ironclad 復習
先般も同じような表現が取り上げられていましたが、北朝鮮が中距離弾道ミサイル「ムスダン」を発射したと発表されましたが、ミサイルは発射直後に爆発して、失敗したそうです。
North Korea’s mid-range missile launch ‘fails’ / U.S. will raise concerns at UNSC
SEOUL (AP) — South Korea and the United States said Sunday that the latest missile launch by North Korea ended in a failure after the projectile reportedly exploded soon after liftoff.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the military believes North Korea unsuccessfully attempted to fire a mid-range Musudan missile. It said the failed launch was made near an airport in North Korea’s North Pyongan Province.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said that the missile was believed to have exploded soon after liftoff. Yonhap cited no source for this information.
South Korea strongly condemns the launch because it violates U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any ballistic activities by North Korea, the statement said.
The U.S. military first reported the launch was attempted at 12:03 p.m. Saturday local time and that the missile didn’t pose a threat to North America. The action brought harsh criticism from the United States.
“We strongly condemn this and North Korea’s other recent missile tests, which violate U.N. Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea’s launches using ballistic missile technology,” said Cmdr. Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman. He said the United States would raise concerns at the United Nations.
“Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad,” Ross said. “We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation.”
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003286730
アメリカ国防省の言葉の中にある“ironclad”を取り上げます。ironの鉄とcladを組み合わせた形になりますが、cladはclotheの過去形で、古期英語で「着る」という語源があります。
そこから「鎧を身にまとった」「軍艦が装甲した」という意味があり、さらには「破ることのできない」「厳しい」という意味もあるようです。(『ジーニアス英和辞典』)
アメリカもさらに警戒を強めていることがわかりました。(lua)
