VOA常速英语2008年-US Envoy Says N. Korea Needs to Send 'Clear Sig

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
10 March 2008

The United States Ambassador to South Korea says Washington must receive a complete nuclear declaration from Pyongyang before it can remove North Korea from American list of states sponsoring terrorism.   As VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin reports, an American ambassador says the North is failing to send a "clear signal" it intends to follow through on its promises.

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow said Monday North Korea's delay in providing a promised nuclear declaration is causing frustration¹ in Washington.

"There is a sense of impatience² building up and we want to get on with it," Vershbow said.

In six-nation talks last year, North Korea agreed to provide a complete and correct list of all its nuclear activities and stockpiles before the start of 2008.  Negotiators from China, Russia, the United States, Japan and South Korea are still waiting for the document.

The declaration is part of a multi-stage agreement that seeks to trade energy assistance and diplomatic incentives³ with Pyongyang for gradual steps toward ending its nuclear weapons capabilities⁴ altogether.

The North has taken steps to disable its main plutonium-producing facility at Yongbyon and received hundreds of thousands of tons of fuel oil from the United States and its partners.  However, some experts say Pyongyang is hesitating on the declaration because Washington insists the North explain uranium-related activities it has never publicly admitted.

In this phase of the six-nation agreement, the United States pledged to lift a range of sanctions against North Korea and to remove it from a State Department list of nations accused of sponsoring terrorism.  Both steps would open doorways⁵ for the impoverished⁶ North to receive certain types of aid and investment which are currently banned.

Vershbow says Washington is ready to follow through, but needs North Korea to act decisively.

"We're ready to do that, but we aren't able to do that until we see a clear signal from the North Koreans that they are going to do their part with regard to the declaration," Vershbow said.

The United States, Japan and South Korea have all promised a new era in relations with North Korea, once Pyongyang fulfills⁷ the six-nation process of eliminating its nuclear arsenal⁸.  The United States and Japan say they will normalize diplomatic ties, potentially opening the door to significant financial aid.  Newly elected South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has promised to help rapidly double per capita incomes in a non-nuclear North. 

1 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

2 impatience   

n.不耐烦，急躁

参考例句：

• He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢，他显得不耐烦。
• He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。

3 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

4 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

5 doorways   

n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The houses belched people; the doorways spewed out children. 从各家茅屋里涌出一堆一堆的人群，从门口蹦出一群一群小孩。 来自辞典例句
• He rambled under the walls and doorways. 他就顺着墙根和门楼遛跶。 来自辞典例句

6 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 fulfills   

v.履行（诺言等）( fulfill的第三人称单数 )；执行（命令等）；达到（目的）；使结束

参考例句：

• He always fulfills his promises. 他总是履行自己的诺言。 来自辞典例句
• His own work amply fulfills this robust claim. 他自己的作品在很大程度上实现了这一正确主张。 来自辞典例句

8 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。