2007年VOA标准英语-US Official Says Lifting Sanctions on North Kor

By Catherine Makino
Tokyo, Japan
02 March 2007

John Negroponte, the deputy U.S. secretary of state, says North Korea will have to comply with its promise to shut down its nuclear reactor² before the United States lifts financial sanctions it imposed. Catherine Makino reports for VOA from Tokyo.

 
John Negroponte gestures during a news conference at the US Embassy in Tokyo, 2 Mar¹ 2007
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte says North Korea must take the first steps toward abandoning its nuclear weapons program before the United States will lift sanctions or take the North off its list of nations sponsoring terrorism.

North Korea agreed at six-nation talks in Beijing last month to shut down its nuclear reactor and allow international inspections³, in return for deliveries of fuel oil.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Negroponte said the broader issues - North Korea abandoning its nuclear programs completely, in return for economic aid and diplomatic concessions⁴ - are still to be ironed out.

"When it comes to such issues as lifting of sanctions or delisting North Korea from the sponsors of terrorism list, those are issues that we simply agreed to begin to discuss as part of this process that was launched by this initial actions agreement," he said.

He says there are many steps to be taken before the sanctions are actually lifted and the nuclear issue is addressed.

"The initial actions agreement, reached during the six-party talks in Beijing last month, is a good first step, but just the first step in a process that will lead to a more stable and secure Northeast Asia," he said.

Negroponte also said there might be another United Nations resolution sanctioning Iran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium. The United States, Europe and the United Nations fear Iran - like North Korea - is moving toward building nuclear weapons.

"One U.N. Security Council resolution, as you know, has already been passed several months ago, and the possibility now arises that there will be another such resolution in light of the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency last week filed a report with the Security Council saying that Iran continues to be out of compliance⁵ with its obligations," he said.

 
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte (r) is greeted by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro⁶ Aso prior to their meeting at the Foreign Ministry⁷ in Tokyo, 2 Mar 2007
Negroponte is on his first official trip abroad since taking up his new position last month. He met earlier with Japanese officials including Foreign Minister Taro Aso, and is due to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Negroponte says he supports Japan's refusal to supply fuel oil to North Korea under last month's agreement until the issue of Japanese kidnapped by North Korea is resolved.

North Korea has admitted taking 13 Japanese in the 1970's and '80's. It allowed five to return in 2002, and says the other eight died. Japan says, at least 17 people were kidnapped, and all must be fully⁸ accounted for.

Japan and North Korea are due to meet in Hanoi next week to discuss normalizing relations, but Tokyo has said no progress can be made on diplomatic ties until the abduction issue is settled.

Negroponte leaves Saturday for China and South Korea.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 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。

3 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

5 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

6 taro   

n.芋，芋头

参考例句：

• Main grain crop has taro,corn,banana to wait.主要粮食作物有芋头、玉米、芭蕉等。
• You celebrate your birthday with taro,red bean and butter.用红豆、芋头和黄油给自己过生日。

7 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。