South Korean President Kim Dae-jung on January 11 nominated Park Tae-joon as prime minister to replace Kim Jong-pil, who resigned January 11 morning.

Park's nomination will be submitted to the National Assembly late Tuesday for consideration and the nomination is expected to be approved Wednesday.

Park, president of the ruling coalition partner United Liberal Democrats (ULD), will replace Kim Jong-pil, who resigned Tuesday morning and will go back to the ULD to manage the party's race forthe forthcoming general elections scheduled for April this year.

Well-known for his business prowess as president of the state-run Pohang Iron and Steel in the late 1960s, Park has served as ULD president since he joined the party in November 1997, just before the presidential election that year.

Park, 73, will be the second prime minister to serve in President Kim's government if the parliament approves the appointment.

President Kim is expected to conduct a cabinet reshuffle Thursday or Friday, coupled with a shakeup of his senior secretaries since some ministers and secretaries will participate in the parliamentary race in April. (Xinhua)