The test, if it goes ahead, will also roughly coincide with an annual joint military exercise between America and South Korea, at a time when relations between South and North have deteriorated badly.

如果付诸实施，那么这次试射也将在一个南北关系严重恶化的时期，与美韩年度联合军事演习的日期大致重合。

youdao

The surprise visit came at a time when the United States and other countries have been putting more pressure on North Korea.

VOA: special.2009.08.08

Toughened rhetoric by the military may be a defensive mechanism aimed at warding off any hostile actions against North Korea at a time when its leadership is in flux, the officials say.

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Importantly, the trip takes place at a time when Chinese diplomatic pressure is on North Korea to be less belligerent towards the South, and Chinese influence in the North is growing.

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"The comments from Korea came at a time when sentiment towards the dollar was already softening, " said Ian Gunner, a trader at Mellon Financial.

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