VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Urges North Korea to Accept Nuclear Verifi

U.S. President George Bush is urging the North Korean government to agree to a strong verification of its nuclear program. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports the comments came at a joint¹ news conference in Seoul with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.
　
President George W. Bush, left, and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak participate in news conference at presidential Blue House in Seoul, 06 Aug 2008

President Bush says North Korea has work to do, and obligations to meet.

"They have to show us a verification regime that we can trust. This is a step by step process," he said.

Speaking at a joint news conference on the grounds of the South Korean presidential compound - known as the Blue House - Mr. Bush stressed once again that North Korean leader Kim Jung Il has a choice to make.

And he left no doubt he backs the multilateral approach to dealing² with Pyongyang now in place through the so-called Six Party talks.

"I can't predict the North Korean leader's decision making. I don't know what he is going to do. But I do know that the best way to solve this issue is for five other nations to be saying the exact same thing," the president said.

He said there has been progress, noting North Korea's recent declaration of its plutonium enrichment activities and the destruction of the cooling tower at its Yongbyon reactor³.

But he said that does not mean Pyongyang will definitely be lifted from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"It is going to require action on the leader of North Korea's part. It just doesn't automatically happen," President Bush said.

Mr. Bush talked at the news conference about the lack of human rights in North Korea. He also talked about basic freedoms in China.

The visit to Seoul marked the first stop on an Asian tour that will end in Beijing - where he will become the first sitting U.S. president to attend an Olympic Games outside the United States.

Critics have said he should boycott⁴ the games to protest China's human rights record.

But the president said he has called on Chinese leaders since taking office to grant greater freedom of expression and religion. And he stressed he does not need to use the Olympics to make a point.

"The reason I am going to the Olympics is two fold: to show my respect for the people of China. And two: to cheer on the US team," Mr. Bush said.

President Bush's reception at the Blue House was warm, in sharp contrast to the protests that greeted his arrival in Seoul Tuesday night.

There were actually two dueling⁵ demonstrations⁶. One was pro-American. The other was made up of protesters angry about a decision by the Lee government to resume imports of American beef.

The only public mention of the demonstrators at the Blue House came as Presidents Bush and Lee sat down for their formal talks. When the South Korean president apologized for the raucous⁷ protests, Mr. Bush said he always enjoys coming to a free country where people are able to express their opinions.

1 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。

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

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 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

5 dueling   

n. 决斗, 抗争(=duelling) 动词duel的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• More light-hearted But somewhat puzzled, Vladimir prepared to meet Eugene on the dueling ground. 弗拉基米尔心里轻松了一些，但仍感到有些困惑，在这种心情下，他准备去决斗场地迎战叶甫盖尼。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• They had been dueling for hours and finally called a draw. 他们一直决斗了数小时，最后打成平局。

6 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

7 raucous   

adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的

参考例句：

• I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
• They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。