Give talk a chance

A person is not deceived who knows he is being

deceive

d

North Korea has repeatedly made military

provocation

s, turned to dialogue and won diplomatic concessions and economic aid. So it would be easy for allies to ridicule and spurn Pyongyang’s offer on Sunday for direct talks with the United States as just the latest of these numerous cycles.

And so it seems indeed. It doesn’t take diplomatic experts to see through what analysts describe as the North’s ``dialogue offensive” aimed at avoiding its diplomatic isolation, coming right after the summit between the U.S. and China and just

prior to

one between China and South Korea.

The content of its offer deepens skepticism among foreigners even further. Instead of making any specific proposals to rein in its nuclear programs, the North’s statement calls for a denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula, meaning Washington should take its nuclear umbrella away from South Korea. Its offer to discuss a nuclear-free world through mutual disarmament even smacks of megalomania.

The North’s latest proposal is not without something new: it reemphasized the need for denuclearization, going back to before this January when Pyongyang ceased to even pretend to pursue that goal. But that would hardly be enough.

As expected, Washington demanded that the communist regime take some trustworthy actions first instead of trying to talk its way out of the crisis with ``nice words.” President Barack Obama had a telephone conversation with his South Korean counterpart Monday, in which the two leaders might have reconfirmed their concerted stance against Pyongyang’s peace offensive. Officials in Seoul may no longer have to worry about Washington’s direct dealing with Pyongyang while bypassing Seoul.

The U.S. message to the North _ or even China, in the Park-Xi summit next week _ could be to have some talks with Seoul first.

However, if President Park thinks it a diplomatic victory for South Korea and herself, it will be a temporary and ostensible one at best. To make it a lasting and

fundamental

victory, Park must pursue brisk dialogue with the North instead of unduly

adher

ing

to

principles or quibbling over the rank of negotiators from both sides. The president was only half right when she said, ``Form dominates content.” True, creating content without form is blind, but form without contents is empty. The shorter the impasse in inter-Korean dialogue, the better.

During her stay in Beijing, the Korean leader is expected to ask her Chinese counterpart to help dialogue between the Koreas. Actually, this is something that President Park can solve by herself if only she is sufficiently determined and prepared. What President Park should ask President Xi is to facilitate the North’s denuclearization even by bridging Washington and Pyongyang if need be. For instance, China can persuade the U.S. to soften preconditions for talks, by remaining content for now with slowing down the pace of the North’s nuclear programs rather than freezing it altogether. In short, their short-term objective is to go back to February 2012 agreement.

The Obama administration has had few, if any, coherent North Korea policies except for its failed ``strategic patience.” Looking back, however, Washington had the opportunity to nearly halt it in 14 years ago. The Democrat U.S. leader is resembling his Republican rivals in too many ways, including North Korea policy. Obama must give the dialogue another chance.

This is The Korea Times editorial for Tuesday, June. 18, 2013.

※ 다음에 나오는 문제들은 본 사설에 나오는 중요한 어휘들로 구성된 토익, 토플, 텝스 기출 및 예상 문제입니다.

※ Choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the highlighted part.

1. He was

d by the charlatan who claimed he could cure all diseases with his miracle medicine.

① saved

② pleased

③ deluded

④ puzzled

⑤ inoculated

2. The war began as a response to a

, and it did not proceed in the manner of a calculated initiative.

① complete attention

② natural tendency

③ something that angers

④ test of strength

3.

Prior to

World War One, 20 percent of American homes had electricity.

① Before

② After

③ During

④ Despite

4. Shakespeare's

underlying

motive in Hamlet was to criticize the moral climate of his own times.

① fundamental

② ulterior

③ uninterested

④ underneath

5. He will

abide by

his promise if he gives it.

① revenge on

② allow for

③ renew

④ adhere to

[해설 및 정답]

1. [번역] 그는 그의 기적 같은 약으로 모든 질병을 다 치유할 수 있다고 주장한 돌팔이 의사(사기꾼)에게

속았다

.

[어휘] delude 현혹시키다, 속이다(mislead, deceive) delusive 현혹시키는, 잘못 생각게 하는(misleading, deceptive) ① 구출(구제)하다 ② 기쁘게 하다 ④ 어쩔 줄 모르게(당황케) 하다 ⑤ 접종하다; (사상 등을) 주입하다

[정답] ③

2. [번역] 그 전쟁은

도발

에 대한 대응으로 시작된 것이지 계산된 주도의 방식으로 시작(진행)된 것은 아니었다.

[어휘] provocation : 도발, 자극, 화나게 함(something that angers)

3. [번역] 1차대전

전에

, 미국의 20%의 가정은 전기가 있었다.

[정답] ①

4. [어휘]

기초의, 기본적인(fundamental, radical, basic); 밑에 있는(lying down) ② 저쪽의; (목적 등이) 숨겨진 ③ 이해관계가 없는; 무관심한 ④ 낮은; 숨겨진

[번역] 셰익스피어의 햄릿에서의

근본적인

동기(작품에서의 ‘주제’를 말함)는 자기 자신의 시대의 도덕적 풍조를 비판하고자 하는 것이었다.

5. [번역] 그는 일잔 약속을 하면 그것을

지킨다

[어휘] abide 머무르다, 영속하다; (규칙 등을) 지키다, 따르다(stick to, obey, adhere to) ① 원수를 갚다, 복수하다 ② 참작, 고려하다 ③ 갱신하다; 회복시키다

[정답] ④