2007年VOA标准英语-US, North Korean Envoys Discuss Ending North's

By Kurt Achin
Beijing
09 February 2007

Senior U.S. and North Korean negotiators have focused on a draft proposal of concrete steps toward ending North Korea's nuclear weapons capabilities¹. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Beijing, where a second day of six-nation talks on the North's weapons is fueling hope for progress toward a deal.

 

The chief U.S. and North Korean negotiators held a two-hour, one-on-one meeting here Friday. They were going over a Chinese proposal of specific steps that North Korea, the United States and other parties to the talks could take within weeks to set the process of Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament in motion.

Christopher Hill addresses media in Beijing, 9 Feb. 2007

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator, and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Kye Kwan, met in conjunction with a second day of renewed six-party talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs. Japan, Russia and South Korea are also involved in the talks.

Although both men say differences remain, Hill says the luncheon² discussions went well.

"I think we can be cautiously optimistic, but don't want to count our chickens before they hatch," he said.

North Korea's Kim echoed the spirit - and the wording - of Hill's comments.

Kim says he and the other five parties will work to resolve remaining differences - and he agrees that it is too early to be counting chickens.

Negotiators went into this new session voicing more optimism than during previous rounds - so much so that China circulated a draft of specific proposals. The contents of the Chinese draft have not been made public, but negotiators say it sets out ways the parties could begin implementing³ a pledge Pyongyang made in September 2005, to dismantle⁴ its nuclear programs in exchange for economic and diplomatic benefits.

Shortly after making that pledge, Pyongyang began boycotting⁵ the talks, to protest the U.S. Treasury⁶ Department's blacklisting of a Macau bank that had dealings with the North. U.S. officials say the bank had helped North Korea launder⁷ money from counterfeiting⁸ and other illicit⁹ activities. North Korea says it wants the sanction lifted before it will agree to any progress in the nuclear talks.

Hill says the Chinese proposal does not deal with the financial issue. He says that is being addressed separately in talks between U.S. and North Korean financial authorities.

The contents of the Chinese proposal are expected to be published within the next several days.

1 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

2 luncheon   

n.午宴，午餐，便宴

参考例句：

• We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
• I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。

3 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

4 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

5 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

6 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

7 launder   

v.洗涤；洗黑钱（把来路可疑的钱弄得似乎合法）

参考例句：

• She wore a freshly laundered and starched white shirt.她穿一件刚刚浆洗熨烫过的白色衬衣。
• The gang launders the steal money through their chain of restaurants.这帮匪徒通过他们的连锁饭店洗赃款。

8 counterfeiting   

n.伪造v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was sent to prison for counterfeiting five-dollar bills. 他因伪造5美元的钞票被捕入狱。 来自辞典例句
• National bureau released securities, certificates with security anti-counterfeiting paper technical standards. 国家质量技术监督局发布了证券、证件用安全性防伪纸张技术标准。 来自互联网

9 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。