VOA慢速英语2015 朝鲜:“没有兴趣”达成类伊朗核协议

AS IT IS 2015-07-30 North Korea: 'No Interest at All' in Nuclear Deal

A North Korean official says his country will not negotiate with other countries about its nuclear weapons program. The (North) Korean ambassador to China said Tuesday that his country’s situation is “totally different” from that of Iran. He added that North Korea does not have any interest at all in talks on suspending the program or, in his words, “giving up our nukes.”

The comments came as United States diplomat¹ Sydney Seiler visited Beijing. Mr. Seiler is the U.S. special representative to international talks on North Korea’s nuclear activities. He went to China for discussions on how to re-start the long delayed negotiations².

On Monday, Mr. Seiler met with officials in South Korea. He said that the U.S. government is ready to negotiate a deal with North Korea as it did with Iran. The aim is to limit the country’s nuclear abilities in exchange for removal of international sanctions against the North.

“The recent progress in our efforts at denuclearization with Iran provides an excellent example of the U.S. flexibility³ and willingness to engage with countries with whom we’ve had long standing⁴ differences,” he said.

Some officials in Asia have expressed hope that the Iran agreement could serve as a catalyst⁵ to restart nuclear talks with North Korea. The six-party talks were suspended in 2009.

The government of Kim Jong Un has so far rejected efforts to re-start the negotiations. It has said that North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is important to the nation’s national security.

North Korea may be the target of sanctions, yet the country continues to develop its ability to use offensive weapons. Last week, South Korea’s news agency Yonhap reported that North Korea’s military had built a new launch pad for long-distance missile tests.

Nam Sung-wook is a professor of North Korean studies at Korea University. He says the North Korean government is not likely to compromise on its status as a nuclear power.

He says, even if the international community takes additional steps against North Korea, it is unclear whether the North will join in talks and give up nuclear power.

North Koreas leadership may have become more stable and less sensitive to international pressure for two reasons. Market reforms and increased trade with China have led to improving economic conditions.

U.S. officials said China is growing increasingly concerned over Kim Jong Un’s unwillingness⁶ to engage in talks. But North Korea expert Ahn Chan-il of the World North Korea Research Center says China does not want to take action that may hurt its security.

He says China is pressing North Korea to end its nuclear program. But it has restarted supplying oil and partly approved visits for tourists.

The United States continues to demand that North Korea take actions to halt its nuclear development before any new talks can begin.

Words in This Story

relief – n. aid or easing of some kind of pressure

sanctions – n. actions taken to make a country obey international law by limiting or stopping trade

catalyst – n. something that starts or causes a reaction

status – n. the state or situation something is in

stable – adj. secure; not easily changed or moved

engage – v. to involve; to bring together in an active way

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 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。

3 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

4 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。

5 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

6 unwillingness   

n. 不愿意，不情愿

参考例句：

• Her unwillingness to answer questions undermined the strength of her position. 她不愿回答问题，这不利于她所处的形势。
• His apparent unwillingness would disappear if we paid him enough. 如果我们付足了钱，他露出的那副不乐意的神情就会消失。