VOA标准英语2009-Obama Says Nuclear-Armed N. Korea is Grave T

U.S. President Barack Obama said North Korea's nuclear program poses a "grave threat" to the world. Mr. Obama and visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told reporters that new responses must be found.
　
S. Korean Pres. Lee Myung-bak and Pres.Barack Obama shake hands during their joint¹ news conference in the Rose Garden of The White House in Washington, 16 Jun 2009

In the White House Rose Garden, the two leaders said that last week's U.N. resolution against North Korea developing nuclear weapons must be enforced.

Presidents Obama and Lee, standing² side-by-side, agreed that they would not, under any circumstances, allow North Korea to possess nuclear weapons.

Mr. Obama said threats and belligerence³ would not earn prestige and respect for the communist North, and that Pyongyang has an alternative.

"I want to be clear that there is another path available to North Korea - a path that leads to peace and economic opportunity for the people of North Korea, including full integration⁴ into the community of nations," he said.

Mr. Obama said he and Mr. Lee agreed that Pyongyang can reach that destination only through peaceful negotiations⁵.

Mr. Lee said his country, Japan, China, Russia and the United States are united in refusing to allow North Korea to continue its behavior.

"And now, the North Koreans will come to understand that this is different - that they will not be able to repeat the past or their past actions and strategies," said Mr. Lee.

Mr. Obama echoed the South Korean president's view that it is time to end the pattern of North Korea threatening its neighbors, then being rewarded for ending that behavior.

"The message we are sending, and when I say 'we' - not simply the United States and the Republic of Korea, but I think the international community - is we are going to break that pattern," he said.
　
Video grab released by N. Korean TV shows a three-stage white rocket, soaring away from launch site on 05 Apr 2009 from undisclosed location in N. Korea

The North Koreans have conducted two underground nuclear tests. And U.S. officials say Pyongyang appears to be preparing for a third.

President Obama said Pyongyang's history of threatening its neighbors and proliferating⁶ nuclear technology means it should not be recognized as a legitimate⁷ nuclear power.

Mr. Lee also called for the North Korean government to release two American journalists and a South Korean worker jailed in the North.

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 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 belligerence   

n.交战，好战性，斗争性

参考例句：

• He could be accused of passion,but never belligerence.可以说他很冲动，但不能说他爱挑事。
• He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.他故态复萌，几乎又像一年前那样咄咄逼人了。

4 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

5 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。

6 proliferating   

激增( proliferate的现在分词 )； （迅速）繁殖； 增生； 扩散

参考例句：

• Computerized data bases are proliferating fast. 计算机化的数据库正在激增。
• Crown galls are cancerous growths composed of disorganized and proliferating plant cells. 冠瘿是无组织的正在不断增殖的植物细胞所组成的癌状物。

7 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。