2007年VOA标准英语-North Korea Misses Deadline to Shut Down Nuclea

By Luis Ramirez
Beijing
14 April 2007

An April 14 deadline has passed and there are no signs that North Korea has begun to shut down its main nuclear reactor¹, as it agreed to do in February. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Beijing, where diplomats² have gathered to see where the nuclear disarmament negotiations³ are going next.

Chief US negotiator, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, speaks to the press in Beijing, 14 Apr 2007

The four-year-old process to get North Korea to begin dismantling⁴ its nuclear programs remained stalled Saturday.

North Korea failed to shut down its main reactor at Yongbyon, because it has yet to receive any of the $25 million that was unfrozen at a bank in Macau. The transfer of the funds, which were in North Korean accounts, has been delayed by what officials describe as banking⁵ technicalities.

The United States envoy⁶ to the six-nation nuclear negotiations, Christopher Hill, met with Chinese officials here Saturday to discuss the next step. Hill said the momentum⁷ of the disarmament process has slipped, and he planned to return to Washington on Sunday.

"Obviously, when you see a deadline missed, there's reason to be concerned," said Mr. Hill.

However, Hill did not suggest the process has been derailed. He said all the participants in the negotiations, which also include the two Koreas, Japan, and Russia, will remain in close contact. Hill said officials of China, the host of the negotiations, urged patience on Saturday.

"The Chinese were not discouraged by this process, and do believe there's some progress being achieved," he said.  "For that reason, they ask that - I wouldn't say show patience - I would say [we] continue to show patience, because that's exactly what we've been doing."

The funds were frozen at Macau's Banco Delta⁸ Asia during an 18-month U.S. investigation⁹ into alleged¹⁰ money laundering¹¹ by the bank.  After the February agreement in the nuclear negotiations, the U.S. opened the way for the release of the money.

North Korea on Friday said it would begin shutting down its nuclear program as soon as it confirmed the funds had been transferred.

1 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

2 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》

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 dismantling   

（枪支）分解

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。
• The dismantling of a nuclear reprocessing plant caused a leak of radioactivity yesterday. 昨天拆除核后处理工厂引起了放射物泄漏。

5 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

6 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。

7 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

8 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

10 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

11 laundering   

n.洗涤（衣等），洗烫（衣等）；洗（钱）v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的现在分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入）

参考例句：

• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》