South Korea names new defense chief: Jeong Kyeong-doo, former fighter pilot and head of Joint Chiefs

The Japan Times ^ | August 30, 2018 | Reuters

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday nominated the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as defense minister.

Jeong Kyeong-doo, 58, a former fighter pilot, would take over the ministry as the government seeks to reduce tension and build trust with North Korea, and at a time of uncertainty over relations with main ally the United States.

Jeong, who is set to replace incumbent Song Young-moo, does not need parliament’s approval but must attend a hearing and answer legislators’ questions.

He would be South Korea’s first defense minister with an air force background in 24 years, media reported.

The United States is seeking to press North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs and as part of that effort, U.S. President Donald Trump suspended military exercises with South Korea when he met North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un in a historic June summit.

But with talks between North Korea and the United States stalled, there is speculation the South Korean-U.S. exercises, which the North has long denounced as preparations to invade it, might get going again....

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Don’t know enough to know if this is good, bad or indifferent.