VOA English Newscast: 1600 UTC April 13, 2016

  From Washington, this is VOA News.      I’m Sarah Williams reporting. Macedonian police have fired tear gas and stun grenades at a crowd of migrants trying to climb a fence on its border with Greece. Reports said about 30 people were in the group trying to scale a fence Wednesday at the closed Idomeni border crossing in northern Greece. The incident came after similar clashes on Sunday at the same place, when police fired tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets and water cannon at a group of migrants, leaving scores injured. On Sunday, someone had scattered notices throughout the camp spreading a rumor that the border was open. Greek authorities accuse the Macedonians of overreacting, and (Greece) is investigating where the false flyers came from. International Monetary Fund experts say the risks of financial instability have risen in wealthy nations, and remain high in emerging markets. Jose Vinals, a senior IMF official, told journalists Wednesday that recent market turmoil reflects faltering growth, rising uncertainty and falling confidence among investors and others. He said financial markets have recovered much of the ground lost early this year, but he calls that a warning that work needs to be done, not a sign that the danger has passed. Exit polls in South Korea indicate opponents to President Park Geun-hye's conservative Saenuri Party are doing better than expected in Wednesday's legislative election, and may deny the ruling party a clear majority in the National Assembly. Recent polls had shown strong public support for Park, particularly for her tough stance on national security taken against the growing North Korean nuclear threat. This is VOA News. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast   stun grenade – n. an explosive device also known as a sound bomb migrant – n. a person who moves from one place to another, usually to find work scale – v. to climb water cannon – n. a device that shoots water at high speeds scores – n. large numbers of people scattered – v. to separate and go in different directions notice – n. a written statement or announcement rumor – n. an unconfirmed report flyer – n. a piece of paper with information printed on it instability – n. unrest; a lack of security emerging – adj. newly created or growing in strength senior – adj. an individual who has a higher position than other people journalist – n. a news media worker cessation – n. stoppage; suspension turmoil – n. unrest; disorder reflects – v. to show (something) or make (something) known faltering – v. failing; weakening uncertainly – n. a situation involving unknown information confidence – n. being sure of something recovered much of the ground – phrase. regaining value or rising in price exit polls – n. opinion studies, or studies, taken after people have voted indicate – v. to show particularly – adv. more than usually tough – adj. strong; form stance - n. position   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Real or Not? Snowboarder’s Video In Question

This is What’s Trending Today. A young woman from Australia posted an unusual snowboarding video to social media earlier this week. Kelly Murphy says she recorded the video during a visit to a ski area in Japan. She used a “selfie stick” to take pictures of herself snowboarding down a mountain. When she played back the video, she got a big surprise. The video starts out as you might expect. Murphy is seen listening to music on her headphones. She is singing along to a song by Rihanna. The video shows Murphy connecting her boots to the snowboard. She pushes off, and starts down the mountain. You can hear her repeating words from the song: “Work, work, work, work, work, work…” And the next thing you hear is a loud noise. At first, you do not see what is making the noise, but then the camera angle changes. What is that behind her? Oh, no. It looks like she is being chased by a bear! The animal is running at full speed, and Murphy is not moving very fast. It looks like she might be caught. You hear more sounds from the angry bear. But then Murphy’s speed increases. She continues down the mountain. And the image of the bear grows smaller in the distance. It is too slow. At the bottom of the hill, Murphy slows down, and turns the off the camera. The video lasts just over one minute. Murphy says she posted the video to YouTube because when she played it back, she could not believe what she saw! The video already has over 4 million views in only three days. But a lot of people want to know if the pictures of the running bear were real. Some people think they were not. They think the video was edited to make it look like there was a bear, but Murphy was actually alone. They think Murphy or her friends used a computer program to add the bear images and sound effects to the original video. As part of the video’s description, Murphy writes, “I nearly got eaten!” David McKay once worked as a video investigator for a police agency in Canada. A television station in Vancouver asked him what he thought. “Our eyes are pretty complex,” he says. “And if we can visually look at something, and something just doesn’t feel right or just doesn’t seem right, that’s probably the case.” A video producer from London also says he found a problem in the video that proves it is a fake. He says the bear’s body splits in half for less than a second at one point. The British-based company Sky News also ordered an investigation. Its expert also reported problems with the video. But investigators think they may have found a reason for the video. They say the company that manufactures her headphones could have something to do with it. ​And That’s What’s Trending Today I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think about the bear? Was it real? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page, and let us know. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   selfie stick – n. a stick with a camera at the end used by someone who wants to take a photograph of himself or herself angle – n. the position from which something is looked at or seen edit – v. to prepare a film, recording or photograph to be seen or heard; to change, move, or remove parts of a film, recording or photo sound effects – n. sounds added to movies, radio or television programs to represent something real (such as an explosion) fake – adj. meant to look real snowboarding – v. a recreational activity done on snow

