S. Korean Defence Minister quits after facing criticism

South Korea’s Defence Minister resigned yesterday after facing severe criticism for the military’s response to a deadly North Korean artillery bombardment this week. President Lee Myung-Bak accepted the resignation of Kim Tae-Young, a presidential statement said, adding Mr Kim wished to step down “to take responsibility for a recent series of incidents”.

Mr Kim’s resignation comes two days after the North shelled a South Korean border island, killing four people and setting homes ablaze.

The minister faced strong criticism on Wednesday from legislators over the military’s perceived “soft” reaction to the attack. It responded with 80 shells from guns on the island.

Legislators said the military should have responded more ruthlessly such as by staging an air strike on the North’s artillery batteries.

But Mr Kim said air power could have sparked a “full-blown war”.

The minister also came under fire earlier this year over the sinking of a South Korean warship, which Seoul blamed on a North Korean torpedo.

An inquiry found a series of procedural errors by military officials.