President Park Geun-hye named South Korea's chief nuclear envoy as the first vice foreign minister Thursday in a minor government reshuffle that also affected two other vice ministerial posts, her spokesman said.

Cho Tae-yong, Seoul's top envoy to the six-party talks on denuclearizing North Korea, replaces former Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun, who was appointed first deputy chief of the presidential office of national security early this month.

Cho, a career diplomat of 34 years, was chosen for his "rich experience and expertise," developed in his previous roles as director-general of the North American affairs bureau, chief of protocol, ambassador to Australia and chief envoy to the six-party talks, as well as his "excellent diplomatic negotiation skills and organization management skills," presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said in a press briefing.

Park also named Park Kyung-kook, the chief of the National Archives of Korea, as first vice minister of the Ministry of Security and Public Administration.

The nominee was recognized for his administrative skills in his 33 years in public service, his wealth of ideas, competent handling of pending issues and communication-based leadership, Min said.

Kim Kyung-sik, meanwhile, the presidential secretary for land, infrastructure and transport, was named first vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport based on his experience and expertise in the field, his ability to work well with other ministries, and his strong initiative and drive, the spokesman said. (Yonhap)