South Korea names defense minister amid criticism

"(We) think nominee Kim, well-respected for professionalism and conviction, is the right person for the post in order to restore trust from people and boost morale in the entire military,"

Boost Morale of the Military.
You mean they are not going to sit on their hands anymore while their ass's are being handed to them?


(Reuters) - South Korea named a career soldier as its new defense minister on Friday amid mounting criticism of the government's response to Tuesday's attack by North Korea, its heaviest bombardment since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The move came hours after North Korea said that impending military exercises by the South and the United States were pushing the region toward conflict.

The presidential Blue House appointed Kim Kwan-jin, 61, former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, to replace Kim Tae-young, who had tried to resign the defense portfolio in May following criticism of the government's response to a torpedo attack on a South Korean warship blamed on the North.

"(We) think nominee Kim, well-respected for professionalism and conviction, is the right person for the post in order to restore trust from people and boost morale in the entire military," presidential secretary Hong Sang-pyo told a news briefing.