2006年VOA标准英语-Pyongyang Condemns South Korean-US Military Dri

（单词翻译）

By Barry Newhouse
Seoul
22 August 2006

North Korea has condemned¹ the annual military exercises between the United States and South Korea in harsh terms, calling them a "wartime activity" that violates the ceasefire that ended the Korean War in 1953. Although such condemnations are routine, the circumstances surrounding them this year are unusual.

--------

joint2 military exercise, Ulchi Focus Lens, at subway station in Seoul, Aug. 17, 2006" src="http://www.tingroom.com/upimg/allimg/070417/1107450.jpg" width="190" border="0" /> S. Korean soldiers participate in joint military exercise, Ulchi Focus Lens, at subway station in Seoul, Aug. 17, 2006

A statement issued by North Korea's state-controlled media Tuesday called this year's joint exercises a military threat and a menace. The statement warned that North Korea has the right to launch pre-emptive attacks for its self-defense.

The 10-day-long exercise by South Korea and the United States, named Ulchi Focus Lens, began Monday. North Korea routinely condemns³ these annual military drills, which the U.S. says are merely defensive⁴ and not intended as a provocation⁵.

This year, however, the North is in a precarious⁶ position. After it flouted⁷ international warnings and test-fired seven missiles in early July, South Korea and other donor⁸ nations suspended economic aid that the North desperately⁹ needs.

Heavy rains then flooded parts of North Korea in mid-July, killing¹⁰ hundreds, causing widespread damage, and putting further strains on the North's already meager¹¹ food supplies.

Pyongyang now needs the aid that was cut off more than ever. Seoul University Professor Hwang Ji-whan says Pyongyang's rhetoric¹² is aimed at creating sympathy among South Koreans.

He says that in its dealings with the United States, North Korea has been driven to a corner. He says it is using this kind of rhetoric to escape from the situation and improve its position.

A military analyst¹³ in Seoul who asked to remain anonymous¹⁴ says the threats are a tactic¹⁵ aimed at rallying public opinion in South Korea against the United States and gaining concessions¹⁶ from officials in Seoul.

The analyst says that by provoking South Korea, North Korea hopes the South will try to appease¹⁷ the North with incentives¹⁸ and supplies.

Economic mismanagement and floods caused widespread famine in North Korea in the 1990's, and the food shortages have continued. On Tuesday, South Korea reported the North's grain shortfall this year would worsen to 1.6 million tons, from last year's one million tons.