New Navy Chief For S. Korea

SOUTH Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has appointed Vice Admiral Kim Kyung-ryul as the new Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) chief. According to the ministry, Adm Kim is currently commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet, the country’s leading naval operations unit.

Receiving a promotion to Admiral, Adm Kim replaces Adm Kang Dong-gil who resigned over his alleged involvement in former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law bid in late 2024. He is expected to be formally appointed by president Lee Jae Myung following deliberation at a Cabinet meeting.

He has held a series of key posts, including superintendent of the Korea Naval Academy, commander of the Navy’s 3rd Fleet, head of the 5th Mine Countermeasures and Amphibious Flotilla, personnel chief at the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command, and director of defence policy at the MND.

In announcing the nomination, the defence ministry said Adm Kim was fitted with the “operational command capabilities” and “military expertise” to firmly safeguard maritime sovereignty under the current security conditions surrounding the Korean Peninsula and instability in the global security environment.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:ROKN)