2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Defends North Korea Nuclear Deal

By Scott Stearns
White House
14 February 2007

U.S. President George Bush is defending a deal aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program.  VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

 
President Bush during a news conference in East Room at the White House, 14 Feb 2007
President Bush says this is a unique deal because it brings China, Russia, South Korea and Japan together with the United States to ensure North Korean compliance¹.

"We had a breakthrough as a result of other voices than the United States saying to the North Koreans, 'We do not support your nuclear weapons program and we urge you to get rid of it in a verifiable way,'" he said.

In exchange for shutting down and sealing its primary nuclear facilities, and allowing inspectors² to verify the process, North Korea will receive 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil from South Korea.

President Bush told White House reporters it is an important first step.

"This is good progress," he added.  "It is a good first step.  There is a lot of work to be done to make sure that the commitments made in this agreement become reality, but I believe it is an important step in the right direction."

The deal compels North Korea to disclose all of its nuclear programs and ultimately abandon those activities in return for additional economic, humanitarian³, and energy assistance.

The agreement has been criticized by some of the president's political opponents for being no better than a deal that could have been struck four years ago, before North Korea tested a nuclear bomb.

It has also been criticized by some in the president's own political party for being too accommodating by easing financial pressures on the government in Pyongyang.

 
John Bolton (file photo)
The president's former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton says it is a bad, disappointing deal that contradicts fundamental premises⁴ of the Bush administration's previous approach to North Korea.

President Bush says he strongly disagrees with Bolton's assessment⁵, and those who believe it is not a good deal are "flat wrong."

"This is a phased approach that will enable all of us to say to our respective populations, 'We are watching carefully and there is an opportunity for the North Koreans to prove that this program can work,'" he noted⁶.

The president says the deal is backed by a U.N. Security Council resolution that retains the threat of economic sanctions if North Korea does not keep its word.

1 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

2 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》

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 premises   

n.建筑物，房屋

参考例句：

• According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定，场内不准饮酒。
• All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行，不用送到外面去做。

5 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。