VOA慢速英语--朝鲜领导人希望与特朗普进行新的会谈

North Korean Leader Wants New Talks with Trump¹

South Korean President Moon Jae-in says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hopes to meet again with United States President Donald Trump.

The South Korean president spoke² in Seoul after returning from a three-day visit to North Korea.

Moon told reporters that he will carry a private message from Kim to Trump about nuclear issues. He again promised “to facilitate dialogue between North Korea and the United States.”

The U.S. and South Korean leaders plan to meet in New York City next week during the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

Trump and Kim met in Singapore last June. At those talks, the North Korean leader promised to end his country’s nuclear weapons program.

The Associated Press reported that Moon said he would convey Kim’s desire to formally end the Korean War by the end of the year.

Moon also said he hopes that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit North Korea soon for nuclear talks. Pompeo had been expected to meet with North Korean officials last month. But Trump cancelled the meeting, noting a lack of progress in negotiations³.

On Wednesday, North Korea agreed to close down its nuclear center at Yongbyon. It also offered to take apart its missile launching center at Dongchang-ri. In return, the North said it was seeking “corresponding measures” from the U.S.

North Korea currently faces international sanctions that limit almost all of its exports and strongly limit imports from its few trading partners. The United States, South Korea and Japan also have set their own economic restrictions⁴ on North Korea.

Pompeo welcomed Wednesday’s agreement and invited North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho to meet him in New York City. The two are expected to meet during the U.N. General Assembly next week.

On Wednesday, the South Korean president said Kim had agreed to visit Seoul before the end of the year.

Visit to Mount Paekdu

On the final day of Moon’s trip to North Korea, Kim, Moon and their wives visited the top of Mount Paekdu. The group had pictures taken at the mountain’s summit.

The ancient volcano is considered a sacred place in North Korea and is linked to the North’s ruling Kim family. It also holds importance to both countries as the birthplace of the storied ruler of the first kingdom of Korea.

Mount Paekdu, which has a lake near its summit, also is the highest point on the Korean Peninsula.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

facilitate – v. to make easier; to help cause something to happen

dialogue – n. a discussion or series of discussions that two groups or countries have in order to end a disagreement

convey – v. to take or carry something from one place to another

corresponding – adj. alike; having the same relationship as something else

sanctions – n. actions usually taken by one or more nations to punish another country for violating international law

summit – n. the highest point of a mountain

sacred – adj. holy; connected with God

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 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。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制