2007年VOA标准英语-US, Chinese Officials Discuss Difficult North K

By Daniel Schearf
Beijing
30 May 2007

The chief U.S. negotiator on North Korea's nuclear programs has been meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing to try to resolve problems in transferring money from a Macau bank to North Korea. Pyongyang has refused to resume six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons program until it has possession of the $25 million in the previously¹ frozen accounts, and the U.S. official stays it still might take some time. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.

Christopher Hill talking to reporters in Beijing, 30 May 2007

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill met Wednesday with his Chinese counterpart to six-nation talks, Wu Dawei, to see if they can find a way to transfer the money and resume negotiations² to end North Korea's nuclear programs.

The six nations, which include also South Korea, Russia, and Japan, agreed in February to a preliminary timetable for North Korea's nuclear disarmament. The deal included North Korea shutting down its main nuclear reactor³ by mid-April, but that deadline passed with no action because the transfer was stalled. Pyongyang says it will not act until it has its money in hand.

The funds are in several North Korean accounts at Macau's Banco Delta⁴ Asia. They were frozen in 2005 on U.S. suspicions that the bank was aiding North Korean money laundering⁵ and counterfeiting⁶.

After meeting Chinese officials Wednesday, Hill told reporters it has been difficult for any bank to move the money because of legal concerns and regulatory issues.

"I know that it's hard to believe that something technical can go on for a couple months," he said. "But it really is a technical matter, which cannot just be solved though political means, but rather needs a complex set of technical solutions which involves several agencies of government on our side. So, it's not easy."

The issue of the funds has bedeviled the disarmament process for almost two years now. After the accounts were frozen, Pyongyang boycotted⁷ the negotiations, and last October, it tested a nuclear explosive.

The North Koreans were persuaded to return to talks after the U.S. said it would work to free the Macau funds. It did so earlier this year, but still hasn't figured out how to transfer the money to North Korea.

1 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

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 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。

4 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。

5 laundering   

n.洗涤（衣等），洗烫（衣等）；洗（钱）v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的现在分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入）

参考例句：

• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 counterfeiting   

n.伪造v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was sent to prison for counterfeiting five-dollar bills. 他因伪造5美元的钞票被捕入狱。 来自辞典例句
• National bureau released securities, certificates with security anti-counterfeiting paper technical standards. 国家质量技术监督局发布了证券、证件用安全性防伪纸张技术标准。 来自互联网

7 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。