South Korean President Appoints New Senior Personnel

On June 1, South Korean President Park Geun-hye appointed incumbent Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin to the position of presidential security adviser.

Kim Kwan-jin's position at the ministry will be taken over by former Joint Chiefs of Staff General Han Min-koo.

At a press conference, presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said President Park's decision to appoint a new security adviser and defense minister was aimed at ensuring defense readiness and avoiding a "gap" in the national security sector.

Mr. Kim Kwan-jin. (Photo: Yonhap/ VNA)

Previously, on May 22, President Park Geun-hye accepted the resignations of National Security Advisor Kim Jang-soo and intelligence agency chief Nam Jae-joon.

Mr. Kim has been criticized after the National Security Office - the agency in charge of security, defense and foreign affairs - showed weakness in handling the disaster as well as trying to avoid responsibility for the April 16 ferry accident that killed more than 300 people./.

According to VNA