South Korea's president names candidate to defence minister

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has announced a significant reshuffle within his administration, naming Presidential Security Service (PSS) chief Kim Yong-Hyun as the new defence minister.

According to an official statement from the president's office on August 12, the current Defence Minister, Shin Won-sik, has been appointed as the new national security adviser, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In addition to these appointments, the president also designated Chang Ho-jin, the outgoing national security adviser, as the special adviser for foreign affairs and security, a newly established position within the administration. Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk made the announcements during a press briefing.

Kim Yong-hyun, a former three-star Army general, has led the PSS since President Yoon took office in May 2022. His nomination as defence minister is subject to a parliamentary confirmation hearing, although the president retains the authority to appoint him regardless of the hearing's outcome.