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US Health Officials: Zika “Scarier Than We Thought”

  Top health officials in the U.S. say the Zika virus is “scarier” than first thought. The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. It can cause birth defects, such as an abnormally small head, a condition called microcephaly. Dr. Anne Schuchat is Principle Deputy Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Dr. Anthony Fauci is with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. They both spoke at the White House this week. From the White House, Schuchat warns the U.S. needs to be ready. “Everything we look at with this virus seems to be a bit scarier than we initially (first) thought. While we don’t see widespread transmission, we need the States to be ready for that.” Schuchat and Fauci said there are other health problems linked to Zika not just microcephaly. Those health problems may include Guillain-Barre syndrome, which paralyzes. Also, patients have shown brain inflammation that looks like multiple sclerosis. Schuchat said there are other troubling developments. “Most of what we’re learning in not reassuring. We have learned that the virus is linked to a broader set of complications in pregnancy not just microcephaly but also prematurity, eye problems and other conditions. We’ve also learned that the virus is likely to be a problem at much of the pregnancy period not just probably the first trimester but potentially throughout the pregnancy.” Officials say they are worried about the spread of the disease. They say “hundreds of thousands” could become infected in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. They have asked Congress for $1.9 billion to fight the virus. Fauci said if Congress does not act, health workers will not be able to stop Zika from spreading. Fauci said, “We really don’t have what we need.” Fauci said health officials are fighting the virus with money borrowed from other funds. Last week, the Obama administration said it was directing $589 million to fight Zika. The money had been set to fight Ebola, but is now going to Zika. Schuchat said “we also feel a sense of urgency about Ebola and the global health security agenda. Ebola is still circulating in Liberia and Guinea, and many of the vulnerable countries in Africa are having outbreaks right now. We have to be, as a country, ready to support response to more than one outbreak at a time.” Obama administration officials have warned that without more money to fight Zika, infection might increase. Officials say there will be delays in controlling and monitoring mosquitoes, and in testing and developing a vaccine. There are at least 672 confirmed cases of Zika in the United States. These include 64 pregnant women. One Zika-related case of microcephaly was confirmed in the island state of Hawaii. Health officials say in the United States, the virus has been reported mostly in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. But they say they believe it will spread in the continental United States in the coming months. Schuchat said she does not expect there will be large numbers of infections in the 48 states between Canada and Mexico, but she is not certain. At the recent press conference at the White House Schuchat said that the mosquito spreading zika in found in more U.S. states than first thought. Again, here is Schuchat. “We have learned that the mosquito vector, the aedes aegypti mosquito, is present in a broader range of states in the continental U.S. So, instead of the about 12 states where the mosquito aedes aegypti is present, we believe about 30 states have the mosquito present.” About 40 million people travel yearly between the continental U.S. and countries with Zika. The Obama administration says that as of last week, 33 countries and territories in the Americas reported active cases of Zika. In Puerto Rico, 31 health workers from the Centers for Disease Control are working. A center used to fight dengue fever is now fighting Zika. That includes controlling and monitoring mosquitoes, and educating pregnant women about avoiding infection. Schuchat said that about 5,000 packages have been given out in Puerto Rico. The packages include chemicals to repel mosquitoes, information on how to protect against infection, condoms, and vouchers to buy screens to keep mosquitoes from entering the home. I’m Anna Matteo.   VOA Correspondent Aru Pande reported this story from The White House. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. (Name) was the editor.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story initially – adj. of or relating to the beginning transmission – n. the act or process by which something is spread or passed from one person or thing to another infect – v. to cause (someone or something) to become sick or affected by disease vaccine – n. a substance that is usually injected into a person or animal to protect against a particular disease continental US – n. the 48 states between Canada and Mexico; does not include Hawaii, Alaska or US territories such as Puerto Rico Americas – n. the countries of North, Central and South America dengue – n. a disease spread by mosquitoes that causes flu-like sympts.  It can develop into severe dengue, which can be fatal. condom – n. a thin rubber covering that a man wears on his penis during sex in order to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant or to prevent the spread of diseases screen – n. a sheet that is made of very small wire or plastic strings which are woven together and that is set in a frame in a window, door, etc., to let air in but keep insects out    

