VOA新闻杂志2022--美、韩开始多年来规模最大的军事演习

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US, S. Korea Begin Biggest Military Exercises in Years

The United States and South Korea are holding their biggest joint¹ military exercises in years.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield training operation opened Monday in South Korea. The exercises are happening during increasing tensions with North Korea, which has sharply increased weapons testing this year. Last month, its leader, Kim Jong Un, again threatened to use nuclear weapons in reaction to conflict with South Korea and the U.S.

The joint exercises will continue through September 1. The training involves airplanes, warships², tanks and thousands of troops.

The U.S. and South Korea say their military preparations are for defensive³ purposes. But North Korea describes the two countries as training for an invasion.

American and South Korean forces reportedly will simulate efforts such as combined attacks, resupply of arms, and removal of nuclear weapons.

The allies will also train for drone attacks and other new developments in warfare⁴.

Tensions between the U.S. and North Korea have grown since the failure of a meeting between Kim and former President Donald Trump⁵ in 2019. The U.S. rejected North Korea's offer to close an old nuclear center in exchange for an end to U.S. sanctions.

Kim has promised to strengthen his nuclear weapons abilities since that time.

South Korean and U.S. military officials have not said how many troops are taking part in Ulchi Freedom Shield.

The exercises follow North Korea's dismissal last week of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's proposal of economic support in exchange for ending its nuclear program. North Korea accused South Korea of using old proposals that have been rejected already.

Kim Yo Jong is the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. She called Yoon's proposal foolish. She said her country has no desire to surrender its nuclear weapons. And, last week, she warned of "deadly" retaliation⁶ against South Korea over a recent North Korean COVID-19 outbreak.

There are concerns that the threat could lead to nuclear or missile tests or even small fights at the border.

Last week, North Korea launched what experts suspect was two cruise missiles. So far in 2022, North Korean weapons testing has included more than 30 ballistic missile launches, including the country's first launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in almost five years.

Experts say North Korea is increasing its testing so that it can negotiate economic and security demands from a position of strength. There are also some signs that it is preparing to test nuclear weapons.

Words in This Story

simulate — v. to look, feel, or behave like

drone — n. a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot

sanction — n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.

ballistic missile — adj. a weapon that is shot through the sky over a great distance and then falls to the ground and explodes

1 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。

2 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。

3 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。

4 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》