📰Today’s article
Title
Trump Says US Will Substantially Reduce Military Exercises With South Korea
トランプ氏、米韓合同軍事演習を大幅に縮小すると表明
Article
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| President Donald Trump said the US will “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea because of his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He said the exercises were costly and sent a signal that was “totally inappropriate and hostile”. South Korea said it was reviewing his comments, while Pyongyang has not yet commented. | ドナルド・トランプ大統領は、北朝鮮の金正恩総書記との「非常に良好な関係」を理由に、米国は韓国との合同軍事演習を「大幅に縮小する」と述べた。トランプ氏は、この演習には費用がかかり、「まったく不適切で敵対的な」シグナルを送るものだと述べた。韓国はトランプ氏の発言を検討していると述べた一方、平壌はまだコメントしていない。 |
| Earlier, South Korea said the exercises would continue “as scheduled”. Trump said on Sunday that it was “too late to cancel” the annual drills due to start Monday. He also said South Korea had rejected his request to join the US in the “Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, replying, “No thanks!” to his request. | これに先立ち、韓国は演習が「予定どおり」続けられると述べていた。トランプ氏は日曜日、月曜日に開始予定の年次演習について「中止するには遅すぎる」と述べた。また、韓国が米国とともに「イラン・イスラム共和国の非核化」に加わるよう求めた自身の要請を拒否し、「結構です！」と返答したとも述べた。 |
| The announcement came after Trump posted a 2019 photograph with Kim, saying they were great friends. Experts warned that reducing the exercises could bring little benefit. Professor Leif-Eric Easley said the drills are “essential for military forces to be ready and capable of doing their jobs” and that diplomatic benefits for relations with North Korea were “doubtful”. | この発表は、トランプ氏が金氏と一緒に写った2019年の写真を投稿し、2人はとても親しい友人だと述べた後に行われた。専門家らは、演習の縮小がもたらす利益はほとんどない可能性があると警告した。レイフ・エリック・イーズリー教授は、この演習は「軍が準備を整え、任務を遂行できる状態にあるために不可欠」であり、北朝鮮との関係における外交上の利益は「疑わしい」と述べた。 |
| Last week, US and South Korean military leaders announced Ulchi Freedom Shield, an 11-day exercise involving about 18,000 South Korean soldiers. About 28,500 US military personnel are stationed in South Korea. North Korea, which recently conducted UN-banned ballistic missile tests, condemned the drills as “a rehearsal for an aggressive war”. Its nuclear and missile programmes have expanded since 2019. | 先週、米国と韓国の軍首脳は、約1万8,000人の韓国兵が参加する11日間の演習「乙支フリーダムシールド」を発表した。約2万8,500人の米軍人が韓国に駐留している。最近、国連によって禁止されている弾道ミサイル実験を行った北朝鮮は、この演習を「侵略戦争の予行演習」だとして非難した。北朝鮮の核・ミサイル計画は2019年以降拡大している。 |
| Trump has reduced such exercises before. He suspended them in 2018 during denuclearisation talks with Kim, calling them “provocative” and saying stopping the “war games” would save money. The exercises were reduced again during the Covid-19 pandemic. Seoul sees US troops as central to the alliance, while Trump has criticised their number and the money the US spends. | トランプ氏は以前にもこのような演習を縮小したことがある。2018年、金氏との非核化協議の間、トランプ氏は演習を「挑発的」だと呼び、「戦争ゲーム」をやめれば費用を節約できると述べて、演習を停止した。演習は新型コロナウイルスのパンデミック中にも再び縮小された。ソウルは米軍を同盟の中心的存在とみなしている一方、トランプ氏はその人数と米国が負担する費用を批判してきた。 |
📘Vocabulary
- substantially – adverb
Meaning: by a large amount or degree
Example: The new plan substantially reduced the time needed for the project.
意味: 大きな量または程度で、大幅に
例文: 新しい計画によって、そのプロジェクトに必要な時間が大幅に短縮された。 - inappropriate – adjective
Meaning: not suitable or right for a particular situation
Example: His comment was inappropriate for such a serious meeting.
意味: 特定の状況に適していない、またはふさわしくない
例文: 彼の発言は、そのような重要な会議には不適切だった。 - condemn – verb
Meaning: to say strongly and publicly that something is wrong or bad
Example: The group condemned the violent action in a public statement.
意味: 何かが間違っている、または悪いと強く公に非難する
例文: その団体は声明で、その暴力的な行為を非難した。 - rehearsal – noun
Meaning: a practice for a performance or planned event
Example: The team held a rehearsal before the ceremony began.
意味: 公演や予定された行事のために行う練習、予行演習
例文: チームは式典が始まる前に予行演習を行った。 - suspend – verb
Meaning: to stop something temporarily
Example: The school suspended the club’s activities until the problem was solved.
意味: 何かを一時的に停止する
例文: 学校は問題が解決するまで、そのクラブの活動を停止した。
📝Let’s summarize
| Summary | 要約 |
|---|---|
| Trump plans to substantially reduce US-South Korean military exercises, citing his relationship with Kim Jong Un and their cost. Experts question the diplomatic benefits, while South Korea reviews his comments and North Korea continues expanding nuclear and missile programmes. | トランプ氏は、金正恩氏との関係と演習にかかる費用を理由に、米韓合同軍事演習を大幅に縮小する予定である。専門家は外交上の利益に疑問を示す一方、韓国はトランプ氏の発言を検討しており、北朝鮮は核・ミサイル計画の拡大を続けている。 |
| Word Count: 39 words |
❓Comprehension Questions
Q1: What did Trump say about joint military exercises with South Korea?
