voa标准英语2008-US Cites Difficulties at Korea Nuclear Talks

The State Department said a critical round of talks in Beijing on ending North Korea's nuclear program is not trending in the right direction. U.S. officials said Pyongyang risks losing promised benefits if talks on verifying its nuclear activities remain stalled.
　

US nuclear envoy1 Christopher Hill briefs media at hotel before leaving for six-party talks in Beijing, 10 Dec 2008

Officials at the State Department are echoing the dreary² assessment³ of chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill on the Beijing talks, and reminding Pyongyang that it cannot have a promised political and economic opening with the rest of the world if the process breaks down.

Heads-of-delegations of the six parties in the Chinese sponsored disarmament talks met for a third day in Beijing to discuss a verification protocol⁴ for the nuclear declaration North Korea made in June, but Assistant Secretary of State Hill said no progress was made.

A verification agreement is necessary if implementation⁵ of the agreement - under which North Korea is to scrap⁶ its nuclear program in return for aid and diplomatic benefits - is to go forward.

The main sticking point is whether inspectors⁷ will be allowed to take samples from North Korean nuclear sites to prove that Pyongyang is actually disabling its nuclear facilities.

The United States said North Korea agreed to sampling, at least in verbal commitments to U.S. negotiators, and that sampling must be part of the protocol. Pyongyang denied it agreed to sampling, which it contends would violate its sovereignty.

At a news briefing, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack laid blame squarely on North Korea for the impasse⁸ at Beijing.

"They have a unique way of doing business. And we are not going to play into their way of doing business. We know what was agreed upon. We have it on paper. We have a solid understanding of it. Other countries within the six-party talks share that understanding. And we will see if North Korea will now take that final step. And if they do not, then potentially you go down another path way," he said.
　

A satellite image provided by Space Imaging Asia of the Yongbyon Nuclear Center, located north of Pyongyang, North Korea (file photo)

North Korea has partially⁹ disabled nuclear facilities in return for energy aid in the initial part of the six-party accord. A verification plan would clear the way for the final phase of the accord in which Pyongyang would dismantle¹⁰ its nuclear assets and get broader diplomatic recognition, security guarantees and trade benefits.

Spokesman McCormack said the verification stalemate suggests that Pyongyang, though it has taken some disarmament steps, has not yet made what he termed the strategic decision to de-nuclearize.

He said U.S. envoy Hill is scheduled to leave Beijing on Thursday, though he could extend his stay if there are productive discussions.

In addition to the United States, North Korea and host China, the talks also include South Korea, Russia and Japan.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

3 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

4 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

5 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

6 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

7 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

9 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

10 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。