VOA标准英语2013--Washington Week: Focus Turns to US-Pacific Ties

（单词翻译）

Washington Week: Focus Turns to US-Pacific Ties

North Korea’s latest nuclear test will be a prime topic of discussion between President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"The actions taken by North Korea cannot be permitted or condoned¹ by the international community, and I believe it is essential that Japan and the United States work together to adopt a new U.N. Security Council resolution that includes additional sanction measures," Abe said.

Last week, the Security Council condemned² the nuclear test and began work on what was termed "appropriate measures" in response. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon conferred with Secretary of State John Kerry, who said North Korea must face consequences.

"This week's test was an enormously provocative³ act that warrants a strong, a swift, and a credible⁴ response from the global community," Kerry said.

While sharing concern over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, the United States and Japan are also struggling to surmount⁵ persistent⁶ economic weakness. Both nations recorded negative economic growth at the end of last year, and are hoping for a turnaround in the year ahead.

A looming⁷ threat for the U.S. economy: across-the-board federal spending cuts slated⁸ to go into effect March 1. Prospects⁹ for accord on an alternative way to reduce the deficit¹⁰ are dimming. Late last week, lawmakers left Washington for a week-long recess¹¹ still deadlocked¹² on a way forward.

Democrats¹³ want a mix of spending cuts and additional revenues to replace the so-called "sequester¹⁴." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi:

"Democrats stand with the president’s call for a balanced approach to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, grow the economy, and responsibly reduce the deficit," Pelosi said.

Republicans reject any solution that includes new tax revenue. House Speaker John Boehner:

"The sequester will be in effect until there are cuts and reforms that put us on a path to balance the budget over the next 10 years. Period," Boehner said.

With Congress inactive, Senate confirmation¹⁵ of two Obama Cabinet nominees¹⁶ remain in limbo¹⁷: former senator Chuck Hagel for defense¹⁸ secretary and counter-terrorism advisor¹⁹ John Brennan for CIA director.