VOA标准英语2009年-Pyongyang's Nuclear Tests Lead to Question

North Korea's recent nuclear test and belligerent¹ talk has put a spotlight² on the Korean Peninsula. It has long been one of the most militarized zones in the world.
　
Official undated handout³ photo shows shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (R) reacting to soldiers of Korean People's Army in Pyongyang

Since its nuclear test Monday, North Korea has issued a stream of harsh rhetoric⁴, even declaring that the armistice⁵ that ended fighting in the Korean War is null and void.

Not surprising

Experts on North Korea say its tough talk is not unusual.

Kim Tae-woo is the vice⁶ president of the Korea Institute for Defense⁷ Analysis in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

"This is very normal kind of language [for North Korea]," Kim said. " We already get used to that kind of practice."

Provoking reaction

However, he says North Korea does appear to be trying to provoke some sort of reaction from South Korea and other countries with its nuclear test.

The bitter divide between communist North Korea and democratic South Korea has left a legacy⁸ of military force on the peninsula.

Kim says North Korea has long maintained one of the largest armies in the world - with more than one million active-duty troops.

"So, when we consider the total size of North Korean population, slightly over 20 million, North Korea has over seven million regular troops and reserve forces," Kim said. "This is the reason why they call North Korea a barracks country."

Seoul has capabilities⁹ too

On the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone dividing the peninsula, South Korea has 670,000 active duty troops, with about 2.5 million reservists, out of a population of about 48 million people.

In addition, the United States keeps 28,000 troops in South Korea. An American-led United Nations force fought alongside South Korea after the North invaded in 1950. Although active fighting halted in 1953, Seoul and Pyongyang have never signed a peace treaty, leaving them technically¹⁰ at war.

Although the numbers may seem to favor North Korea, analysts¹¹ are quick to note that its impoverished¹² economy means the military lacks modern equipment. On the other hand, South Korea, one of the largest economies in the world, has a well-equipped force, able to use the latest high-technology weaponry.

In addition, there are about 70,000 U.S. troops in Japan and tens of thousands of others in Hawaii and on the U.S. West Coast, who could be called in to help South Korea, if hostilities¹³ resume.

US says it will not attack North

North Korea maintains that the American troops in the South threaten its survival, despite U.S. pledges that it will not attack the North.

During the past six decades, violence between North and South has occasionally flared¹⁴. For instance, the North Korean and South Korean navies have clashed several times near their maritime¹⁵ border to the west of the peninsula.

Despite the tough talk from Pyongyang, several analysts on the Korean security situation say they expect a few more such clashes in the coming months, but nothing more serious. They say anything more would be too risky¹⁶ for Pyongyang.

1 belligerent   

adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者

参考例句：

• He had a belligerent aspect.他有种好斗的神色。
• Our government has forbidden exporting the petroleum to the belligerent countries.我们政府已经禁止向交战国输出石油。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 handout   

n.散发的文字材料；救济品

参考例句：

• I read the handout carefully.我仔细看了这份分发的资料。
• His job was distributing handout at the street-corner.他的工作是在街头发传单。

4 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

5 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

9 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

10 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

12 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

14 Flared   

adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The match flared and went out. 火柴闪亮了一下就熄了。
• The fire flared up when we thought it was out. 我们以为火已经熄灭，但它突然又燃烧起来。

15 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。

16 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。