PARAGRAPH WORDS AND MEANINGS

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Topic Of The Day:-“Korean Consensus? : On Kim Jong-Un’s Visit To China”

Kim Jong-Un’s Visit To China Is Likely To Force Next Steps After The Singapore Summit

The visit to China of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, is significant for two distinct reasons. It is evidence of the continuing calm in the Korean peninsula for nearly a year since the thaw between Pyongyang and Washington that culminated in the Singapore summit in June 2018. The meeting also coincides with the resumption of trade negotiations this week between U.S. and Chinese delegations in Beijing. Expectations are that the dialogue between the regional neighbours could impact the trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies. Whereas Mr. Xi is keen on securing sanctions relief for Mr. Kim, U.S. President Donald Trump will be equally eager that his peace deal continues to resonate in the region and beyond, notwithstanding the practical hurdles it has encountered. The Xi-Kim meeting cannot have overlooked the stalled progress on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula that Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump agreed on in Singapore. The American and North Korean leaders have in recent days reiterated their willingness to schedule another bilateral summit, a hope they have held out for months. But unlike the ambiguous promises issued in the Singapore declaration, Mr. Kim now wants to talk specifics. This could raise the stakes beyond diplomaticniceties and sound bites. In his New Year address, he emphasised the easing of economic sanctions as a priority, on which Beijing’s diplomatic clout could prove critical despite the lack of movement on the nuclear question. In that speech, Mr. Kim also insisted on a permanent end to the annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. Another demand was for multilateral negotiations to declare a formal end to the Korean war in place of the truce that has obtained since 1953. The latter issues have acquired greater weight in view of the ongoing rapprochement between Seoul and Pyongyang. This is exemplified by their decision to convertthe Demilitarised Zone that separates the two countries into a peace park, and to disarm the joint security area.

Formal negotiations between North Korea and the U.S. have made little headway since the Singapore summit. Access to North Korea’s nuclear installations has proved elusive to U.S. officials. The sudden cancellation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Pyongyang last August was an indication of the stalemate. A North Korean test of a new tactical weapon in November was seen as a way to pressure Washington for concessions, if not a return to the hostileposturing of previous years. The uneasy calm that has been sustained on the peninsula for over a year now is no doubt a respite from Pyongyang’s successive nuclear tests to rattle the U.S. mainland. But Washington is impatient for information on the North Korean weapons stockpile. Pyongyang is anxious about sanctions relief. Something has to give.

MEANINGS AND WORDS

1) evidence

Meaning : the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.

Synonyms : clue

Antonyms : denial

Example : “the study finds little evidence of overt discrimination”

2) thaw

Meaning : a period of warmer weather that thaws ice and snow(n).

Synonyms : dissolve

Antonyms : worry

Example : “the thaw came yesterday afternoon”

3) culminated

Meaning : reach a climax or point of highest development.

Synonyms : conclude

Antonyms : commence

Example : “weeks of violence culminated in the brutal murder of a magistrate”

4) coincides

Meaning : occur at the same time.

Synonyms : concur

Antonyms : disagree

Example : “publication is timed to coincide with a major exhibition”

5) resumption

Meaning : the action of beginning something again after a pause or interruption(n).

Synonyms : restoration

Antonyms : hiatus

Example : “with peace came the resumption of foreign imports”

6) delegations

Meaning : the action or process of delegating or being delegated(n).

Synonyms : appointment

Antonyms : keeping

Example : “the delegation of power to the district councils”

7) impact

Meaning : the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.(n)

Synonyms : brunt

Antonyms : loss

Example : “there was the sound of a third impact”

8) dispute

Meaning : a disagreement or argument(n).

Synonyms : conflict

Antonyms : concord

Example : “a territorial dispute between the two countries”

9) relief

Meaning : a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress.

Synonyms : comfort

Antonyms : hindrance

Example : “much to her relief, she saw the door open”

10) resonate

Meaning : produce or be filled with a deep, full, reverberating sound(v).

Synonyms : reverberate

Example : “the sound of the siren resonated across the harbour”

11) reiterated

Meaning : say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity(v).

Synonyms : renew

Antonyms : take back

Example : “she reiterated that the government would remain steadfast in its support”

12) diplomatic

Meaning : of or concerning diplomacy(adj).

Synonyms : gracious

Antonyms : rude

Example : “diplomatic relations with Britain were broken”

13) emphasised

Meaning : give special importance or value to (something) in speaking or writing(v).

Synonyms : indicate

Antonyms : deny

Example : “they emphasize the need for daily, one-to-one contact between parent and child”

14) prove

Meaning : demonstrate the truth or existence of (something) by evidence or argument(v).

Synonyms : convince

Antonyms : conceal

Example : “the concept is difficult to prove”

15) despite

Meaning : contemptuous treatment or behaviour; outrage(n).

Synonyms : although

Antonyms : exalt

Example : “the despite done by him to the holy relics”

16) negotiations

Meaning : discussion aimed at reaching an agreement(n).

Synonyms : agreement

Antonyms : disagreement

Example : “a worldwide ban is currently under negotiation

17) truce

Meaning : an agreement between enemies or opponents to stop fighting or arguing for a certain time(n).

Synonyms : detente

Antonyms : continuation

Example : “the guerrillas called a three-day truce”

18) exemplified

Meaning : be a typical example of.

Synonyms : elucidate

Antonyms : conceal

Example : “the best dry sherry is exemplified by the fino of Jerez”

19) convert

Meaning : change the form, character, or function of something(v).

Synonyms : follower

Antonyms : remain

Example : “modernization has converted the country from a primitive society to a near-industrial one”

20) elusive

Meaning : difficult to find, catch, or achieve(adj).

Synonyms : illusory

Antonyms : definite

Example : “success will become ever more elusive”

21) indication

Meaning : a sign or piece of information that indicates something.

Synonyms : hint

Antonyms : misinformation

Example : “the visit was an indication of the improvement in relations between the countries”

22) posturing

Meaning : behaviour that is intended to impress or mislead.

Synonyms : display

Antonyms : withhold

Example : “a masking of fear with macho posturing”

23) sustained

Meaning : continuing for an extended period or without interruption(adj).

Synonyms : continued

Antonyms : ending

Example : “several years of sustained economic growth”

24) respite

Meaning : a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant(n).

Synonyms : letup

Antonyms : continuation

Example : “the refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering”