VOA常速英语2007年-Next S. Korean President Expected to Revamp Pol

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
20 December 2007

Experts widely agree the election of former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak as South Korea's president will bring a significant shift in the country's policy toward North Korea. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin reports.

Lee Myung-bak began his first day as South Korea's president-elect Thursday by promising¹ he would begin a new era of peace on the Korean peninsula. He says the two Koreas will open a new period of collaboration², based on the denuclearization of North Korea.

The outgoing administration of President Roh Moo-hyun, too, has consistently expressed a commitment to ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program. But, Mr. Roh has also supported what is known as the "engagement policy" of transferring billions of dollars in aid and investment to the North with few conditions or criticism attached. The policy lost significant public support in South Korea last year, when Pyongyang tested its first nuclear weapon.

Lee Chung-min, professor of international relations at Seoul's Yonsei University, says incoming president Lee Myung-bak will conduct a thorough review of North Korea policy.

"Mr. Lee's policy toward North Korea will be quite simple: engagement, yes - but what do we get in return?" he asked.

Professor Lee says President Lee will almost certainly continue South Korea's humanitarian³ assistance to the impoverished⁴ North, which has teetered at the brink⁵ of famine since the mid-1990s. However, he says Lee will probably change how the aid is given.

"We will continue humanitarian aid, particularly for those who deserve it most - the elderly, the sick, and the young," he said. "But there must be a much more stringent⁶ monitoring system in place."

Hahm Sung-deuk, professor of political economy at Korea University in Seoul, says the Lee administration will reach out to the United States.

"South Korea's resources have very limited power to change North Korea's attitudes, particularly toward nuclear weapons," said Hahm. "Therefore, I strongly believe Lee Myung-bak will make a better relationship toward the United States."

Kongdan Oh, a senior specialist in North Korean security issues at the U.S.-based Institute for Defense⁷ Analyses, says Lee will work hard to mend Seoul-Washington ties, which were strained by President Roh's approach to North Korea.

She also predicts Seoul will adjust its approach to special South Korean project zones in North Korea, especially an industrial park in the city of Kaesong. Oh says Lee views South Korean government subsidies⁸ to Kaesong investors⁹ as excessive.

"We have to teach them how to fish, instead of giving them the fish all the time - that's what he said," she said. "So I think he will introduce so-called basic principles of the market."

President-Elect Lee is expected to scrutinize¹⁰ a list of agreements made at an October summit between President Roh and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Experts say Lee will want the projects to derive¹¹ most of their funding from the private sector¹² - not the South Korean taxpayer¹³.

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 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》

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 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

7 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。

8 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

10 scrutinize   

n.详细检查，细读

参考例句：

• Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man.她的目的是通过仔细观察他的相貌以判断他是否诚实。
• She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces.她探身向前，端详他们的面容。

11 derive   

v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。

12 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

13 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。