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Kenya Sends Taiwanese to China Instead of Taiwan

Taiwan is accusing China of wrongly taking eight Taiwanese citizens who were deported from Kenya.   Reports say a Kenyan court found 37 suspects, including 23 Taiwanese, not guilty of cybercrime charges last week. The defendants were given 21 days to leave the country. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry says China pressured Kenyan police to put eight of the Taiwanese on a Chinese airplane traveling to China on Friday. Kenyan officials said they were pressured by mainland China. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry demanded an “immediate” return of the eight people. It called their deportation “a serious violation of basic human rights.” Taiwan had sent officials to Kenya to deal with the case. The self-ruling island’s foreign ministry has no office in Kenya.  The foreign ministry said a court order should have kept the eight Taiwanese nationals in Kenya. However, the foreign ministry said Chinese officials obstructed its efforts. It said Chinese officials delayed the court order and prevented Taiwan's representative from reaching the acquitted people. The ministry said by the time Taiwanese officials arrived at the airport, the eight Taiwanese citizens had been “taken to a passenger plane of China Southern Airlines and sent to the mainland.” The deputy minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, Shih Hi-fen said: “This has not only harmed the fundamental human rights (of the eight), but has hurt Taiwan people’s feelings and severe negative impacts on ties between the two sides.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang was asked about the incident during a news briefing Monday. He said he “needed to further understand the situation.” China considers Taiwan its own province. Nationalist Party forces fled to the island in 1949 after China’s civil war with the Communist Party, which controls the mainland.   I’m Anne Ball.   Aline Barros reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.   We want to hear from you. Leave a comment below, and find us on Facebook.   ______________________________________________________ Words in This Story   obstruct –v. to interfere with, to get in the way acquit –v. to clear of charges fundamental –adj. forming the base o

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April 12, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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#EqualPayDay Brings Attention to Wage Differences

This is What’s Trending Today… Tuesday was National Equal Pay Day in the United States.  The day is designed to bring attention to wage differences between American men and women. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2014, women were paid 79 cents for every one dollar that men earned. Equal Pay Day marks how far into the calendar year women must work to earn the pay that men earned last year. The Census Bureau reported that the average salary for an American woman with a full-time job is $39,621. In comparison, the average salary for a man who works full-time is $50,383. On social media, the hashtag #EqualPayDay trended worldwide. President Barack Obama gave an Equal Pay Day speech on Tuesday. He said that, “the pay gap between men and women offends our values as Americans.” Obama also noted the pay differences in the world of professional soccer. ​ Last month, members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team brought a wage discrimination case to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The difference in pay was sizeable. Each player on the Men’s National Team earns $263,320 a year if the team wins 20 “friendly” matches. Each player on the Women’s National Team earns $99,000 a year if the team wins those 20 matches. The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has won three World Cup championships. The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team has never won a World Cup title. One Twitter user joked, “I don't support equal pay in US Soccer. Our women's team won the World Cup three times, so they should be getting *lots* more than the men.”   Naturally, some jobs require equal pay for men and women. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton posted a video on Twitter Tuesday of a young girl asking her, “Do you think when you’re president you’ll be paid as much as if it were a man?” Clinton’s answer? “This is one of the jobs where they have to pay you the same. But there are so many examples where that doesn’t happen.” And that’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   salary - n. an amount of money that an employee is paid each year offend- v. (formal) to be against what people believe is acceptable or proper ​