A. Trump said the US would substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea.
B. Trump said South Korea would substantially reduce its military personnel stationed with the US.
C. Trump said North Korea would substantially reduce ballistic missile tests during the annual drills.
D. Trump said the US would substantially expand joint military exercises with South Korea.
問1: トランプ氏は韓国との合同軍事演習について何と述べましたか？
Correct answer: A
正解選択肢: トランプ氏は、米国が韓国との合同軍事演習を大幅に縮小すると述べた。
該当文: President Donald Trump said the US will “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea because of his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Q2: What did Trump say on Sunday about the annual drills due to start Monday?
A. Trump said the annual drills were scheduled to end before South Korea reviewed his comments.
B. Trump said the annual drills would involve only US military personnel stationed in South Korea.
C. Trump said it was too late to cancel the annual drills due to start Monday.
D. Trump said the annual drills were cancelled because North Korea had condemned them as hostile.
問2: トランプ氏は日曜日、月曜日に開始予定の年次演習について何と述べましたか？
Correct answer: C
正解選択肢: トランプ氏は、月曜日に開始予定の年次演習を中止するには遅すぎると述べた。
該当文: Trump said on Sunday that it was “too late to cancel” the annual drills due to start Monday.
Q3: What did Professor Leif-Eric Easley say about the military drills?
A. Easley said the drills were inappropriate because military forces could not perform their jobs.
B. Easley said diplomatic benefits for North Korea were certain if the exercises were reduced.
C. Easley said South Korea had rejected the drills because their military costs were too high.
D. Easley said the drills were essential for military forces to be ready and capable.
問3: レイフ・エリック・イーズリー教授は軍事演習について何と述べましたか？
Correct answer: D
正解選択肢: イーズリー氏は、この演習は軍が準備を整え、能力を備えるために不可欠だと述べた。
該当文: Professor Leif-Eric Easley said the drills are “essential for military forces to be ready and capable of doing their jobs” and that diplomatic benefits for relations with North Korea were “doubtful”.
💬Today’s your thoughts
Question
Do you think the US should substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea?
米国は韓国との合同軍事演習を大幅に縮小すべきだと思いますか？
Model Answer – 1（肯定的立場）
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| I think the US should substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. | 私は、米国は韓国との合同軍事演習を大幅に縮小すべきだと思います。 |
| Firstly, reducing the exercises may support diplomacy because less military activity can make talks easier. For example, if leaders are trying to improve relations, smaller drills could send a calmer signal. Therefore, communication may become easier. | まず、軍事活動が少なくなれば対話がしやすくなるため、演習の縮小は外交を支える可能性があります。例えば、指導者たちが関係を改善しようとしている場合、より小規模な演習はより穏やかなシグナルを送ることができます。そのため、意思疎通がしやすくなる可能性があります。 |
| In addition, reducing the exercises could lower costs because large military activities require many resources. For instance, if fewer forces joined some drills, the US could spend less on them. Therefore, resources could be used more carefully. | 加えて、大規模な軍事活動には多くの資源が必要なので、演習を縮小すれば費用を減らせる可能性があります。例えば、一部の演習に参加する部隊が少なくなれば、米国はそれらに使う費用を減らせるでしょう。そのため、資源をより慎重に使える可能性があります。 |
| In conclusion, I support reducing the exercises because it may help diplomacy and lower costs, while careful communication can still protect the alliance. | 結論として、演習の縮小は外交を助け、費用を減らす可能性があり、同時に慎重な意思疎通によって同盟を守ることもできるため、私は演習の縮小に賛成です。 |
| Word Count: 109 words |
Model Answer – 2（否定的立場）
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| I do not think the US should substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. | 私は、米国は韓国との合同軍事演習を大幅に縮小すべきではないと思います。 |
| Firstly, the exercises should continue because military forces need regular practice to stay ready. For example, if soldiers practice difficult situations together, they can understand their roles better. Therefore, they may perform their jobs more effectively. | まず、軍が準備を整えた状態を保つには定期的な訓練が必要なので、演習は継続すべきです。例えば、兵士たちが困難な状況を一緒に訓練すれば、自分たちの役割をよりよく理解できます。そのため、任務をより効果的に遂行できる可能性があります。 |
| In addition, reducing the exercises may weaken cooperation because joint training helps forces work together. For instance, if units train less often, they could have fewer chances to coordinate. Therefore, the alliance may face greater difficulties. | 加えて、合同訓練は部隊が協力して行動するのに役立つため、演習の縮小は協力を弱める可能性があります。例えば、部隊が訓練する回数を減らせば、連携する機会が少なくなる可能性があります。そのため、同盟はより大きな困難に直面する可能性があります。 |
| For these reasons, I oppose reducing the exercises because readiness and cooperation are important, and regular joint training can help maintain both. | これらの理由から、準備態勢と協力は重要であり、定期的な合同訓練はその両方を維持するのに役立つため、私は演習の縮小に反対です。 |
| Word Count: 109 words |
News Source: BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lll7zvn0o