VOA标准英语2008年-S. Korea Recalls Tokyo Envoy As Decades-Old Isl

South Korea is calling its ambassador to Japan home, in the latest flare-up of a decades-old dispute. As VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul, the islands at the heart of the conflict trigger some very painful memories for Koreans.
　
South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, right, passes by Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Toshinori Shigeie at Foreign Ministry¹ in Seoul, 14 Jul 2008

South Korea's abrupt² recall of its ambassador came soon after the education ministry in Tokyo outlined plans to issue new school books describing a disputed island chain as rightfully belonging to Japan.

South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young says the country's ambassador will return home for the time being.

He says what Japan is doing is completely unacceptable.

The rocky, almost uninhabitable islands in question lie about 200 kilometers off the southeastern coast of the Korean peninsula-- much closer than they are to any Japanese territory. Japan calls them Takeshima. South Korea calls them Dokdo, and has exercised de facto control over them for decades. Seoul even stations a small number of coast guard personnel there.
　
An aerial view shows Dokdo islets, known as "Takeshima" in Japan, in South Korea, 14 Jul 2008

For Koreans, the islands' geographical³ significance runs a distant second to their symbolism. Japan subjected the Korean peninsula to harsh colonial rule during the first half of the 20th century. South Koreans point to the Dokdo issue as one of many examples of Japan failing to let go of its imperial past.

South Korea's Foreign Minister summoned Japan's ambassador Monday to protest the action. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has instructed officials to deal with Japan's claim "sternly."

South Korean Presidential Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan calls it "deeply regrettable" that Japan has again laid territorial⁴ claim to Dokdo in violation⁵ of agreements. He says South Korea will take strong countermeasures to preserve its sovereign control.

South Korean civic⁶ groups have already begun taking to the streets. At a demonstration⁷ Monday, protesters burned a Japanese flag and wrote slogans in blood on a South Korean flag. South Korean political parties are also rallying behind the government's assertions of sovereignty over the islands.

So far, the dispute continues to play out diplomatically. Two years ago, South Korea and Japan came within days of a possible sea skirmish when South Korea sent coast guard vessels⁸ to intercept⁹ a Japanese maritime¹⁰ survey of the islands being conducted without its permission.

　

 

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 abrupt   

adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的

参考例句：

• The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
• His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。

3 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

4 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

5 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

6 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

7 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

8 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

10 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。