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Obama: My Worst Mistake

  Ousting Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi without a strategy for what followed was his worst mistake, says President Barack Obama. In 2011, NATO-led forces ousted the Libyan dictator. After that, Libya fell into chaos and turmoil. Obama said his administration failed “to plan for the day after” Gadhafi was ousted. However, he said, taking action in Libya to protect civilians from Gadhafi’s forces was “the right thing to do.” Gadhafi was captured and killed months after the United States and European nations began air attacks. The country was left in chaos. Militias took control, and two competing parliaments and governments were formed. Libya became a place migrants used to get to Europe. This helped worsen Europe’s immigration crisis. A unity government supported by the United Nations is in the capital Tripoli. But neither of the country’s two competing parliaments has announced support for a peace agreement. Obama said Libya is now a “mess.” On Monday, Obama’s spokesman Josh Earnest noted that in a speech in September 2015 to the U.N. General Assembly, Obama said “our coalition could have and should have done more to fill a vacuum left behind.” Earnest said the president believes the United States and other nations have not given Libya the help it needs to become stable. The president asks “about what situation will prevail and what sort of commitments from the international community will be required after” military action has been ordered by the president, Earnest told reporters. Obama said his greatest accomplishment during his more than seven years in office was saving the economy from collapsing. The 2008 and 2009 economic recession was the worst in the United States since the 1930s. Millions of people lost their jobs and were unable to pay their home loans. Since then, the economy has improved, and the jobless rate is much lower. Obama said the best day of his presidency was in 2010, when Congress approved national health care reforms that came to be called Obamacare. The program has given health insurance to millions of people who did not have it. Obama said the worst day of his presidency was in late 2012, when he visited the small town of Newtown, Connecticut, two days after a gunman killed 20 students and six teachers at an elementary school. Obama leaves office in January. I’m Bruce Alpert.   VOANews.com reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   chaos – adj. complete confusion and disorder; a state in which behavior and events are not controlled by anything vacuum – n. a situation created when an important person or thing has gone and has not been replaced accomplishment – n. something done or achieved successfully    

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Boko Haram Use Children as Suicide Bombers

The African militant group Boko Haram is increasingly using children to carry out suicide bombings. The United Nations says 44 children were involved in Boko Haram suicide attacks last year. Only four children were used in such attacks in 2014. The information comes from the UN Children's Emergency Fund, known as UNICEF. A UNICEF report said that 20 percent of Boko Haram suicide bombers were children. The youngest was thought to be eight years old. The militant group has sent children to carry out attacks in crowded markets and religious centers. The children sometimes do not know they are carrying explosives. The boys and girls are rarely considered as a threat by police or security forces. Over the past two years, UNICEF said, Cameroon alone has recorded 21 suicide attacks involving children. Nigeria has 17 such attacks, while Chad has two. The report was released on the second anniversary of Boko Haram’s kidnapping of 276 girls from Chibok in northern Nigeria. Among those, 219 are still missing. Women and girls freed from Boko Haram say the militants used them as sex slaves or forced them to assist in the group’s operations. Boko Haram’s seven-year campaign of violence has killed 20,000 people and displaced more than 2 million others.  The group set out to establish its version of Islamic law in northern Nigeria. That has included launching war on Western education. Human Rights Watch reported Tuesday that Boko Haram has killed 611 teachers since 2009. Attacks have destroyed or led to the closure of over 2,000 schools.    This story was published on VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    

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North Koreans Defect to South Korea

