韩国总统呼吁与朝鲜创建“和平经济”

South Korean President Calls for ‘Peace Economy’ with North Korea

Earlier this week, South Korea’s president described the country’s growing trade dispute with Japan as a warning to upgrade the country’s economy. He called for economic cooperation with North Korea, which could reduce the big influence of Japan’s much larger economy.

President Moon Jae-in made the comments during a meeting with top officials to discuss Japan’s new trade restrictions¹ on South Korea. The move came as a surprise because North Korea in recent weeks has raised tensions by testing new short-range weapons that threaten South Korea.

Moon said, “The advantage Japan’s economy has over us is the size of its economy and domestic market. If the South and North could create a peace economy through economic cooperation, we can catch up with Japan’s superiority in one burst.”

But some experts disagree. They say Moon’s claim that South Korea could overcome the trade dispute with Japan by cooperating with North Korea shows that he is running out of ideas to limit Japan’s influence. Japan has a large trade surplus with South Korea.

Opposition² lawmaker Lee Man-hee is the spokesman for the Liberty Korea Party. He said Moon’s comments were shocking and unrealistic.

He added, “A peace economy — where peaceful relations drive economic growth — only sounds good, and it’s not clear what it is and how things will be actually done.”

Moon has described Japan’s moves to tighten³ controls on exports to South Korean manufacturers as an attempt to damage his country’s export-dependent economy. He has accused Japan of using trade as a weapon over political disputes surrounding the countries’ wartime history.

Japan says measures to restrict exports are based on national security concerns. Japanese officials also have said that South Korea cannot be fully⁴ trusted to enact⁵ sanctions against North Korea. They suggested that the South might have permitted secret materials to reach the North.

North Korea has been demanding that South Korea restart inter-Korean economic projects held back by U.S.-led restrictions against the North. The U.S. has said the restrictions should stay in place until the North takes steps to give up its nuclear weapons.

Choi Kang is with the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. He said Moon’s comments could create tension with the U.S. and send the wrong message to North Korea.

He added that it was unclear whether Moon’s suggestion that he could help end the trade dispute with Japan through inter-Korean relations was realistic.

Moon met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times last year. They agreed to restart economic cooperation when possible. However, the inter-Korean peace process has stopped since a meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump⁶ in February failed. The leaders disagreed over how to exchange easing restrictions for ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons production.

South Korea plans new investments aimed at maintaining its supply of 100 important materials and parts used in computers, vehicles and other major export areas. Companies in the country have heavily relied on Japanese imports to produce finished products.

Last week, Japan’s cabinet approved the removal of South Korea from a list of countries with special trade standing⁷. The move would require Japanese companies to apply for case-by-case approvals for exports to South Korea of hundreds of items.

The decision followed a July measure to strengthen controls on some technology exports to South Korean companies that depend on Japanese materials. Those materials include ones used in the production of computers, wireless⁸ phones and televisions, which are all important South Korean exports.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

advantage – n. something such as a good position or condition that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others

domestic – adj. of, relating to, or made in your own country

burst – n. a short period of producing or doing something that begins suddenly

actually – adv. used to stress that a statement is true especially when it differs in some way from what might have been thought or expected

sanctions – 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.

rely – v. to need someone or something for support, help, etc. to depend on someone or something

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。

6 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。

7 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

8 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。