VOA标准英语2009年-North Korea Reopens Border to South

Recently heightened tensions between North and South Korea have eased in at least one way - North Korea is once again allowing a small number of South Koreans who do business in the North to cross the border. South Koreans were stranded¹ in the North for about 24 hours.
　
Gateways² to North Korea are shut down, 09 Mar³ 2009

South Korean Unification Ministry⁴ Spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun says activity at the North-South Korean border has returned at least partially⁵ to normal.

He says North Korea is allowing the passage of South Korean personnel and automobiles⁶ through the Military Demarcation Line separating the two countries.

On Monday, North Korea severed⁷ a key North-South military communications line used to arrange limited passage across the tense border. The North describes the move as a response to ongoing⁸ annual military drills between the United States and South Korea, which U.S. military leaders describe as routine and defensive⁹. Washington deploys¹⁰ about 28,000 forces here to deter¹¹ a repeat of the North's 1950 invasion of the South.

Limited numbers of South Koreans regularly cross back and forth¹² to the North for business, mainly at a South Korean-managed industrial park in the North Korean city of Kaesong. Several hundred South Koreans were stranded for about 24 hours in Kaesong after the communications line was cut, but Seoul says the problem has been resolved.

Spokesman Kim says cross-border trips by people and vehicles to and from the Kaesong complex have returned to normal.

The Kaesong complex employs more than 35,000 North Koreans in simple manufacturing for South Korean companies that make apparel and household goods. Until last year, it was seen as the centerpiece of a South Korean policy that sought to win North Korean friendship with investment and aid from the South.

However, North Korea has refused dialogue and gradually severed most contacts with the South Korean administration of Lee Myung-bak, who Pyongyang labels a "traitor¹³." Mr. Lee has delayed implementing¹⁴ previous agreements with the North calling for billions of dollars more of the South's money until there is progress on getting rid of the North's nuclear weapons and resolving other issues.

South Korean analysts¹⁵ say the North's decision to reopen the border is a tacit admission Pyongyang does not want to endanger the Kaesong zone, which is a major source of hard currency for the impoverished¹⁶ government. However, the North-South military communications line remains¹⁷ suspended - and border crossings have to be arranged for the time being via hand-written notes passed from one Korea to the other.

1 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

2 gateways   

n.网关( gateway的名词复数 )；门径；方法；大门口

参考例句：

• Police bullets raked the gateways car. 警察的子弹对着门口的汽车扫射。 来自辞典例句
• No Internet gateways are needed for the programs operation. 该软件的操作不需要互联网网关的支持。 来自互联网

3 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

4 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。

5 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

6 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

9 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

10 deploys   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的第三人称单数 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• It then deploys "decoy" programs designed to attract the virus. 然后，它释放“诱饵”去吸引病毒。
• But when that doesn't work, he deploys his secret defense mechanism. 但没有效果，它要施展绝密自卫武器了。

11 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

12 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

13 traitor   

n.叛徒，卖国贼

参考例句：

• The traitor was finally found out and put in prison.那个卖国贼终于被人发现并被监禁了起来。
• He was sold out by a traitor and arrested.他被叛徒出卖而被捕了。

14 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

15 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。

16 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》

17 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。