South Korea has named its former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff as the new defence minister amid growing criticism of the government's response to a deadly attack by North Korea.

General Kim Kwan-jin, a 61-year-old career soldier, is replacing Kim Tae-young who resigned on Thursday two days after the attack on the small South Korean island of Yeonpyeong left four people, including two marines, dead.

"[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," Hong Sang-pyo, the presidential secretary, told a news briefing on Friday.

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports from Seoul.

[November 26, 2010]