(Yonhap Editorial) Seoul needs to stand resolute on North Korea's latest threat

국내 영자신문 사설입니다. 국내 사건 혹은 우리가 잘 아는 국제 사건을 다루고 있으므로 영어실력이 딸려도 충분히 추측하며 볼 수 있습니다.

초중급 정도의 실력에서는 징검다리 역할을 하는 이런 글을 많이 보시는 것이 실력향상에 아주 유리합니다. 단어는 절대 찾지 마시고 그냥 추측하며 읽으시기 바랍니다.

커스를 단어 위에 대기만 하면 발음과 뜻을 보여주는 다음사전 정도는 사용해도 좋습니다. 그러나 이것도 너무 자주 사용 하시면 곤란합니다. 죽죽 읽는 데 방해가 될 정도면 안됩니다. 독해는 연구하듯이 한 문장을 오래 붙들고 있으면 절대 오래 못 갑니다. 죽죽 진도가 나가야 됩니다. 모르더라도 그냥 지나가는 희생이 반드시 필요합니다. 이것이 가장 중요합니다. 이것만 하시면 분명 성공합니다.

(Yonhap Editorial) Seoul needs to stand resolute on North Korea's latest threat

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea resumed its threats against South Korea on Thursday, just a day after the South's military conducted a drill to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly shelling of a border island. This time, Pyongyang's top military command threatened to turn South Korea's presidential office into a "sea of fire."

   The North has occasionally resorted to the same phrase in its vitriol when cross-border relations deteriorate or when the South conducts military drills. But this is the first time that Pyongyang has directed the threat against the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae.

   Pyongyang's latest threat threw cold water on Seoul's conciliatory gestures over the past couple of months since the appointment of new Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik. The North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea counter-charged on Thursday that Seoul's flexibility toward the North "is no more than wordplay to deceive public opinion."

   The North's hostile reaction to Seoul's conciliatory stance indicates that the regime is not sincerely interested in easing tensions. Some view the threat against Cheong Wa Dae as a means of pressuring Seoul to fundamentally change its approach to inter-Korean relations. Nevertheless, threats that cross the line will only deepen the animosity among the South Korean people and authorities.

   Pyongyang's words make us look back on whether we have made any mistakes or misjudgements. One year ago when our border island Yeonpyeong was attacked, Seoul was unable to respond appropriately. Since then, the military has launched a new defense command for the border islands and bolstered its firepower. But unless Seoul displays the will and the determination to punish further provocations, the North will continue to see the South as "soft." We cannot rule out the possibility that Pyongyang will escalate tensions with its uranium enrichment program, missile launches and more nuclear detonations, not to mention cyber terrorism and propaganda fanning internal divide in the South.

   But military buildup is not the core measure to preventing the North's provocations. While strengthening its security posture, Seoul needs to adopt a policy for settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula. We need a cool-headed, wise policy to draw the North toward peace and dialogue in the midst of tensions.

   We hope to see South and North Korea end their war of nerves and turn toward building mutual trust.

  (END)

출처: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/yhedit/2011/11/25/32/5100000000AEN20111125006400315F.HTML