VOA标准英语2010年-Years After War, South Korea, United S

South Korea's military is very different from the one that needed help after the 1950 surprise attack that began the Korean War. South Korea and its ally, the United States, are preparing for a change that gives Seoul direct command of its own forces in the event of a renewed war. But recent events involving North Korea may have strengthened the case of those who want to put the brakes on this major shift in the military relationship.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries say they would fight a second Korean War, if it became necessary, side-by-side and seamlessly.

For decades, their alliance has deterred¹ a repeat of the North Korean attack of June 25th, 1950.

 

Seoul has always agreed that U.S. forces would have command of South Korea's military if war re-ignites. But that is to change in April 2012, when Seoul assumes wartime operational control of its own forces, a step referred to as OPCON Transfer.

U.S. Forces in Korea Commander General Walter Sharp says South Korea's military is ready to take the leadership role.

"I think it really does send a huge signal to North Korea that the Republic of Korea military is so professional and so strong, the United States is willing to continue to fight in a supporting relationship with the same forces, but give the Republic of Korea the lead," Sharp said.

U.S. leaders say not much will change after OPCON Transfer, and 28-thousand U.S. troops will remain in South Korea.

But some security experts worry the OPCON plan may be premature², particularly because of signs of instability in North Korea. Its leader, Kim Jong II, is in questionable³ health after an apparent stroke in 2008. He is believed to be preparing a successor.

Disastrous⁴ currency reform policies last year brought the North's feeble economy to the brink⁵ of collapse⁶. And investigators⁷ say a North Korean submarine torpedoed⁸ a South Korean navy ship, the Cheonan.

Dan Pinkston is with the International Crisis Group.

"Under these conditions, where we see so much uncertainty⁹ with leadership succession, possible instability, we see no arms control, we see no confidence building measures, we see no disarmament, we see North Korea refusing to return to the six-party talks, we see the sinking of the Cheonan and potential clashes in the West Sea around the Northern Limit Line. So a lot of people are just saying this is just not the right time," Pinkston said.

Kim Kwang-shik is a researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense¹⁰ Analyses. He says recent surveys indicate growing concern among ordinary South Koreans.

He says OPCON Transfer has increasingly become a public issue as the actual day of the transfer is drawing near. More and more Koreans have begun to worry about their national security, he adds, and they question whether the year 2012 is appropriate.

U.S. officials say the topic is likely to come up when South Korean President Lee Myung-bak hosts President Obama at an international summit in Seoul later this year.
 

1 deterred   

v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I told him I wasn't interested, but he wasn't deterred. 我已告诉他我不感兴趣，可他却不罢休。
• Jeremy was not deterred by this criticism. 杰里米没有因这一批评而却步。 来自辞典例句

2 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

3 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。

4 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

5 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

6 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

7 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 torpedoed   

用鱼雷袭击（torpedo的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Her comments had torpedoed the deal. 她的一番话使得那笔交易彻底告吹。
• The battle ship was torpedoed. 该战列舰遭到了鱼雷的袭击。

9 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

10 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。