warhead. Its minimum range is 5,500km but most of them fly about 10,000km and more. Experts say it is yet unclear if North Korea is really able to miniaturise a nuclear warhead that would fit into a long-range missile. But it seems they are on their way to achieve just that and the missile test proved that US territory is now within North Korean cross-hairs.
long-range missile (lɒŋ- reɪnʤ ˈmɪsaɪl) – die Langstreckenrakete
to reach(ri:tʃ) – nach etw greifen, hier: etw erreichen
launch (lɔ:n(t)ʃ) – der Abschuss
defiance (dɪˈfaɪən(t)s) – etw/jdm zum Trotz
ballistic missile drill (bəˈlɪstɪk ˈmɪsaɪldrɪl) – die Raketengeschossübung
to declare (dɪˈkleəʳ) – etw verkünden, bekanntmachen
armistice (ˈɑ:mɪstɪs) – der Waffenstillstand
to abandon (əˈbændən) – etw verlassen, hier: etw aufgeben
strength (streŋ(k)θ) – die Stärke, die Kraft
urgent (ˈɜ:ʤənt) – wichtig, dringlich
member (ˈmembəʳ) – das Mitglied
escalation (ˌeskəˈleɪʃən) – die Steigerung
threat (θret) – die Bedrohung
proud (praʊd) – stolz sein
usually (ˈju:ʒəli) – nomalerweise, gewöhnlich
to carry (ˈkæri) – etw tragen
warhead (ˈwɔ:hed) – der Sprengkopf
to prove (pru:v) – etw beweisen
territory (ˈterɪtəri) – das Gebiet
cross-hairs (krɒs- heəʳ) – das Fadenkreuz
Trump´s vision for Europe
President Trump arrived in Europe for the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. His first stop was Poland where he was warmly greeted by Polish president Andrzej Duda who shares his hostile view of immigration and strong sense of national sovereignty. Trump will give a speech in Warsaw laying out his vision for America´s relation with Europe.
During his visit he promoted US gas as an alternative to Russian energy. Poland is trying to become less energy – dependent on Russia. Last month they received the first shipment of US liquefied natural gas. Furthermore, Trump reaffirmed his support for Eastern Europe. President Duda believes that Trump´s visit strengthened their position in the European Union. Poland is at odds with its fellow EU states over its governments wish to exert control over the courts and the media.
Security in Hamburg has been tightened as 10,000 people are expected to gather for protests. People are arriving by train since the beginning of this week. Police has already confiscated a number of homemade weapons. The Polish branch of Greenpeace also used the opportunity to protest against Trump´s decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement.
summit (ˈsʌmɪt) – der Gipfel, das Gipfeltreffen
to greet (gri:t) – jdn begrüßen
to share (ʃeəʳ) – etw teilen
hostile (ˈhɒstaɪl) – feindselig
view (vju:) – die Sicht, hier: der Standpunkt
sense (sen(t)s) – der Verstand, der Sinn für etw
sovereignty (ˈsɒvrənti) – die Oberhoheit
speech (spi:tʃ) – die Rede, die Ansprache
visit (ˈvɪzɪt) – der Besuch
dependent (dɪˈpendənt) – abhängig sein
to receive (rɪˈsi:v) – etw erhalten, bekommen
liquefied natural gas (ˈlɪkwɪfaɪd ˈnætʃərəl gæs) – das Flüssigerdgas
to reaffirm (ˌri:əˈfɜ:m) – etw bestätigen, etw bekräftigen
support (səˈpɔ:t) – die Unterstützung
to strengthen (ˈstreŋ(k)θən) – etw kräftigen, etw verstärken
at odds (ɒd) – sich streiten, im Konflikt stehen
fellow (ˈfeləʊ) – der Kumpel, hier: die Mitglieder-Staaten
to exert (ɪgˈzɜ:t) – etw ausüben
to tighten (ˈtaɪtən) – etw anziehen, etw verstärken
to expect (ɪkˈspekt) – etw/jdn erwarten, mit etw rechnen
to gather (ˈgæðəʳ) – sich versammeln
to confiscate (ˈkɒnfɪskeɪt) – etw beschlagnahmen, etw einziehen
branch (brɑ:n(t)ʃ) – der Zweig, die Branche
opportunity (ˌɒpəˈtju:nəti) – die Gelegenheit
decision (dɪˈsɪʒən) – die Entscheidung, der Entschluss