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South Korean Leader Dismisses More Aides After Ferry Disaster South Korean Leader Dismisses More Aides After Ferry Disaster
(about 5 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — President Park Geun-hye’s office said on Thursday that she would replace the head of her government’s intelligence agency and her top national security adviser as she struggled to overcome the political fallout of the sinking of a ferry that killed more than 300 people last month. SEOUL, South Korea — President Park Geun-hye’s office said on Thursday that she would replace the head of her government’s intelligence agency and her top national security adviser as she struggled to overcome the political fallout of the sinking of a ferry that left more than 300 people dead or missing last month.
Nam Jae-joon, director of the National Intelligence Service, and Kim Jang-soo, Ms. Park’s main national security adviser, offered to resign, said Min Kyung-wook, a presidential spokesman, on Thursday. Ms. Park was to announce their replacements soon, Mr. Min said.Nam Jae-joon, director of the National Intelligence Service, and Kim Jang-soo, Ms. Park’s main national security adviser, offered to resign, said Min Kyung-wook, a presidential spokesman, on Thursday. Ms. Park was to announce their replacements soon, Mr. Min said.
Mr. Min did not clarify why Mr. Nam and Mr. Kim stepped down, but Ms. Park has been under mounting pressure from the political opposition and other critics to overhaul her government and presidential staff for failing to prevent the April 16 ferry disaster and bungling rescue operations.Mr. Min did not clarify why Mr. Nam and Mr. Kim stepped down, but Ms. Park has been under mounting pressure from the political opposition and other critics to overhaul her government and presidential staff for failing to prevent the April 16 ferry disaster and bungling rescue operations.
In South Korea, top leaders traditionally reshuffle their government after a major political disaster or national disaster to mollify public anger and to give their cabinet a fresh start.In South Korea, top leaders traditionally reshuffle their government after a major political disaster or national disaster to mollify public anger and to give their cabinet a fresh start.
Also on Thursday, Ms. Park appointed Ahn Dae-hee, a former Supreme Court justice who helped her election campaign in 2012, to replace Chung Hong-won as the prime minister, the largely ceremonial No. 2 post in the government. Mr. Chung offered to resign on April 27 with an apology over the ferry sinking.Also on Thursday, Ms. Park appointed Ahn Dae-hee, a former Supreme Court justice who helped her election campaign in 2012, to replace Chung Hong-won as the prime minister, the largely ceremonial No. 2 post in the government. Mr. Chung offered to resign on April 27 with an apology over the ferry sinking.
Mr. Ahn’s appointment is subject to parliamentary approval.Mr. Ahn’s appointment is subject to parliamentary approval.
Mr. Nam and Mr. Kim, both former army generals, have served as Ms. Park’s top policy advisers on North Korea since she took office in early 2012. They helped lead South Korea’s hard-line and confrontational stance against the North as Pyongyang escalated tensions on the divided Korean Peninsula following its nuclear test in February 2012.Mr. Nam and Mr. Kim, both former army generals, have served as Ms. Park’s top policy advisers on North Korea since she took office in early 2012. They helped lead South Korea’s hard-line and confrontational stance against the North as Pyongyang escalated tensions on the divided Korean Peninsula following its nuclear test in February 2012.
Prosecutors looking into the cause of the ferry’s sinking have said that the ship was overloaded and badly unbalanced and was manned by a crew poorly trained in safety measures and seamanship. Yet, it was allowed to set sail by pier-side inspectors who were not properly supervised by government regulators.Prosecutors looking into the cause of the ferry’s sinking have said that the ship was overloaded and badly unbalanced and was manned by a crew poorly trained in safety measures and seamanship. Yet, it was allowed to set sail by pier-side inspectors who were not properly supervised by government regulators.
Ms. Park’s government was accused of squandering the critical first hour of the disaster by failing to respond quickly to repeated distress calls from passengers and the crew. Images of the ferry with hundreds of young students trapped inside slowing turning over and sinking while coast guard ships watched have outraged the nation.Ms. Park’s government was accused of squandering the critical first hour of the disaster by failing to respond quickly to repeated distress calls from passengers and the crew. Images of the ferry with hundreds of young students trapped inside slowing turning over and sinking while coast guard ships watched have outraged the nation.
Weekly approval ratings of Ms. Park fell for four straight weeks to 51 percent last week, according to Realmeter, a public opinion survey company that interviewed more than 2,500 adult South Koreans from Monday through Friday last week. During a nationally televised speech on Monday, a tearful Ms. Park apologized again.Weekly approval ratings of Ms. Park fell for four straight weeks to 51 percent last week, according to Realmeter, a public opinion survey company that interviewed more than 2,500 adult South Koreans from Monday through Friday last week. During a nationally televised speech on Monday, a tearful Ms. Park apologized again.