S. Korea FM quits amid policy flap
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Yoon's resignation also comes as S. Korea works with other nations to resolve the N. Korea crisis.
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SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korea's Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan has resigned from his post amid a flap over President Roh Moo-hyun's foreign policy.
Roh accepted Yoon's resignation early Thursday, according to officials at the presidential Blue House.
Yoon resigned to take responsibility for failing to supervise and direct foreign policy in line with directives from the South Korean administration, a statement from the presidential personnel secretary said, according to Reuters.
A successor is yet to be named and the government is in the process of reviewing three to four candidates for the post, the official said.
The departure of Yoon follows accusations from Roh on Wednesday that ministry officials were blocking and openingly criticizing his foreign policy agenda.
Roh said on Wednesday he would shift detractors from the foreign ministry to other posts.
A dispute between the Blue House and the ministry began last year when senior diplomats were reported to have disparaged Roh's advisers on foreign policy, Reuters reported.
Local media reports have said the foreign ministry officials were against Roh's policy towards the United States.
Some reports said they criticized the dispatch of South Korean troops to Iraq and relocation plans for American forces in South Korea.
Yoon's resignation also comes as South Korea is working with China, the United States, Japan and other countries to resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear program.
Roh came to power almost a year ago, on a promise to deal with Washington on equal footing. But he has since come under fire for softening his stance.
