the US and North Korea

South Korea is negotiating to take over wartime control of its military from the US, a change that has left many South Koreans feeling vulnerable and has led to calls for a stronger deterrent against the North.

韩国正与美国谈判，旨在从美军手中收回对韩国军队的战时控制权，这一变化让许多韩国人觉得缺乏安全感，并激起了加强对朝威慑的呼声。

What do the US and North Korea have in common? They both ask for more money from China.

美国和朝鲜最大的共同点是什么？就是他们两个都向中国伸手要钱。

But if he obdurately resists change, we need a plan B. The US and South Korea have contingency plans for the north's collapse.

但如果他仍顽固拒绝变革，我们就需要一套备用方案。美国和韩国已针对朝鲜崩溃制定了应急计划。

Generally, the US and North Korea bypassed the other countries [ in the six-party talks].

总而言之，美国和朝鲜（在六方会谈中）绕过了其它国家。

China, which hosts the six-party talks, said it welcomed the agreement between the US and North Korea.

主持六方会谈的中国表示，欢迎美国和朝鲜之间达成的协议。

China responded to the shelling of South Korea by proposing emergency talks but Japan, the US and Seoul said North Korea should not be rewarded for violent behaviour.

针对朝鲜对韩国的炮击，中国提议举行紧急磋商，但日本、美国和韩国表示，朝鲜不应由于暴力行为而得到奖赏。

Tensions between the US and North Korea have reached an all-time high.

美国与南韩的紧张局势达到高峰。

But the suggestion that the agreement will bring closer relations between the US and North Korea, if it came to pass, would not necessarily be favourable for Beijing.

但有人认为，该协议将拉近美朝之间的关系。若果真如此，这种局面并不一定对中国有利。

In the upcoming years, Sino-US relations will face tests of possible peace or wars launched by the US against Iran and North Korea, and possible peace or wars across the Taiwan Strait.

未来几年，中美关系将面临美国对伊朗和朝鲜可能的战争与和平以及台湾海峡可能的战争与和平的考验。

The deal also paves the way for normalisation of relations between the US and North Korea.

该协议还为美朝关系正常化铺平了道路。

As the stand-off between the US and North Korea is at the crux of the problem, there are mounting calls for Washington to tackle it directly, in Pyongyang or elsewhere.

鉴于美国和朝鲜之间的僵局是问题症结所在，越来越多的人呼吁华盛顿方面在平壤或其它地方，直接解决这一问题。

Pyongyang can use its recent change in leadership to initiate reforms, Mr Lee said on the eve of talks between the US and North Korea in Beijing.

在美国与朝鲜在北京展开谈判前夕，李明博表示，平壤方面可借近期领导层变动之机，启动改革。