2007年VOA标准英语-US, S. Korea Finalize Agreement For Transfer of

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
28 June 2007

South Korea is a step closer to having independent control over its military forces in war. Seoul and Washington have finalized¹ a plan giving South Korea command over its forces in the event of a war with North Korea. As VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul, the plan changes a military structure that has been in place since the 1950s.

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S. Korean soldiers salute during ceremony, 21 Jun 2007

U.S. and South Korean military leaders finalized plans Thursday for a watershed³ shift in the two countries' security relationship. The plan gives South Korea full command of its forces by 2012.

About 28,000 U.S. forces are stationed here to help deter⁴ a repeat of North Korea's 1950 surprise attack. Under a policy that dates back to the Korean War, if fighting resumed, U.S. commanders would control not only their own forces, but also South Korea's military.

David Oten, spokesman for United States Forces in Korea, says there will be a five-year transitional period before returning full control to the Republic of Korea - South Korea's official name.

"When the transition is complete, the result will be two complementary … coordinated⁵ commands with the Republic of Korea as the supported nation and the U.S. as a supporting nation," Oten said.

During the Korean War, the U.S. led United Nations forces against North Korea and its ally, China. In 1953, an armistice⁶ halted fighting.

The U.S. military retained wartime control over South Korean forces as the nation rebuilt itself into an economic powerhouse.

South Korea and the United States have been negotiating details of the control transfer for more than a year. Both sides say it reflects a new strategic vision of South Korea as a successful nation that deserves autonomy over all its own affairs.

South Korea's relations with North Korea have dramatically changed since the two sides held a historic 2000 summit, with more regular contact. North Korea has always condemned⁷ the U.S. military presence on the peninsula. Many South Korean analysts⁸ say a more independent security relationship with the U.S. may give Seoul a stronger hand in dealing⁹ with the North.

1 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

3 watershed   

n.转折点，分水岭，分界线

参考例句：

• Our marriage was at a watershed.我们的婚姻到了一个转折关头。
• It forms the watershed between the two rivers.它成了两条河流的分水岭。

4 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

5 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 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。

7 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

8 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。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。