South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol today appointed a new defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, until now head of the presidential security service, while Kim Yong-hyun, the current head of the portfolio, will become national security adviser.
Chang Ho-jin, who until now held the post of adviser, will move to the newly created post of special adviser for foreign and security affairs, announced the presidential chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Kim, the new defence chief, is a former army general who has served as head of the presidential security service since Yoon took office in May 2022.
The appointment is subject to parliamentary confirmation, although the President can go ahead with the nomination and appoint the candidate regardless of the outcome.
This review of South Korea's security structure comes hours after the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that the "Ulchi Freedom Shield" summer exercises with the US military will take place from 19 to 29 August.
The joint exercises will focus on "deterrence and defence against North Korea's weapons of mass destruction" at a time when cross-border relations are precarious, especially after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared South Korea the "main enemy" earlier this year.
