VOA常速英语2007年-Two Koreas Say Train Service May Resume 'By End

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
15 November 2007

North and South Korea have not had regular train service across their heavily armed border in more than half a century - but that may be about to change within weeks. Prime Ministers from the two Koreas say they are finalizing¹ the details to reestablish at least one railway route before the end of the year. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul, where the high-level dialogue is taking place.

Details of the potential North-South Korean rail route emerged during the second of three planned days of talks in Seoul between South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and his North Korean counterpart Kim Yong Il.

South Korean Unification Ministry² spokesman Kim Nam-shik told reporters the two Koreas want to get moving on the project right away.

He says they agreed on the need for establishing a cross-border train route by the end of the year.

Kim says details need to be worked out, but the route under discussion would involve freight trains linking the South Korean city of Munsan with the North Korean city of Bongdong. He says the freight transit³ would spur economic activity at the South Korean-built Kaesong industrial complex in North Korea.

There has been no regular train service across the North-South Korean border since the North invaded the South in 1950. The two sides remain technically⁴ at war, with only a 1953 armistice⁵ having halted fighting.

But North-South ties have warmed since a 2000 summit opened an era of South Korean engagement with Pyongyang. The South has poured billions of dollars in aid and investment into the North, leading to a mainly symbolic⁶ rail test this May and a follow-up North-South summit last month.

This week's prime-minister-level talks are considered a first attempt at implementing⁷ agreements from the October summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. The two men vowed⁸ to push for a railway deal, as well as to establish a joint⁹ maritime¹⁰ economic zone in disputed waters west of the Korean peninsula.

Analysts¹¹ say the total package of economic joint projects being discussed this week will eventually cost upward of $10 billion. South Korean authorities say the investment is sound, both in terms of stability on the peninsula, and in terms of lessening¹³ the costs of an eventual¹² reunification.

The prime minister meetings are set to conclude Friday.

1 finalizing   

vt.完成（finalize的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
• Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫，完美在此定格。 来自互联网

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

4 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

5 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

6 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

7 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

8 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

9 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。

10 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

12 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

13 lessening   

减轻，减少，变小

参考例句：

• So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少，她花多少，她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。