2007年VOA标准英语-US Negotiator Calls North Korea Nuclear Agreeme

By Stephanie Ho
Washington
22 February 2007

The lead U.S. negotiator to the so-called six-party talks on resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis praised the agreement reached earlier this month, calling it a good first step to an eventual¹ resolution. VOA's Stephanie Ho has more from Washington.

Christopher Hill (16 Feb 2007)

Ambassador Christopher Hill praised the deal reached February 13, in which North Korea agreed to freeze its nuclear program in return for one million tons of fuel oil. He acknowledged the deal is not perfect, and that there is still much work ahead, but he added that it is what the North Koreans would agree to.

"It is unlikely that the North Koreans will roll out of bed in the morning and say, 'we're going to make a strategic decision to get out of this.' More likely, they're going to make decisions to move on a step by step basis, and, as they move one step, they will look back and say 'this is a better place than we were in yesterday,' and that will encourage them to take still another step," said Christopher Hill.

Under the deal, several working groups are to begin meetings within 30 days, which Hill said would give all parties an indication that the process is on track.

"We would make sure that the denuclearization group has met," he said. "We would make sure that the economic and energy cooperation group has met, the Northeast Asia peace and security group, and also the two bilateral² processes - that is the U.S. and Japanese bilateral processes with the DPRK - we would ensure that those have met."

He stressed that there are two conditions North Korea is required to meet. The first is to come up with a complete list of what North Korean nuclear programs need to be abandoned. The second has to do with Pyongyang getting rid of its nuclear facilities.

"The North Koreans have agreed to the disablement of all nuclear facilities, including graphite-moderated reactors³ and the reprocessing plant," noted⁴ Christopher Hill. "And, so, for that disablement, and disablement means that these are put out of commission, not just shut down and sealed, but actually put out of commission, and, in short, a next stage on the phase toward the dismantlement⁵ and complete abandonment of these facilities."

In return, he said, the United States is ready to talk about eventually normalizing ties, and taking North Korea off the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror. He also held out hope for a peace accord to replace the armistice⁶ agreement that ended the Korean War more than 50 years ago.

Hill added that the United States has agreed to, in his words, "resolve its role in the matter of Banco Delta⁷ Asia" in Macao. Pyongyang was angered by U.S. sanctions that targeted alleged⁸ illegal North Korean activities at the bank, but Hill indicated the 18-month U.S. investigation⁹ would be completed within 30 days.

Hill said the United States is concerned about North Korea's efforts to develop a highly-enriched uranium program, in addition to its plutonium program. He says Pyongyang has not confirmed U.S. suspicions, but is at least willing to discuss the enriched uranium issue.

"I want to make very clear, though, that the North Koreans have not acknowledged having an HEU [highly-enriched uranium] program," he said. "They've not acknowledged that. But they have been willing to discuss what we know and to try to resolve this with the idea to resolve this to mutual¹⁰ satisfaction."

 

If everything goes as planned, the North Koreans are to receive an initial 50,000 tons of fuel oil within 60 days. Hill also raised the possibility of a ministerial level meeting in Beijing in April between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her counterparts from the other six parties: North Korea, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

1 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 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。

4 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。

5 dismantlement   

拆卸，拆除的行动或状态

参考例句：

• All construction, dismantlement and reinstatement works shall be completed before May2006. 所有建造、卸及修复工程均须在二零零六年五月前完成。
• The law stipulates modes for company merger, dismantlement, bankruptcy, dissolution and liquidation. 该法规定了公司合并、分立、破产、解散和清算的方式。

6 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

7 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

10 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。