S Korea elects new president

RULING party candidate Roh Moo-hyun won South Korea’s presidential election yesterday, a result that could complicate ties with the US as the allies grapple with North Korea’s nuclear programme.

The unofficial count of 95% of ballots showed Roh beat conservative opposition candidate Lee Hoi-chang by 2.5% in a closely-fought election.

“I have failed again in my bid for the presidency,” said Lee, who lost the 1997 election to incumbent President Kim Dae-jung.

Roh will have little time to savour his victory, facing a hostile parliament controlled by Lee’s party, a slowing economy and the Bush regime in Washington with a starkly different approach to North Korea.