South Korea's defense minister has resigned over the handling of the deadly North Korean attack.

The Seoul government said late Thursday that President Lee Myung-bak has accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Tae-young.

Minister Kim is said to have indicated he would resign to take responsibility for the armed force's dipsuted response to North Korea's surprise attack of a border island on Tuesday. 

North Korea's artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island near the clash-laden marine border on Tuesday killed four South Koreans, including two civilians.

South Korea's Defense Ministry is now under criticism for its handling of the attack, especially its early stage response to the North's lethal shelling.

Seoul is taking steps to strengthen its military preparedness on the island to better respond to additional attacks from Pyongyang, which is suspected to have planned the Yeonpyeong shelling in advance.

(Herald Online)