VOA慢速英语2014 朝鲜计划继续核计划

 

AS IT IS 2014-10-22 North Korea Plans to Keep Nuclear Program 朝鲜计划继续核计划

A North Korean official says his country plans to keep its nuclear program. He says the North Korean government could re-examine its policy toward the United States if U.S. officials continue raising human rights issues.

Jang Il Hun is North Korea’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations. In a rare meeting with VOA on Monday, he spoke¹ about the nuclear issue, human rights and his country’s detention² of three Americans.

Mr. Jang said North Korea already has declared itself a nuclear-armed state in its constitution. And he said his country has approved a new policy calling for expansion of nuclear weapons.

Years ago, North Korea promised to end its nuclear program. But later, it appeared to change its position on nuclear disarmament and carried out nuclear tests.

Recently, the North Korean government expressed an interest in re-starting long delayed negotiations³ on its nuclear activities. But Mr. Jang questioned the likelihood of such talks. “I do not see the point of having the six-party talks at this point,” he said.

He accused the United States of leading criticism of his country’s human rights records as a way to denounce the North Korean political system.

The North Korean official was asked whether his country would be willing to let a foreign investigator⁴ study human rights inside the country. In his words, “It is a subject for discussion as long as the matter is handled in a positive manner.”

The North Korean government has detained three Americans. They are accused of carrying out hostile acts against the country. U.S. officials have made repeated calls for the release of the Americans. The officials described their detention as a serious barrier to better ties with the United States.

Mr. Jang spoke about the possibility of negotiating the release of the Americans. He said it would be difficult, adding “it is a matter of enforcing the law.”

The United States and North Korea strongly disagree over the nuclear issue and the American detainees. Yet the two sides appear to keep communications open through what has been called the New York channel.

Mr. Jang serves as North Korea’s lead contact for talks with U.S. officials. He added that, “We meet with U.S. officials and discuss issues of mutual⁵ concern on a regular basis.”

Words in this Story 

nuclear – adj. of or about the energy produced by splitting atoms or bringing them together; of or about weapons that explode by using energy from atoms

rights – n. what a person legally and morally should be able to do or have

ambassador – n. a nation’s highest diplomatic representative

constitution – n. the written general laws and ideas that form a nation’s system of government

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 investigator   

n.研究者，调查者，审查者

参考例句：

• He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。
• The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

5 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。