美國防長帕內塔說朝鮮仍是威脅

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says he is "skeptical" about the outcome of the latest round of direct U.S. talks with North Korea aimed at resuming stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations.

Panetta expressed his reservations to reporters Thursday after holding talks with South Korean officials in Seoul. He said Pyongyang remains "a serious threat" by engaging in provocations "that target innocent lives," and in its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community.

Panetta's comments came hours after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters in Seoul progress was made in the recent talks, but added "there were no breakthroughs."

Campbell made an unannounced stop in Seoul to brief his counterparts on the second round of direct talks between American and North Korean officials in Geneva.美國國防部長帕內塔說，他對美國與朝鮮最新一輪談判的結果持“懷疑”態度。美朝談判的目的是重啓陷於停頓的去核談判。

帕內塔星期四在首爾與韓國官員舉行會談後向記者表示他對美朝談判持保留態度。他說，平壤仍然是一個“嚴峻的威脅”。朝鮮政府“以無辜平民爲目標”進行挑釁，而且繼續發展核武器，置國際社會於不顧。

在帕內塔講這番話前幾個小時，美國助理國務卿坎貝爾在首爾對記者表示，與朝鮮舉行的會談取得了進展，但“沒有重大突破”。

坎貝爾突訪首爾向韓國方面介紹美朝官員在日內瓦舉行第二輪直接會談的情況。