South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae Young Has Resigned His Post

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young has resigned his post Thursday, according to the South Korean presidency, two days after North Korea shelling left four South Koreans dead.

Mr. President Lee Myung-bak accepted defense minister Kim Tae-young’s resignation Thursday, according to a spokesman for presidential Blue House. Minister Kim faced strong criticism from ruling party and opposition lawmakers for what they called a weak and slow response to Tuesday’s attack by the North Korea on Yeonpyeong Island, near the disputed western maritime border of the two Koreas nation.

North Korea fired about 100 shells at Yeonpyeong, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians and wounding 18 other people. Pyongyang said the attack was a defensive response to what it called a provocative South Korean military drill in which shells were fired from the island. North Korea claims sovereignty over the island and its waters.

South Korea retaliated for Tuesday’s attack by firing about 80 shells at the North Korean coastal base that initiated the exchange of fire. A South Korean military official said Thursday the counterattack began 13 minutes after North Korea’s bombardment and inflicted severe damage on North Korean forces.

President Lee’s government also vowed Thursday to “sharply increase” its military presence on Yeonpyeong and revise its rules of engagement to permit a more aggressive reply to future attacks.

North Korea warned it will stage more attacks like the one on Tuesday if the South continues what Pyongyang describes as “reckless military provocations.”

North Korea: Timeline 2010

26 March: South Korean warship, Cheonan, sinks, killing 46 sailors

20 May: Panel says a North Korean torpedo sank the ship; Pyongyang denies involvement

July-September: South Korea and US hold military exercises; US places more sanctions on Pyongyang

29 September: North holds rare party congress seen as part of father-to-son succession move

29 October: Troops from North and South Korea exchange fire across the land border

12 November: North Korea shows US scientist new - undeclared - uranium enrichment facility