2006年VOA标准英语-US Ambassador Visits Inter-Korean Industrial Pa

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
12 June 2006

US Ambassador to S. Korea Alexander Vershbow, right, receives a briefing from an unidentified N. Korean guide at a factory in the inter-Korean industrial park in Kaesong  
  
Washington's ambassador to South Korea calls a diplomatic excursion he took to a joint¹ an industrial park in North Korea "useful." He says President Bush's special envoy² for North Korean human rights, who has criticized the venture, may make a visit of his own soon.

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U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow, who earlier this year described North Korea as a "criminal regime," joined fellow international envoys³ Monday in a visit to the North's Kaesong industrial park.

The park, built by South Korea, is a centerpiece of Seoul's policy of economic cooperation with Pyongyang. It offers South Korean companies the opportunity to use inexpensive North Korean labor⁵, mainly for low-skilled manufacturing.

Vershbow took Monday's tour along with about 80 other senior international diplomats⁶. He describes the excursion as "very interesting."

"This visit was very useful in gaining more information about Kaesong, which I will pass on to my colleagues in Washington," he said. "There are still some questions that people have in their minds about Kaesong, and I hope that the information I pass back will be helpful to my colleagues."

Among those colleagues is Jay Lefkowitz, President Bush's envoy for North Korean human rights. Lefkowitz received sharply worded rebukes⁷ from South Korean officials last month after he suggested workers in Kaesong may be exploited. Vershbow says talks are underway for Lefkowitz to make his own Kaesong visit, probably next month.

"I think that he [Lefkowitz] is very interested in also gaining his own first hand impressions of Kaesong," added Vershbow.

South Korean officials say companies pay a North Korean labor agency about 50 dollars a month for each worker at Kaesong. However, there is no confirmation⁸ of how much money the workers actually receive.

Lefkowitz has called for international monitoring of Kaesong by a body such as the International Labor Organization to make sure workers are treated fairly.

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon took part in the visit, in his first trip to North Korea since assuming his post. Ban says even though there is "room for improvement" in Kaesong, the industrial park holds lessons for the diplomatic community.

Ban says Kaesong is a symbol not just of inter-Korean unity⁴, but a model for international reconciliation⁹ and cooperation in general.

The Kaesong park is a sticking point in free trade talks between South Korea and the United States. Seoul wants a trade agreement to treat Kaesong-produced goods as originating from South Korea, an idea Washington has so far rejected.

Peter Beck, who monitors Korean issues for the International Crisis Group, a research organization, says Monday's visit was probably not aimed at the trade talks.

"I think there's a realization¹⁰ here in Seoul deep down that Washington is not going to budge¹¹ on this issue [trade]," noted¹² Beck. "So I think it's really directed more toward shaping broader U.S. opinion about Kaesong."

Beck says the Kaesong visits also are partly aimed at defusing a climate of confrontation¹³ between the United States and North Korea, which has worsened over Pyongyang's refusal to return to negotiations¹⁴ aimed at ending its nuclear weapons programs.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 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。

3 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

6 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 rebukes   

责难或指责( rebuke的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• His industry rebukes me. 他的勤劳使我感到惭傀。
• The manager's rebukes in loud voice and stern expression have made the clerks gathered in the out office start with alarm. 老板声色俱厉的责备把聚集在办公室外的职员们吓坏了。

8 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

9 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

10 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

11 budge   

v.移动一点儿；改变立场

参考例句：

• We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来，但它连动都没动一下。
• She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

13 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

14 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。