商务英语考试中级阅读：Kerry Discusses North Korea

美国国务卿克里在东京会晤了日本首相安倍晋三，这是克里出访亚洲三国的最后一天，访问期间的首要议题是朝鲜问题。

克里星期一说，他和安倍晋三首相在网络安全、气候改变以及团结一致应对朝鲜半岛的平壤威胁等问题上取得了重要进展。

克里在会晤安倍晋三之前，于东京理工学院对学生们说，平壤承担着责任，要在履行已经做出的承诺方面采取有意义的步骤。克里还表示，朝鲜必须遵守法律和国际行为准则。

克里星期天会晤日本外相岸田文雄之后在记者会上说，如果朝鲜迈出放弃核武器的步伐，美国愿意与之谈判，寻找和平化解朝鲜半岛紧张局势的途径。
 
克里说，平壤有一条“明确的道路可供选择”，而且美国将愿意与之展开谈判。但在另一次讲话中，克里表示，他必须和华盛顿的同僚们商议，以了解他们认为平壤必须采取什么具体行动。

此外，克里重申美国致力于保卫日本的承诺。日本是美国的重要盟国。朝鲜不断威胁要攻击美国及其亚洲盟友，包括日本和韩国。

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has met in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the last day of a three-nation Asian tour focusing on North Korea.

Kerry said Monday that the two had made important advances in cyber-security, climate change and on solidarity with respect to the North Korean threat on the Korean peninsula.

The top U.S. diplomat met with the Japanese leader after telling students at the Tokyo Institute of Technology that the burden is on Pyongyang to take meaningful steps to honor commitments it has already made.  He added that the North must observe laws and the norms of international behavior.

After a meeting Sunday with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Kerry told a news conference that Washington is willing to negotiate with North Korea for a peaceful resolution of tensions on the Korean peninsula if Pyongyang takes steps toward abandoning nuclear weapons.

Kerry said Pyongyang has a "clear course of action available to it" and will find a "ready partner" for negotiations in the United States.  But, in separate remarks, Kerry said he will have to consult with colleagues in Washington about what specific actions they believe Pyongyang must take.

Kerry also reiterated Washington's commitment to the defense of Japan, a key U.S. ally.  North Korea has made repeated threats to attack the United States and its regional allies, including Japan and South Korea.