SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak is about to name a new defense minister to replace Kim Tae-young to hold him responsible for a series of failures in managing the military, including the military's dealing with the latest North Korean artillery attack on a South Korean front-line island, and amplifying people's distrust in the government and the military.

   Kim has been under fire for allegedly mishandling of the situation following the North Korean attack on Yeonpyeong Island. His earlier remarks on the possibility of South Korea seeking the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons on its territory also created a stir and was later denied by the government.

   The president's office said Lee accepted the resignation of Kim and the selection of his successor is in the final stage.

   The new defense minister is tasked with more grave responsibilities than his predecessors. The most significant task will be reforming the defense system to effectively counter any further provocations of North Korea.

   The new defense chief should resolve the security uneasiness exposed in the North Korean artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island, in which two marines and two civilians were killed. The new minister will have to supplement troops and equipment defending Yeonpyeong and four other bordering islands in the Yellow Sea.

   The new military leadership will need to review the joint operational strategies of the three branches of military, which is currently centered around the Navy's second command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

   The military should have strong weapons and preparedness to counterattack any future provocations so that North Korea will dare not provoke again.

   Creation of a combined defense command of three military branches to cover the northwestern islands can also be an option to study.

   The replacement of the top defense official should be an occasion to freshen up the lax atmosphere in the military and revive the discipline.

   This year, after 60 years of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korea War, there have been a series of mishaps in our military, ranging from accidents during training and irregularities by military officers to the sinking of the Cheonan and most recently the artillery attack of North Korea, all of which contributed to a decline in the people's confidence in the military.

   With new leadership, the military should endeavor to clear away people's distrust and promote the reform in earnest.

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