VOA标准英语2009年-US, South Korea Reaffirm Alliance, Timetab

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
22 October 2009

 
US Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates speaks during joint² news conference in Seoul, 22 Oct 2009 
The United States and South Korea have wrapped up an annual security meeting with assurances that South Korea is on track to assume more autonomy over its defense in the next few years. Officials from both sides say they are committed to getting rid of North Korea's nuclear weapons, and are planning for any scenarios³ that could destabilize the North.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says he and his South Korean counterpart, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young, reaffirmed the two countries' alliance this week during consultations⁴ in Seoul.

"I reinforced once more the unwavering commitment of the United States to the defense of the Republic of Korea," Gates said.

The two officials said Thursday the full array of U.S. military might, including what is known as the "nuclear umbrella" is available to South Korea to defend itself against attack.

North and South Korea remain technically⁵ at war. The United States deploys⁶ about 28,000 troops here to help deter⁷ North Korea from repeating its 1950 invasion.

Under the present agreement between the two alliance partners, the United States would command South Korean forces if the Korean War ever re-ignited. That is to change in 2012, when Seoul will regain⁸ wartime command of its armed forces.

Gates says the hand-over process is on schedule.

"I have full confidence in the ROK military's ability to take the lead in the combined defense of this peninsula," Gates said.

South Korean Minister Kim says the two also discussed contingency⁹ plans in the event of instability inside North Korea.

He says details are being looked at very closely. The two countries are planning for "all possible scenarios," he says, to make sure there are no negative effects from possible events inside North Korea. Kim says the U.S. and South Korean interest in the matter is very serious.

Gates moves next to Eastern Europe. He has been consulting with international partners on contributions to stabilization¹⁰ efforts in Afghanistan. Gates said Thursday he did not make any specific request of South Korea, leaving the matter to Seoul's discretion¹¹.

1 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。

2 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。

3 scenarios   

n.[意]情节；剧本；事态；脚本

参考例句：

• Further, graphite cores may be safer than non-graphite cores under some accident scenarios. 再者，根据一些事故解说，石墨堆芯可比非石墨堆芯更安全一些。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Again, scenarios should make it clear which modes are acceptable to users in various contexts. 同样，我们可以运用场景剧本来搞清楚在不同情境下哪些模式可被用户接受。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 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。

6 deploys   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的第三人称单数 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• It then deploys "decoy" programs designed to attract the virus. 然后，它释放“诱饵”去吸引病毒。
• But when that doesn't work, he deploys his secret defense mechanism. 但没有效果，它要施展绝密自卫武器了。

7 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。

8 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

9 contingency   

n.意外事件，可能性

参考例句：

• We should be prepared for any contingency.我们应该对任何应急情况有所准备。
• A fire in our warehouse was a contingency that we had not expected.库房的一场大火是我们始料未及的。

10 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

11 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。