VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Pledges Improved Coordination With Japa

The subject of North Korea was prominent in talks in Tokyo between U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and top Japanese government officials. Clinton is on her first overseas trip in her new job and her first stop in Asia is America's long-time key ally in the region. Clinton is seeking to reassure¹ Japan the new administration in Washington will back its policies towards Pyongyang.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she discussed "at great length" North Korea weapon's programs and the stalled six-way talks aimed at getting Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.

The timing² of the talks is critical. The North Koreans are believed to be preparing another test of their longest-range missile and Pyongyang has hinted as much.

Addressing a joint³ news conference with her Japanese counterpart, Clinton made reference to the possible missile test. She also gave Japan moral support on what is an emotional issue here - resolving the fate of Japanese citizens who were kidnapped and taken to North Korea.

"The possible missile launch that North Korea is talking about would be very unhelpful in moving our relationship forward," Clinton said. "I know the abductee issue is of great concern here in Japan and I will be meeting with families later today to express my personal sympathy and our concern about what happened to those who were abducted⁴."

Clinton says, if the North Koreans give up their nuclear weapons program and abide⁵ by previous agreements, the United States is willing to sign a peace treaty and normalize relations.
　
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, and Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone shake hands after signing agreement at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, 17 Feb 2009

During the Bush administration, Japan expressed disappointment the United States removed North Korea from a terrorism blacklist without much progress in resolving the abductee issue.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone is expressing appreciation⁶ about the Obama White House's pledge to pressure Pyongyang on the fate of the missing Japanese.

Nakasone promises Tokyo will lift sanctions it imposed on North Korea, if Pyongyang re-opens its investigation⁷ into the fate of the Japanese abductees.

While in Tokyo, Clinton signed an agreement on relocating thousands of American troops from Okinawa to the American island, Guam, in the Pacific.

The Tokyo meetings also resulted in an announcement that Prime Minister Taro⁸ Aso will head to Washington next week, making him the first foreign leader to be greeted at the White House by President Barack Obama.

Mr. Aso's popularity is in the single digits⁹, according a new opinion survey. He suffered another political blow this week. His finance minister, Shoichi Nakagawa, resigned in the wake of criticism he appeared drunk a few days ago at a news conference after a G8 meeting in Rome.

1 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

2 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

3 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。

4 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。

5 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

6 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 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。

9 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》