VOA慢速英语2015 韩国企业望放松对朝鲜实施的贸易限制

 

AS IT IS 2015-01-26 S. Korean Businesses Want to Ease Trade Restriction¹ with North 韩国企业望放松对朝鲜实施的贸易限制

Business leaders in South Korea are urging President Park Geun-hye to ease trade restrictions² with North Korea. South Korea put the restrictions in place in 2010 after the sinking of a South Korean warship³.

Pro-business groups believe that expanding trade and investment will help their businesses and contribute to long-term peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

A group called “The Emergency Response Committee of Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation” says it represents more than 140 South Korean companies. All of these businesses formerly⁴ traded with or operated in North Korea. Members of the group now hold weekly demonstrations⁵ in Seoul.

The South Korean government cut many economic ties with North Korea in 2010. It acted after a North Korean submarine reportedly sank a South Korean navy ship, killing⁶ 46 sailors.

Yoo Dong-ho is the president of the Emergency Response Committee. He says the nearly five-year-old trade restrictions have failed to hurt North Korea but have punished South Korean companies.

He says, “In North Korea, management rights and control of the businesses that South Koreans have invested in were given to China, Russia and Europe. Only South Korean businesses have been destroyed.”

South Korea still lets businesses operate in North Korea’s Kaesong industrial zone. The 55,000 North Koreans working in the zone earn between $70 and $100 a month. That is much less than the lowest legal wage in the South. The wages are not given directly to the workers, however. They are paid to the North Korean government.

President Park and her allies say North Korea must make amends⁷ for past aggression⁸ and for violating nuclear agreements before South Korea will agree to lift the trade ban. But she says it is time for the two sides to start talking again about peaceful reunification.

She says, “My position is that to ease the pain of division and to accomplish peaceful unification, I am willing to meet with anyone.”

South Korea National Assembly Representative Hong Ik-pyo is with the opposition⁹ New Politics Alliance for Democracy. He says expanding trade and business ties are important parts of a successful unification process.

He says, “For countries under conflict such as China and Taiwan, the most important things are the processes of peace, exchange and cooperation. I think it is not appropriate to move towards reunification without those things.”

In South Korea, many people question whether re-establishing trade ties with North Korea would bring peace to the Korean peninsula. They remember that North Korea promised to end its nuclear program in exchange for aid, but failed to honor that promise.

Words in This Story

trade – n. the activity of buying, selling or exchanging products or services

business – n. one’s work; buying and selling to earn money; trade

submarine – n. an underwater ship

1 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

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 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 amends   

n. 赔偿

参考例句：

• He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花，为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
• This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。

8 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。