IN THE NEWS - North Korean Nuclear Deal Called Into Question

IN THE NEWS - North Korean Nuclear Deal Called Into Question
By Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: Saturday, September 24, 2005

I'm Steve Ember with IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

 
Representatives join hands at the close of talks on North Korea's nuclear program in Beijing, China, September 19, 2005
On Monday, six nations signed an agreement in Beijing that would end North Korea's nuclear arms program. But North Korea almost immediately demanded a civilian¹ nuclear power station before it would destroy its nuclear weapons.

The agreement was reached after two years of negotiations² among North Korea, the United States, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea. The agreement says North Korea will end its nuclear arms program in exchange for economic aid and security guarantees.

North Korea agreed to return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and again permit international inspectors³ to make sure its nuclear arms program has ended. North Korea also received recognition of its desire to keep a civilian nuclear program for electric power production.

This will involve building what is called a light-water reactor⁴. And the agreement says the nations will discuss building light-water reactors⁵ at the right time. But it does not say when that will be.

One day later, on Tuesday, North Korea announced that it will not end its nuclear arms program until it gets light-water reactors from the United States. The Bush administration has rejected this kind of negotiating.

The American State Department reacted by saying that North Korea should carefully think about the agreement that it signed. Japan called North Korea's demand unacceptable.

China said it expects all the nations involved to carry out their responsibilities in a serious way. South Korea said it would support North Korea's desire for peaceful nuclear energy on two conditions. One is that the country must first rejoin the non-proliferation treaty. The other is that it must bring back United Nations inspectors.

American diplomats⁶ have praised the agreement because it shows that the five countries other than North Korea can agree on a plan. They say the importance of the agreement includes promises by North and South Korea to improve ties. It also includes promises from Japan and the United States to move closer to normal relations with North Korea.

And they say it shows the great influence of China as North Korea's main ally. China also supplies most of North Korea's food and fuel.

Yet experts also criticized the agreement because it does not go into detail or provide time limits. One expert said North Korea apparently⁷ thinks the right time to discuss the civilian power question is before it takes any steps to end its nuclear arms program. The United States says the right time is after North Korea ends its nuclear arms program or takes the first steps toward disarming⁸.

Some experts say the North Korean demand is a sign that its government is not serious about ending its nuclear arms program. However, representatives of the six nations are to meet again in November to continue discussions.

IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English was written by Nancy Steinbach.  I'm Steve Ember.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 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。

3 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

5 reactors   

起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆

参考例句：

• The TMI nuclear facility has two reactors. 三哩岛核设施有两个反应堆。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• The earliest production reactors necessarily used normal uranium as fuel. 最早为生产用的反应堆，必须使用普通铀作为燃料。

6 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

8 disarming   

adj.消除敌意的，使人消气的v.裁军( disarm的现在分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• He flashed her a disarming smile. 他朝她笑了一下，让她消消气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We will agree to disarming troops and leaving their weapons at military positions. 我们将同意解除军队的武装并把武器留在军事阵地。 来自辞典例句