VOA标准英语2010年-Korean War Still Keeps Peninsula on Ed

S. Korean Media: North Korea Aired Unauthorized Recording¹ of World Cup Opener
The Demilitarized Zone, at the 38th parallel, is the four-kilometer buffer² separating North and South Korea. The recent sinking of South Korean warship³, the Cheonan, in the Yellow Sea - which Seoul blames on a North Korean submarine torpedo⁴ attack, has raised tension on the peninsula. Correspondent Steve Herman went to the truce⁵ village,  Panmunjom, to ascertain⁶ if anything has changed there in wake of the maritime⁷ incident that further chilled inter-Korean relations.

The three-year war that made Panmunjom one of the world's most poignant⁸ datelines has never ended. A truce was signed here in 1953. Ever since, Korea has remained divided and, technically⁹, still in a state of war.  Just east of the former village of Panmunjon is the Joint¹⁰ Security Area, a patch of land about 800 meters in diameter. The intimidating¹¹ poses struck by the guards and constant surveillance by both sides exemplify the very real tension here.

On the northern side of the military demarcation line is the Korean People's Army.

To the south, 750 soldiers of the army of the Republic of Korea  and about 50 soldiers from the U.S. Army. The allies in the DMZ compose the United Nations Command's Joint Security light infantry¹² battalion¹³.

 U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Juarez, posted at the DMZ as part of that security battalion, says nothing substantial has changed since the Cheonan incident. But there has been one subtle difference.

"We have noticed that the North Koreans have moved to the old style helmets," he said. "It's kind of pretty much a display action. It's just basically a painted helmet that they sit on their heads. It's very similar to the one that the South Korean soldiers wear."

Over the decades of the truce there have been hostile incidents here and elsewhere along the DMZ, resulting in military casualties on both sides. That means the forces that are stationed here are always considered to be on high alert.

"We up here are one of the most forwardly deployed¹⁴ units on the Korean peninsula, so we are always on a higher-ready status than anyone else," said Sgt. Juarez.

The South Korean and American forces posted here are not intended to fend¹⁵ off an invasion. Armed with only pistols, as mandated¹⁶ under terms of the truce, their primary mission would be to shepherd to safety U.N. Command Military Armistice personnel, nearby villagers and any visitors who might be present in the DMZ
 

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 buffer   

n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲

参考例句：

• A little money can be a useful buffer in time of need.在急需时，很少一点钱就能解燃眉之急。
• Romantic love will buffer you against life's hardships.浪漫的爱会减轻生活的艰辛。

3 warship   

n.军舰，战舰

参考例句：

• He is serving on a warship in the Pacific.他在太平洋海域的一艘军舰上服役。
• The warship was making towards the pier.军舰正驶向码头。

4 torpedo   

n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏

参考例句：

• His ship was blown up by a torpedo.他的船被一枚鱼雷炸毁了。
• Torpedo boats played an important role during World War Two.鱼雷艇在第二次世界大战中发挥了重要作用。

5 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

6 ascertain   

vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清

参考例句：

• It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
• We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。

7 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。

8 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

9 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。

10 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

11 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

12 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

13 battalion   

n.营；部队；大队(的人)

参考例句：

• The town was garrisoned by a battalion.该镇由一营士兵驻守。
• At the end of the drill parade,the battalion fell out.操练之后，队伍解散了。

14 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

15 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

16 mandated   

adj. 委托统治的

参考例句：

• Mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离
• Britain was mandated to govern the former colony of German East Africa. 英国受权代管德国在东非的前殖民地。