South Korea says a high-ranking North Korean military officer defected to South Korea last year. South Korea’s defense and unification ministries made the announcement Monday in Seoul. The unification ministry deals with issues between the rival Koreas. That includes bringing families together from both sides. The unidentified officer is a colonel in North Korea’s military. He worked in North Korea's General Reconnaissance Bureau and is said to be the highest-ranked officer to defect from the North.  The bureau conducts spying activities against South Korea, including cyber attacks. The agency also is blamed for the 2010 torpedo attack against a South Korean naval ship. Forty-six sailors were killed in that attack. North Korea denies it carried out the attack.             The announcement Monday comes days after South Korean officials said that 13 North Koreans recently arrived in the South. They say the North Koreans were working at a state-owned restaurant in a foreign country and defected as a group. That would make it the largest group defection since 2011.                                                                    In a separate incident, a North Korean diplomat stationed in an African country defected with his family to the South last year. More than 29,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since the end of hostilities in the Korean War.  The numbers have declined since Kim Jong Un took over as leader in 2011. I’m Mario Ritter.   Richard Green reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted his report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Please let us know what you think in our Comments and on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   defect – v. to leave a country, political party or organization and go to another one reconnaissance – n. a military activity in which soldiers find out information enemy forces cyber attack – n. an attack on computer systems meant to steal information or to damage or deny access to computer systems torpedo – n. a kind of explosive device that can be fired and travel underwater to strike ships

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VOA English Newscast: 1500 UTC April 12, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News.      I’m Frances Alonzo reporting. Secretary of State John Kerry will promote the benefits of two trade pacts championed by the Obama administration during a Tuesday speech to government, civic and policy leaders in Los Angeles. The State Department says Secretary Kerry will address national security opportunities of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That is a landmark free trade deal among 12 Pacific Rim countries, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which is an agreement being negotiated between the U.S. and the European Union. Ministers from those (Pacific Rim) countries signed an agreement in February, but it still needs U.S. congressional approval. In Yemen, a suicide bomber detonated explosives near a football stadium in the port city of Aden Tuesday, killing at least four people.  Eight others were wounded.  And the attack appears to have targeted young men lining up to register for the military. The country's ceasefire is generally holding, despite what U.N. spokesman (Stéphane) Dujarric calls "pockets of violence." Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led Arab coalition trying to drive them out agreed on a truce ahead of another U.N. round of sponsored peace talks set for next week in Kuwait. Mark Toner is a U.S. spokesman: "This cessation of hostilities is crucial for the people of the Yemen, who have suffered from over a year of fighting and a massive humanitarian crisis, which has resulted in over 80 percent of the population requiring some form of emergency assistance." More than 6,200 people have been killed in the past 13 months of conflict. And the World Health Organization says yellow fever has killed 21 people in Congo. The organization said Monday that 151 people had been affected by the disease. VOA News. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This New promote – v. to help something grow or develop benefit – n. good or helpful effects or results pact – n. agreement; treaty champion – v. to speak publicly or fight in support of someone or something speech – n. spoken expression by someone makes in front of a group of people address – v. to speak to opportunity – n. a likely combination of events, time and place; a chance for greater success landmark – adj. of or related to a very important event stadium – n. a sports center despite – prep. without being prevented by someone or something pocket – n. a small area of something ahead – adv. or adj. in the front; to or toward the place where one is going sponsor – adv. supported; organized cessation – n. stoppage; suspension crucial – adj. extremely important We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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How Will Sanctions Affect North Koreans?

