THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- December 27, 2017- Topic 2

After the sanctions: on North Korea

The fresh round of economic sanctions imposed unanimously by the UN Security Council on North Korea is a predictable response to mounting international frustration over the nuclear stand-off. The measures come days after the U.S., echoing suspicions in other countries, charged the North Korean government with the world-wide ‘WannaCry’ cyberattacks in May. 

The sanctions include an 89% curb on refined petroleum imports into North Korea, stringent inspections of ships transferring fuel to the country, and the expulsion of thousands of North Koreans in other countries (who send home crucial hard currency) within two years. Despite the crippling nature of the curbs, there is some good news on this imbroglio. As on previous occasions, Beijing and Moscow were able to impress upon the Security Council the potentially destabilising and hence counterproductive impact of extreme measures. This is significant given the intercontinental ballistic missile that Pyongyang launched in November. It was described by U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis as technically more sophisticated than anything witnessed previously, and the North Korean regime’s claim that it could deliver nuclear warheads anywhere in North America has been viewed with concern. However, even as China and Russia approved the latest measures, they continued to state their preference for diplomatic engagement. It remains to be seen how much more pressure Beijing can exert upon Pyongyang.

The stated aim of the sanctions regime has been to force North Korea to halt its nuclear programme and start disarmament negotiations. In September, North Korea detonated its sixth underground nuclear device, which it claimed was a hydrogen bomb. That assertion remains unverified, but experts believe the explosion was many times more powerful than previous detonations. The development has served as a reminder to the U.S. that the scope for military options may be increasingly narrowing. Against this backdrop, a revival of stalled peace negotiations between the P-5 nations and North Korea may be the only realistic alternative on the horizon. The successful conclusion of the 2015 civilian nuclear agreement between the P-5 plus Germany and Iran affords a constructive template to move ahead with North Korea. Certainly, U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a scathing blow to the Iran deal, even as he stopped short of scrapping it. Iran’s continued compliance with the inspections of the International Atomic Energy Agency may not mean much to Mr. Trump, given his overall distrust of multilateral institutions. But that is no reason why other big powers should not pursue the diplomatic effort with redoubled energy. Countries that backed the recently adopted UN nuclear weapons abolition pact should likewise lobby Pyongyang.

Vocabulary

Unanimously: without opposition; with the agreement of all people involved.

Example: A bipartisan law passed unanimously by Congress

Predictable: able to be predicted.

Example: The market is volatile and never predictable

Synonyms: foreseeable, expected, anticipated, foreseen, unsurprising

Frustration: the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something.

Example: I sometimes feel like screaming with frustration

Synonyms: exasperation, annoyance, anger, vexation, irritation, disappointment

Suspicion: a feeling or thought that something is possible, likely, or true.

Example: She had a sneaking suspicion that he was laughing at her

Synonyms: intuition, feeling, impression, inkling, hunch, fancy, notion

Stringent: strict, precise, and exacting.

Example: California's air pollution guidelines are stringent

Synonyms: strict, firm, rigid, rigorous, severe, harsh, tough, tight

Imbroglio: an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation.

Example: The Watergate imbroglio

Synonyms: complication, problem, difficulty, predicament

Intercontinental: relating to or traveling between continents.

Example: An intercontinental flight

Sophisticate: make someone or something more sophisticated.

Example: Readers who have been sophisticated by modern literary practice

Disarmament: the reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons.

Example: In the end they're going to have to choose peace and disarmament or a private army and war.

Synonyms: demilitarization, demobilization, decommissioning, arms reduction

Detonate: explode or cause to explode.

Example: Two other bombs failed to detonate

Synonyms: explode, go off, blow up, shatter, erupt, ignite, bang, blast, boom

Realistic: having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected.

Example: Jobs are scarce at the moment, so you've got to be realistic

Synonyms: practical, pragmatic, matter-of-fact, down-to-earth, sensible

Compliance: the action or fact of complying with a wish or command.

Example: They must secure each other's cooperation or compliance

Abolition: the action or an act of abolishing a system, practice, or institution.

Example: The abolition of child labor

Synonyms: scrapping, ending, termination, eradication, elimination, extermination