VOA标准英语2009年-US Envoy: N. Korea Inclined to Rejoin

US envoy¹ for North Korea Stephen Bosworth says officials in Pyongyang told him the communist state 'would like' to return to Chinese-sponsored six-party talks on its nuclear program though no final agreement was reached. The State Department confirmed that Bosworth gave North Korean officials a letter from President Obama for North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

David Gollust | The State Department 16 December 2009

A TV crewman reports on US special envoy to North Korea Stephen Bosworth as he speaks at a hotel entrance in Tokyo, Japan, 13 Dec 2009

"They have agreed as to the importance of the six-party process. They've indicated they would like to resume the six-party process."

Bosworth, in his first press appearance since his return Tuesday from his mission to North Korea and the other countries involved in the nuclear talks, said his discussions in Pyongyang had been quite positive and businesslike.

He said the North Koreans continue to support their 2005 agreement in principle to scrap² their nuclear program, including weapons, in return for aid and other benefits, and seem inclined to rejoin the negotiations³. However, he said more discussions may be needed to confirm Pyongyang's return to the bargaining table.

"They have agreed as to the importance of the six-party process. They've indicated they would like to resume the six-party process," he announced.  "They have agreed on essential nature of the joint⁴ statement of 2005. The other participants in the process see the situation in the same way. We all want to get back to the negotiating table. But when and how that might come about is something I just can't answer right now," he said.

Bosworth's visit to Pyongyang was the first official contact between the two governments since President Obama took office in January signaling a readiness to engage the reclusive communist government.

The breakdown⁵ of the six-party talks a year ago was followed by belligerent⁶ North Korean rhetoric⁷ and a second nuclear test last May. But Pyongyang has lately sounded a more conciliatory tone and restored contacts with neighboring South Korea.

Bosworth, a retired⁸ senior U.S. diplomat⁹ and academic, said he stressed in Pyongyang the benefits that would accrue¹⁰ to North Korea if it completed the disarmament process, including an end to the country's political isolation¹¹ and a role in new regional security arrangements.

"I was conveying very directly to the North Korean leadership a vision for the future which would be a lot different than the present or the past, and ways in which we could improve both our bilateral¹² relationship and improve North Korea's overall relationships within northeast Asia, always provided that they are prepared to move toward the goal of denuclearization," he added.

Bosworth did not meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and would not discuss reports he had given Pyongyang officials a letter from President Obama for Mr. Kim.

But State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly later confirmed delivery of the message, telling reporters it did not differ in substance from the administration's public appeals for Pyongyang to rejoin the nuclear talks.

"I think one can feel very confident that it concerned what our very simple agenda was for the visit of Ambassador Bosworth, and that to get North Korea to come back to the six-party talks," he said.

Kelly said he was unaware¹³ of any North Korean response to the Obama message thus far.

Bosworth said the next step in the process will be further consultations¹⁴ with China and the other participants, South Korea, Japan and Russia. He said he and North Korean officials did not discuss a second Pyongyang visit for the U.S. envoy but did not rule out the possibility.

 

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

3 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。

4 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。

5 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

6 belligerent   

adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者

参考例句：

• He had a belligerent aspect.他有种好斗的神色。
• Our government has forbidden exporting the petroleum to the belligerent countries.我们政府已经禁止向交战国输出石油。

7 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

10 accrue   

v.(利息等)增大，增多

参考例句：

• Ability to think will accrue to you from good habits of study.思考能力将因良好的学习习惯而自然增强。
• Money deposited in banks will accrue to us with interest.钱存在银行，利息自生。

11 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

12 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。

13 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

14 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》