2010-06-08 16:45

SEOUL - The South Korean military is planning to carry out a personnel shake-up over the sinking of its warship in late March.

The military is considering conducting a reshuffle as early as next week, after auditors wrap up their investigation into the defense ministry's dealings with the naval incident, Seoul's semi- official Yonhap News Agency reported citing an unidentified military source.

Perceived blunders of the defense ministry in the initial aftermath of the incident had come under criticism, as delayed reports of the incident to high-ranking military officials apparently played a part in the biggest peacetime loss in the country's naval history.

Lee Sang-eui, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, might be affected by the reshuffle, Yonhap said.