South Korean president appoints woman prime minister

SOUTH KOREA'S president has overhauled his Cabinet, bringing on seven new ministers - including a female prime minister, an appointment that reflects a major departure from tradition in this male-dominated society.

The shake-up yesterday was sparked by a deadly naval clash with North

Korea. The skirmish last month dealt a serious blow to President Kim Dae-jung’s “sunshine” policy of engaging North Korea. Critics denounce it as giving away too much in return for little from an ungrateful regime.