SEOUL: The head of South Korea's intelligence agency has offered his resignation, the third senior security official to do so since North Korea's October 9 nuclear test, officials said on Friday.
 
The latest announcement came amid fierce criticism at home of President Roh Moo-Hyun's "sunshine" policy of engagement with the North, whose first atom bomb test sent a shiver around the world.
 
"Director Kim Seung-Kyu on Thursday called on the president and expressed his intention to resign," the National Intelligence Service said. 
 
Earlier this week Unification Minister Lee Jong-Seok, the top official in charge of North Korean affairs, and Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-Ung announced they would leave their posts. 
 
Kim's resignation will help pave the way for Roh to form a new line-up of officials in charge of security and foreign affairs, the NIS said. 
 
Roh is seeking a new foreign minister because incumbent Ban Ki-Moon is to become the United Nations secretary general from January. 
 
Ministers in South Korea routinely express their intention to step down when the president wants to replace them.