Human rights organizations are supporting the latest international measures aimed at restricting North Korea’s nuclear program. Yet the economic sanctions could make life more difficult for many North Koreans who already live in poverty. Phil Robertson is with Human Rights Watch, a non-profit rights group. “I think that the whole idea of pressure on North Korea is something that is important because it actually makes the government recognize that it can no longer live outside international law...” Robertson is deputy director of the Asia division at Human Rights Watch. Sanctions and human rights linked The United Nations Security Council adopted the latest sanctions after North Korea tested a long-range rocket in February 2016. One month earlier, North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test. The sanctions set up trade and financial restrictions on North Korea to cut off financing to its nuclear and missile programs. But the U.N. measure failed to identify a 2014 U.N. resolution to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. It also ignored a U.N. human rights report that documented abuses, including political prisons, killings, enslavement, torture and rape. The human rights measure has not been brought to a vote in the Security Council because North Korean allies China and Russia would veto it. The United States and China worked together on developing the international sanctions. China most likely opposed bringing attention to the human rights violations because of criticism of its own rights record. When the Council approved the sanctions on March 2, Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, did link the two issues. She accused North Korea of caring more about expanding its nuclear weapons program than “growing its children.” The U.S. recently announced new sanctions against North Korea. They note the North’s human rights abuses as justification for the punitive measures. Humanitarian consequences of sanctions Some human rights advocates argue that humanitarian hardships caused by the sanctions are unavoidable. They say international action is needed to pressure the North Korean leadership to end its repressive ways. Choi Yong-sang is with the Network for North Korean Human Rights in Seoul. He said, “The sanctions from the international community will have an economic impact on North Koreans, but on the other hand the North Korean regime will clearly feel the impact as well.” The new U.N. measures could affect many North Koreans. Workers in the mining industry will likely suffer from the U.N. ban on the export of North Korean minerals. There are, however, humanitarian exceptions in the resolution that permit the trade of coal and iron not linked to government organizations. There are also restrictions that ban North Korean banking activity and identify a number of individuals and organizations linked to the North’s nuclear program. These restrictions could have a chilling effect on possible donors and investors. The U.S. unilateral sanctions could target anyone connected to the North Korean labor export program that earns billions of dollars. Most of that money reportedly goes to the North Korean government. In February, South Korea closed the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The move put over 54,000 North Korean employees out of work. Yet the U.N. resolution states that it is “not intended to have adverse humanitarian consequences for the civilian population of the DPRK.” A possible food shortage remains a major concern The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported in February that the North Korean people are already suffering a significant food shortage. The FAO said North Korea needs 440,000 tons of food from overseas this year. Yet international donors have only provided 17,600 tons so far. North Korea’s state media recently warned that the sanctions may cause another “arduous march.” That expression refers to the famine in the 1990s that is said to have killed over 3 million people. Most private South Korean aid programs for the North have been suspended because of the recent sanctions and tensions between the two sides. The Eugene Bell Foundation provides tuberculosis medicines to North Koreans. The group was blocked last month from bringing medicines to the North because of new South Korean unilateral sanctions. South Korea, however, did later make exceptions for humanitarian aid, and the medications did get through. Human rights activists support providing aid to innocent people in North Korea. These people are caught in the middle of the international dispute. But in the past, North Korea accepted the aid and used it for political purposes. Many countries, including the United States and South Korea, suspended assistance programs years ago. Phil Robertson has called for a close watch of aid. “Our view on humanitarian aid is that we don’t agree to have restrictions on humanitarian aid and we do support, for instance, support for food aid and other basic humanitarian materials for North Korea, but we believe also that these need to be strictly monitored.” Yet Choi Yong-sang says it is unclear if finding out how aid is given out is possible. “If the international community can closely inspect the distribution process, it can assist the people without helping the regime, but we are not sure if North Korea would accept such a condition.” The growth of private markets could ease the effects of the sanctions for many North Koreans. Since the 1990s, the people have become less dependent on the Communist government for their daily needs. But as the tighter sanctions are enforced, the more likely it is that ordinary North Koreans will experience greater economic pain than the leadership in Pyongyang. I’m Mario Ritter.   Brian Padden reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do sanctions work? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments and post on our Facebook page, thank you.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   adopt – v. to agree to, to accept punitive – adj. as punishment advocate – n. someone who speaks for another, someone who supports a person, group or cause unilateral –adj. describing action taken by only one side significant –adj. important, notable arduous – adj. very difficult, very hard sanction - n. a threatened punishment for disobeying a rule or law impact - n. effect; result DPRK - abbreviation short for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

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