2007年VOA标准英语-US, Japan Urge North Korea to Shut Down Nuclear

By Stephanie Ho
Washington
27 April 2007

President Bush and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe say they see eye-to-eye on North Korea. The two leaders are urging Pyongyang to shut down its nuclear weapons programs or face tougher action.  VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Washington. 

Shinzo Abe, left, and  George W. Bush 27 Apr 2007

The two leaders met at the president's Camp David retreat outside Washington on Friday, after dinner Thursday at the White House.

The talks were wide-ranging, covering issues like the steadfastness¹ of the U.S.-Japan alliance, cooperation on international issues, nuclear energy and trade.

At a joint² news conference, the two leaders showed their comfort with each other by repeatedly using each other's first names, George and Shinzo.  President Bush said North Korea dominated much of the discussion. 

"We spent a lot of time talking about North Korea and our mutual³ desire for North Korea to meet its obligations," said President Bush.  "Our partners in the six-party talks are patient, but our patience is not unlimited⁴.  We expect North Korea to meet all its commitments under the February 13 agreement, and we will continue working closely with our partners."

The six-party talks involve the United States and Japan as well as North Korea, China, South Korea and Russia.  In February, the six countries reached an agreement under which Pyongyang is to shut down its main nuclear facility and permit international inspectors⁵.  If Pyongyang meets deadlines for dismantling⁶ its nuclear program, it would receive substantial energy aid. However, the process was thrown into question after Pyongyang missed an April 14 deadline to begin shutting down its facilities because of a dispute over North Korean assets frozen in a Macao bank.

Prime Minister Abe called on the North Koreans to, in his words, "keep their promise."  He spoke⁷ through an interpreter.

"They need to respond properly on these issues.  Otherwise, we will have to take a tougher response on our side," said Mr. Abe.

On other issues, the two leaders showed solidarity⁸ on international sanctions against Iran and ongoing⁹ reconstruction¹⁰ efforts in Iraq.  President Bush pointed¹¹ out that Tokyo is the second largest international donor¹² to Iraqi reconstruction, after the United States.

The two leaders talked about working together to combat climate change and promote alternative energy resources such as nuclear energy and biodiesel fuels.

The two leaders also touched on the international outrage¹³ set off by the Prime Minister's denial that the Japanese government or military were directly involved in kidnapping women who were then forced to serve as prostitutes for Japanese troops in Asia during World War Two.  President Bush called the so-called "comfort women" issue "a regrettable chapter in the history of the world."  But he said he had a heart-to-heart talk with Prime Minister Abe and that he accepts the Japanese leader's apology.

Meanwhile, President Bush urged Japan not to be afraid of U.S. beef imports.

"It's good beef," added Mr. Bush.  "It's healthy beef.  As a matter of fact, I'm going to feed the Prime Minister's delegation¹⁴ a good hamburger today for lunch."

U.S. beef exports to Japan were about $1.4 billion a year until several cases of mad cow disease were discovered in the United States in 2003.  After intense negotiations¹⁵, Japan agreed last year to accept beef from specially¹⁶ certified¹⁷ U.S. exporters.  For 2006, U.S. beef sales to Japan stood at $66 million.

After the U.S. visit, the Japanese leader travels to the Middle East.

1 steadfastness   

n.坚定，稳当

参考例句：

• But he was attacked with increasing boldness and steadfastness. 但他却受到日益大胆和坚决的攻击。 来自辞典例句
• There was an unceremonious directness, a searching, decided steadfastness in his gaze now. 现在他的凝视中有一种不礼貌的直率，一种锐利、断然的坚定。 来自辞典例句

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 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。

4 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

5 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》

6 dismantling   

（枪支）分解

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。
• The dismantling of a nuclear reprocessing plant caused a leak of radioactivity yesterday. 昨天拆除核后处理工厂引起了放射物泄漏。

7 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。

8 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

9 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

10 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

11 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

12 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

13 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

14 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

15 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。

16 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

17 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。