VOA标准英语2013--N. Korean Threats Cause Worry on S. Korean Island

 

N. Korean Threats Cause Worry on S. Korean Island

Fisherman Lee Hwan-sun has lived all his life on Baengnyeong Island. These days he does not take his boat out very far.

“I used to take my boat out into the waters about five minutes out of this port. But because of the threats from North Korea, I do not dare go out there now," he said.

At its closest point, Baengnyeong is only about 15 kilometers away from North Korean territory. Last month, the North’s ruler Kim Jong Un ordered his army to take aim at the island, which is home to thousands of South Korean soldiers and marines. It is not the first time Baengnyeong has felt threatened by Pyongyang. But officials here say if the North strikes, they are ready to protect the 5,500 residents.

Kim Jin-guk heads the island's civil defense¹ force, which maintains around 90 bomb shelters. If the North were to attack, 500 islanders could take shelter in this bunker. Kim says that despite North Korea’s recent threats, the situation here is under control.

“Residents here are more worried about an attack by North Korea compared with people from other parts of the country. They have lived so close to North Korea for many years and yet they remain calm and go about their daily lives as normal," he said.

Kim says an alarm system will alert² residents to head for the shelters if North Korean shells do fall on Baengnyeong, like they did on Yeonpyeong Island in 2010. Kim hopes he does not have to ever use it.

While Baengnyeong has always been within range of North Korea’s artillery³, some residents say they feel more threatened now than before. A women resident say Kim Jong Un is unpredictable.

“Kim Jong Un is worse than his father Kim Jong Il. We do not know when he is going to launch a missile. We are all scared," she said.

As for fisherman Lee Hwan-sun, he has considered leaving Baengnyeong all together. “My children all want me and my wife to leave the island and move with them on the mainland," he said.

Lee says he thinks he will just wait for the tensions to settle down so he can take his fishing boat back out to the sea. 

1 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。

2 alert   

adj.机警的，活泼的，机灵的；vt.使...警觉

参考例句：

• Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals.驾驶员必须密切注意交通信号。
• The rabbIt'seems to be very alert all its life.兔子似乎一生都小心翼翼，十分警觉。

3 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。